Solar Power

I inherited one with my pre-used caravan. It's an Exide made in Canada, about the area of a sheet of A4. Thought it was a waste of time because the caravan battery went completely flat over a couple of weeks. I actually gave the panel to a relative who might use it on his boat. Then I discovered the caravan battery was goosed and scrounged the panel back. It's been connected to an old car battery in the garage for a year now and the battery voltage is steady at 12.7 volts. The panel is near a window which has obscure film on it and faces north. So, (after all that) they work- brilliantly. DaveK.

I'm sure you're aware that running a car battery flat - even once - shortens its life considerably?

Why not fit a battery isolation switch? Cheapest answer to your problem. True you'll loose some settings like the radio and clock etc, but then this would happen anyway.

A solar charger guaranteed to be effective in a UK winter is likely to be large and costly.

If your battery is flat after 1 week of un-use, then either your battery is totally knackered, or you've got a high current drain in your system somewhere.

I used to have a Yugo (I know!) which was parked up for 6 months, and it still started without needing to charge the battery.

I'd personally spend the money on a new battery.

Pete.

It probably had zero quiescent current consumption - modern cars don't.

A lead acid in good condition with no drain stays fresh for a very long time - unlike other re-chargeable batteries.

Depends :-) If you measure the drain on the battery & then compare it with the current out of the solar cell then you'll get an idea of how much difference it can make after you've divided the output by two to allow for darkness & 3 for winter & glass.

I have a very small solar panel I bought from Maplin some time ago (only a few watts output - maybe enough to keep the clock and alarm ticking). Problem is, Rover cigarette lighter sockets switch off with the ignition key!!!

Darren

I have a little maplin one, the output is not enough to make up for the clock.

If you get one, then make sure it has half amp output, these are very expensive, you would be better off buying two batteries and having the second connected via an isolator.

Turn on the isolator when you go back to start it.

mrcheerful

The maplin solar panel is the one I was looking at but it seems I would be better off fitting an isolator switch. Thanks for all the info.

bought from Maplin some time ago (only a few watts output - maybe enough to keep the clock and alarm ticking).

That's why you can connect with croc clips direct to the battery. DaveK.

Not the one I bought - it came with the lead terminated in a standard plug for lighter sockets.

Darrem