Small Solar Maintenance Charger Advice Pretty Please [emoji120]

[MB]

G’day NP.com.au Team,

Hoping for some advice please on happy/safe usage of anyones experienced purchase of small solar maintenance chargers?

Needing to purchase a couple for 12v batteries around the property on contraptions that have slight parasitic drain occuring.

Did purchase a cheapo version years ago for a diesel dam pump and found its battery swollen/cactus after checking some months later.

Assuming the cheapo ones regulator thingymebob failed and destroyed a $200 battery so hoping for that to not happen again :-(

Many thanks
Mark



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[rusty_nail]

G’day NP.com.au Team,

Hoping for some advice please on happy/safe usage of anyones experienced purchase of small solar maintenance chargers?

Needing to purchase a couple for 12v batteries around the property on contraptions that have slight parasitic drain occuring.

Did purchase a cheapo version years ago for a diesel dam pump and found its battery swollen/cactus after checking some months later.

Assuming the cheapo ones regulator thingymebob failed and destroyed a $200 battery so hoping for that to not happen again :-(

Many thanks
Mark



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I bought one from Jaycar years ago, have always had I plugged in to my camper never caused issues with the batteries and I think it's probably been around for about 10 years

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[GQtdauto]

You would only need a small panel as pictured by rustynail and if your worried about the regulator get the smallest VictronConnect regulator .
That way you can check on the battery's last 30 days of data using your phone if your in Bluetooth range , no need for a multimeter .

[MB]

I do like the sound of that Thanks Rob, Welcome Back Old Mate!


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[Hodge]

Look up / Talk to Low Energy Developments Marko mate.
They have various small sized panels for various purposes and fittings , chargers etc... They know solar !
All my solar needs go there.

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[mudski]

Look up / Talk to Low Energy Developments Marko mate.
They have various small sized panels for various purposes and fittings , chargers etc... They know solar !
All my solar needs go there.

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Is that the shop in High St Preston? Went in there to get a new panel, was served by a dude in dreadlocks and all I could smell was B.O and weed. Hahaha! Quite helpful though.

[Mickhead]

Is that the shop in High St Preston? Went in there to get a new panel, was served by a dude in dreadlocks and all I could smell was B.O and weed. Hahaha! Quite helpful though.

Hahahahaha went there myself a few years ago on Australia day weekend to get a cheap chinese 100ah agm. His hair was green and the stink was the same. Copped a 30 second tirade about “happy invasion day “ upon entering. Told him to FK off and purchased a battery elsewhere.

[the evil twin]

If the panel max output is below one amp (say you have a 10 watt panel) and a battery above about 70 amp hours just hook the panel straight to the battery.

The internal resistance of the battery acts as a load and effectively regulates the panel as good or better than a separate Reg.

I have small panels/ no reg direct to Battery on my water feature pump (5 watt to 30 AH battery), maint. charging my boat (20 watt to 2 x 90 AH) and some garden lighting .

The rule of thumb is 1:100 IE 1 amp Panel current per 100AH of battery capacity (IMHO that is conservative and I work on less) but using that ratio a standard 10 watt panel of 0.6 amp max current into 60 AH lead acid battery doesn't need any form of Reg

[MB]

Some great advice, thank you kindly Gentlemen


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[MB]

Confirming did the old ‘Jaycar Click & Quick Collect’ for a couple of Rusty_Nails & PeeBees phone advice panels on the way home from work.


20W/1.15A direct onto the tractor battery (Lead Acid 160 RC Minutes) if I understand everyone’s thankful advice should loosely convert hopefully to 100+AH safely?

Will look towards a third flash bluetooth type remote version for dam pump down in the valley once time & money permits thanks heaps again Gentlemen


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