Solar Trickle Charger

[3RRL]

Jim, thanks for the heads up...
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just wanted to point out that this design does not seem to include a charge controller. Because the open circuit voltage of the panel is about 18 to 20 volts, it is possible to overcharge the battery.)</font>
The VOC is, indeed, 22.5 VDC but the maximum output is only 120mA, so I don't think this unit will have enough sunlight exposure to overcharge in any one day. I did go out and check the my forklift battery with a voltmeter just now and it's reading 12.5 V. Today was 79° with bright sun and no problem.
Thanks,

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I was wondering if you could connect several of the cheap HF units together to get more power? I was looking on e-bay and for $28 you can get a VW solar panel that has an output of 3.2 w and 170 mamps. If I buy 2 more of the HF units, each puts out 1.5 V and 120 mamps, connect them together would this work and how much would they put out together? Would 3 units = 4.5 V and 360 mamps?

 

[ELMO67]

Try talking to someone in service or parts, maybe you'll get lucky and get one "cheap" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. I think most of the ones being sold on e-bay are by either a VW dealer employee or acquaintance of.

 

[SnoFalls]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was wondering if you could connect several of the cheap HF units together to get more power? I was looking on e-bay and for $28 you can get a VW solar panel that has an output of 3.2 w and 170 mamps. If I buy 2 more of the HF units, each puts out 1.5 V and 120 mamps, connect them together would this work and how much would they put out together? Would 3 units = 4.5 V and 360 mamps? )</font>

umm no ...
3 "units" in would either be 1.5v@360ma or 4.5v@120ma depending if you hooked them in parallel or serial (respectively).

One other thing to "note" about solar cells ... the generate volts regardless of the strngth of the sun, it's the amps that vary. So, most "multicell" users wire in series to get a certain volt level, and then in parallel to maximize the amperage of each "pack". Think of each "cell" as a AAA battery ...

 

[DrRod]

I've thought about hooking these up to my ATVs. They tend to sit for three weeks between use and I always seem to need a battery for one or the other. But they are parked about 20 feet from the sunny side of the garage. Can I add extra wire to the set-up so they'll reach the light or will this sap the energy from the system?

Thanks for your help.

 

[3RRL]

DrRod,
Did you see the pictures of the Solar on my ATV up above? That was one of the vehicles I needed to keep charged.

I think (these) solar panels come with a 91" cord and the 12v receptacles come with a 36" cord. I think (but don't know how much) to lengthen the cord will sap a bit but not enough to make a difference. If you use a little larger wire connected directly to the solar panel you will be alright. You can splice it at the plug on the solar panel wires.
See attachement...

 

[3RRL]

This attachment is a close up of the clip on the solar panel wires. Just pull it apart.
You might want to use aligator clips to hook to your battery and wires that plug into the solar panel cord and not get the 12v adaptor all.

 

[3RRL]

Here is a close up of the plug on the solar panel cord disconnected. It should be easy to make a cord long enough to reach your ATV and plug into this.

 

[DrRod]

Thanks for the pictures. I use a similar two-wire plug set up on my ATV sprayer. Oddly enough, its sometimes hard to find those -- five-wire ok, but two is harder to find.

I have a Honda 450 ES which comes with an accessory plug so I figure I can just stick it in there. As for the Recon, alligator clips would probably be the way to go.

Thanks again,

Rod

 

[3RRL]

DrRod,
You might try JC Whitney (online) to check their trailer connectors. I think they have 2, 3..all of them. Not sure because I've never bought a 2 wire connector from them, but 5 wire yes. Take a minute to snoop it out and let us know.