Solar charger....

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

I know some people have got one but can anyone recommend one?
I've got a series 2a that sometimes doesn't get used for a few weeks and sometimes it struggles to fire up. It drains the fuel back to the tank so it takes a bit of cranking anyway. I want to fit a skytag so there's going to be a bit of drain and I want to keep the battery looked after.

This is what I've got fitted.
Thanks for your advice, Rob

lynall · Jan 5, 2021

First fit a new battery clamp! secondly that battery looks awfully small?

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

lynall said:
First fit a new battery clamp! secondly that battery looks awfully small?

I only seem to be able to find it when I'm looking for something else, then when I want it I've forgotten where I saw it

kermit_rr · Jan 5, 2021

Thought 540cca was ok for a 2a petrol? Presumably it's petrol? Prime the pump and carb by hand before you go to start it!
A battery should be fine for just a few weeks! But if it's only a short drive it won't get fully charged.
Do you have a solar panel yet?
50w should be plenty for a couple of amps.
For a controller, if you're on a budget then any 10a pwm will work, I've got an epever one

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

kermit_rr said:
Thought 540cca was ok for a 2a petrol? Presumably it's petrol? Prime the pump and carb by hand before you go to start it!
A battery should be fine for just a few weeks! But if it's only a short drive it won't get fully charged.
Do you have a solar panel yet?
50w should be plenty for a couple of amps.
For a controller, if you're on a budget then any 10a pwm will work, I've got an epever one

I've got nothing at all hence the question, I'll probably connect it through the red and black dash jobbers as I haven't got a cigarette lighter socket either

kermit_rr · Jan 5, 2021

My honest opinion...
The cheap pwm controllers are great for a cheap top up of charge. The more expensive mppt controllers, in my opinion, are better at maintaining a battery, with better tech in them.
Depends how tight the budget is though and if you have size constraints. Mppt chargers can be 2 or 3 times the size of a pwm

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

kermit_rr said:
My honest opinion...
The cheap pwm controllers are great for a cheap top up of charge. The more expensive mppt controllers, in my opinion, are better at maintaining a battery, with better tech in them.
Depends how tight the budget is though and if you have size constraints. Mppt chargers can be 2 or 3 times the size of a pwm

What's a mppt/pwm when it's at home?

kermit_rr · Jan 5, 2021

Short answer, pwm, pulse width modulation, is basic tech that takes what it needs from the panel, ie 14.5v from your 20v panel and throws the rest away.
Mppt, max power point tracking, makes use of nearly all the solar output, but also has more electronics on board, like a 4 stage battery charger vs basic trickle charger

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

kermit_rr said:
My honest opinion...
The cheap pwm controllers are great for a cheap top up of charge. The more expensive mppt controllers, in my opinion, are better at maintaining a battery, with better tech in them.
Depends how tight the budget is though and if you have size constraints. Mppt chargers can be 2 or 3 times the size of a pwm

Something like this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50W-Sola...-/383887812304?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Don't mind spending more if you know of a better one. I don't really want a display jobber as there's nowhere to put it in a series unless I hide it behind the passenger seat

Shimsteriom · Jan 5, 2021

If it's just for trickle charging, then this would suffice. I know it's not cheap but I can vouch for the quality as I buy all my solar kit from them and I've never had any issues at all. You would need to make sure the panel gets as much sunlight as possible though with no shading.

https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en...r-and-battery-cable-with-crocodile-clips.html

That fleabay one might work but I doubt you'd get anywhere near 50 watts from the panel and the 30A controller is well over specced. I've got 240watts worth of panels in me back garden and I rarely get over 15amps from them.

kermit_rr · Jan 5, 2021

I've not looked at panel prices this last 12 months but that looks a good price to me.
Semi flexible panels are ok but not as robust as the rigid ones and allegedly don't last as long as a result, but i can't comment on that. My dad has one but made a frame to keep it safer.
I don't know that controller either, but at the price will be bargain basement, i would expect

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

Shimsteriom said:
If it's just for trickle charging, then this would suffice. I know it's not cheap but I can vouch for the quality as I buy all my solar kit from them and I've never had any issues at all. You would need to make sure the panel gets as much sunlight as possible though with no shading.

https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en...r-and-battery-cable-with-crocodile-clips.html

That fleabay one might work but I doubt you'd get anywhere near 50 watts from the panel and the 30A controller is well over specced. I've got 240watts worth of panels in me back garden and I rarely get over 15amps from them.

It'll be parked under the carport so it might not get direct sunlight all day

Ideally I would want to put the panel in the windscreen and connect it through the dash or I suppose I could hardwire it through the starter button cables

Dippypud · Jan 5, 2021

Marmaduke said:
It'll be parked under the carport so it might not get direct sunlight all day Ideally I would want to put the panel in the windscreen and connect it through the dash or I suppose I could hardwire it through the starter button cables

Could you not have an Anderson connector through the grille slats ?

Shimsteriom · Jan 5, 2021

Marmaduke said:
It'll be parked under the carport so it might not get direct sunlight all day Ideally I would want to put the panel in the windscreen and connect it through the dash or I suppose I could hardwire it through the starter button cables

Edited... as your car will be in the shade maybe solar isn't the best option for you.
Unless of course you are able to put the panel in a location where it can get as much direct sunlight as possible.

Nodge68 · Jan 5, 2021

PWM for small solar panels up to 100 Watts with a small (under 100Ah) battery.
For larger panel arrays and larger battery, then MPPT is the better choice.

No point in using an MPPT with small panels and small battery, as the MPPT simply uses up the charge it put in at night.
A PWM (cheap Chinese is fine) will prevent the battery from overcharging, without flattening it a night.

Nodge68 · Jan 5, 2021

Marmaduke said:
It'll be parked under the carport so it might not get direct sunlight all day Ideally I would want to put the panel in the windscreen and connect it through the dash or I suppose I could hardwire it through the starter button cables

Solar isn't going to work in the shade, or effectively in the windscreen, as the panel needs direct sunlight, and be cooled by fresh air flowing over it.

Turboman · Jan 5, 2021

Marmaduke said:
It'll be parked under the carport so it might not get direct sunlight all day Ideally I would want to put the panel in the windscreen and connect it through the dash or I suppose I could hardwire it through the starter button cables

If the carport is clear plastic, you might get something by laying the panel flat on the roof, but it would be better to park it outside as well.

Under a carport and inside the vehicle is a total waste of space.

And don't forget to keep the panel clean. Wash it with mild car shampoo in water once a week or so.

Marmaduke · Jan 5, 2021

This is the said carport, the land rover windscreen willbe south facing. When the weather gets better I can drive it to work more often

kermit_rr · Jan 5, 2021

Nodge68 said:
PWM for small solar panels up to 100 Watts with a small (under 100Ah) battery.
For larger panel arrays and larger battery, then MPPT is the better choice.

No point in using an MPPT with small panels and small battery, as the MPPT simply uses up the charge it put in at night.
A PWM (cheap Chinese is fine) will prevent the battery from overcharging, without flattening it a night.

I've got a 10A pwm and a10A mppt, both by the same manufacturer, the mppt uses up to 4mA more than the pwm

marjon · Jan 5, 2021

You should fit the panel on the carport at a best possible “winter angle” so nothing is in the vehicle, then work out some plugs and wires so it’s easy to plug in/out. Oh don’t forget a sign to put on the steering wheel

.

J

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