solar trickle charger

[debbiej]

several places have a solar trickle charger for car batteries. they attach to battery with clamps or plug into lighter socket. I don't have an auxilary battery, and am really baffled by even the simplest wiring.

I know there is a thread on this but it covers a lot more information. I only want to be able to use my light and maybe the silver socket to charge a phone without fear of a dead battery. no heater, no microwave or refrigerator.

does anyone have one of these chargers and is happy with the way it works? I'm thinking if one were in use, we could feel free to use the main battery while camping.

[WWUT]

Send Hooptie Love a PM. His company www.getoutexplore.com can get you top quality solar for a good price.
I met him and his family in Moab at the syncro Solstice. He brought donw a variety of solar options and set up free charging stations.
I just bought a GoalZero setup from him for my sister and will now buy one for myself.
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87 Syncro Tin Top

[j_dirge]

IMHO, the smaller maintenance trickle charges are useless for your application. They do not send enough current to recover the loss of even minimal draw-down use.
Those chargers are better suited for leaving a vehicle stored for weeks at a time and keeping the battery topped off.

If you are looking to only use the OE onboard lighting.. and maybe charging your cell phone and/or listening to the vehicles stereo... Your single battery is probably adequate.

Buy a simple digital voltmeter and learn to use it. You can check your van's battery to get an idea how the battery is drawn down in your typical camping use.


I think people may tend to spend big money on solar BEFORE they get a very good handle on thier actual energy use.
Cart and horse.
Save your money.


Learn your use. Measure it.. THEN design the charging around it.


FWIW.. We camp pretty simple. 2 adults. 2 kids. One battery. No solar.
(the solar panels stay on my boat and the one I did buy for my van is still in the garage.. We don't really NEED it. For a camper van I'd almost recommend carrying a second starter battery before I'd suggest installing a solar panel.)
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[shenan-agon]

I have one of the $15 ones from Harbor Freight - it does an adequate job of keeping the battery topped off when the van is sitting for a while, but as mentioned above, it's probably not enough to actually recharge a battery that's been drained down from use.

An aux battery would really be the best option for your situation. There are kits out there that should make the install fairly straightforward - though if you're not comfortable with wiring, you're definitely better off getting some help with the install rather than making a mistake when it comes to electricity.

[PDXWesty]

Agree. Your main battery should last a couple days and still start the van if you only use what you say. Don't fear a couple lights and the occasional radio use. A voltage monitor as suggested will keep you on the straight and narrow. You can get them that plug into the lighter socket so you can get a sense for what you are using. My van will start with voltage all the way down to 11 volts even. You can just plug in a unit like this when you want to check. If you do get a solar charger, get one that's at least 15 watts and just plug it into the lighter as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3721-Battery-Charging-...amp;sr=8-1

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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[debbiej]

thanks for all the good advice. much appreciated!!

[r39o]

[windnsea]

Go to E-Bay and search on Volkswagen Solar. The solar panels that come up are trickle charge panels that plug into the cigarette lighter. I always keep 2 plugged into the cigarette lighter and a cigarette lighter outlet that I put in for the auxilliary battery. Both batteries had 6-year guarantees and are both now going on 12 years!!

You can get the VW solar panels for about $20 US. These were brought in by VW to keep the batteries of cars on the docks in top shape.

You can't go wrong if all you neeed is a trickle charge panel to keep the battery topped up.

Good Luck!

[kamzcab86]

[r39o]

I have several of those VW panels I use. Not all the ones you buy actually work right! They break and supply unregulated voltage. Not good in the long term. It has been away, but I will retest mine and I can report what is good and bad. I may have already in the past posted about this issue, but I am getting old.....
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[bbaca75]

I think the solar trickle charger idea is great. I live in sunny NM and have used up all of my power when going on extended camping trips so a solar solution would be perfect but the kits they sell have super low wattage.

I've been poring over the idea of adapting a foldable solar panel like the allpowers 16W solar panel to charge my aux battery but most just have USB outputs. It's just an idea I wanted to throw out. Its space saving and more durable than large the glass panels. I like the idea of being able to put it out for a while then lock it up inside the van.

All you'd need is a solar controller so you don't wreck the batteries, right? Anyone done this before? Any tips?

[kamzcab86]

[Love My Westy]

There are lots of small solar chargers (checkout http://www.goalzero.com/solar-kits) that are made to charge a cell phone and/or a computer without going through the Aux battery. My wife has one plus one of their small power packs and inverters and a great light we hang out under the awning for cooking outside. The panels can be used anywhere and don't require your van to be parked in the sun. They are spend per watt, but seem to work well.

If your Aux battery is charging through the charging system when you drive, all you need to do is run the engine to keep it charged up.

[goffoz]

[bbaca75]

I was interested in getting a solar panel hooked up to charge by aux battery (not just trickle charge it but to actually reenergize the battery). The big systems seemed like too much. I didn't need 100W but I needed more that 5W! I also wanted a system that is secure. I don't like the idea of having a solar panel permanently on my van because, well it's expensive. I didn't want it to be easily stolen or damaged. So here is what I came up with (it works but yet to see how well it works). I found a 30W foldable solar panel on craigslist. It was difficult finding one that had an output other than USB! This one has an SAE output. This is the solar panel that I got for a fraction of this price.

(https://www.readymaderesources.com/cart/alternate-energy/solar-panels/global-solar-foldable-panels/global-solar-p3-30-30w-12v-portable-power/prod_1638.html)

I got this solar charger.

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00752TRNW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Strangely. This solar charger reversed the polarity of the output to the battery. After scratching my head a while I found an SAE cord like this and put black tape over the positive end and connected it to the battery.

(http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-Replacement-Motorcycle-Charger/dp/B002S1MEAS/ref=sr_1_11?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1406418737&sr=1-11&keywords=SAE+cord)

I have a 25 foot SAE extension cord so I can put the solar panel wherever I want. I can also hang it on the window inside the van to get sun even while I'm driving. I tested it and it appears to be working. Next long camping trip and I will report back.

(Other notes: I have 3 UB12220 wheelchair batteries (66 a/h's total). Also have a Junior battery tender hooked up so when I'm connected to shore power, I will get a trickle charge.) Let me know if you have questions.

[ELO78]

Someone in my neighborhood offered this VW solar trickle charger for free, so I grabbed it.

Based on some cursory Google work, it sounds like I can plug this in to the outlet that runs off my house/aux battery, which is always hot. Thoughts?
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Eric
1990 Westy Multivan, 2.1 L WBX, 4-speed - SOLD
2003 EuroVan Westy Weekender