Solar Panel Trickle Chargers?

[dandoolittle]

Has anyone actually used and liked a Solar Panel Trickle charger?

I'm moving my stuff to another garage that doesn't have power etc - My road bike has a GPS tracker so the battery can drop after a couple of weeks...SO thinking this year I'll bang on a solar optimiser, put the panel on the roof?

Something like http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5337803037&icep_item=251725929460

 

[Marbro_za]

used one on a car that wasnt keeping charge.
Wasnt too bad, But dont expect a full battery in a day. They take long to charge up

 

[lupin]

Do you ever get sun in the uk?

 

[Reize]

Do you ever get sun in the uk?

For the 8 days I was there, I surprisingly had like 5 days of bright sun.

 

[sixmiffedy]

I'm tempted to get one but don't really need as it's not left alone for more than 2 days, my Oxford Stormed has a place you can put an Oxford Solariser in the cover so that's a nice feature.

 

[dandoolittle]

used one on a car that wasnt keeping charge.
Wasnt too bad, But dont expect a full battery in a day. They take long to charge up

Hence why they're a trickle charger....

 

[SwissMotard]

They work very well here, but I wouldn't bother in the UK.

 

[dandoolittle]

For the 8 days I was there, I surprisingly had like 5 days of bright sun.

Was that in 1997?

 

[RoadSprock]

Hi Dan, let me know if you get one and have any luck with it.. Kinda in the same position!

 

[dandoolittle]

Hi Dan, let me know if you get one and have any luck with it.. Kinda in the same position!

I've ordered the one above and the 3m lead extender. A few track/race mates use the same one and they reckon they're decent but only for trickle charging. They don't need loads of light etc, just the normal day time is fine, even in the winter

 

[RoadSprock]

I've ordered the one above and the 3m lead extender. A few track/race mates use the same one and they reckon they're decent but only for trickle charging. They don't need loads of light etc, just the normal day time is fine, even in the winter

That's not a bad kit for £13, didn't actually check it out first time round!

 

[Reize]

Was that in 1997?

It was like 4 weeks ago actually to be exact

 

[BurntRuber]

i have a friend who installs solar panels. he had a extra one and was trying to give it to us to charge batteries he said just lay it in the yard and hook it up and it will charge.

 

[Lurch]

Bit late to the party, but a few Deauville owners have used them, specifically the one from Maplin and been happy.

You got it yet, and how have you connected it? STrumpet seat is removal with tools :/

 

[Leon Loco]

They work reasonably well, but you'll want a big panel with decent output if there's any kind of current draw to overcome.

I use a 10W panel with a 7A charge controller and it'll keep a ~100-200ma drain at bay while keeping the battery topped even in overcast conditions.

The panels and chargers are available pretty much anywhere, like amazon. I like the Sunforce controllers-- have several, never killed one yet.

Note that you'll want to have your charge controller close to the panel. You want as little voltage drop as possible from the panel to controller.

 

[Mousez]

Buying one of these was my 1st mistake. Left it plugged into my battery for an entire day in the middle of summer, not even a single crank on the bike, it was dead again.

I replaced it with a compact Lithium jump pack. Plus it charges my devices.