Solar powered trickle charger Forums

Denise

I saw one of these in a caravan shop the other day, it's £19.99 and wondered if it was worth buying?

I don't understand much about mechanics etc Embarassed

and don't know if one of these would keep the battery charged if I'm using the battery for fridge, lights etc?

And would it be connected to the leisure battery or the main one?

Cheers Smile

dodger148

There has been long debates and information posted on here previously on Solar Power and Panel Sizes etc, you could look up there.
The smaller panels that you have seen are ok for keeping the van battery toppped up from Alarm Drainage, but dont expect one to keep the leisure battery chargedfrom say normal use

HelenB · Moderator

Like you Denise don't know the technicalities, but I had one of these cheap and cheerful panels on a caravan and even when camped up for days on a site with no electric always had enough for lights, taps etc. It used to double up as a charger for the horses electric fence when not on holidays, and worked a treat.

brezcraft

They are a very useful accessory and as anyone who has one will tell you they are exactly what they are "A Trickle charger".

They will charge your battery in trickle form, but cannot be expected to carry a full load.

On the subject of which battery to connect to, the choice would be yours.
I personally would be connected to domestic.
However a good sparky would be capable of wiring one through a splitter supplying both batteries as and when needed.

These have come down in price quite considerably over time.
Only 7 years ago it was impossible to buy a single solar cell for £19.99.

brez.

Denise

Thanks :0

Think I might get one, looks like it could help a little bit and at just £20 it's worth a try Cool

Now - I'm a complete and utter numbnut when it comes to connecting things like this. Is it a [i:cd0bd258a3]really[/i:cd0bd258a3] simple DIY thing, or should I get someone to do it for me? Embarassed

dodger148

I dont know what van you have, but ours is a Boxer base and the Leisure battery is under the drivers seat. I ran a socket from the battery terminals to the front of the seat box and plug our solar panel in there when its needed.
Our panel is 17watt and was a tad too high for going through the vans cigar lighter socket to keep the van battery topped up (kept blowing fuses on last van) however being a "smallish" panel it relies on diode control and the leisure battery does need a complicated controller.
The small panels you are considering would do to top up both your batteries.
I have never fitted our panel permanently being a carry over from our tugging days.