Solar Charger

[Sjetter]

I am going to keep my 230SX in a slip for the 1st time. Has anyone taken advantage of the sun and used a low wattage solar battery charger?

 

[Bruce]

Can you mount it to the dock?

How quickly do you need to charge?

How many batteries to you have?

I built a solar powered stereo system for my kids playground. There is a little info in this thread.

I used this $60 30 watt solar panel http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COBQR14/

And this $20 solar charge controller http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00752TRNW

The solar power is stored in a marine battery.

Solar power is highly dependent on where you live. 4 hours of peak production seems to be the norm for central Texas. So you can expect the 30 watt panel to produce 120 watts hours (10 amp hours) per day. The charge would peak at a rate of 2.5 amps. So this is a trickle charger. Your battery likely has around a 100 amp hour capacity. You will damage it if you discharge below 50% so you are unlikely to run it that low on any outing. So the 30 watt panel should give you a full recharge from the maximum reasonable discharge over 5 days.

Ideally I would mount the panel to the dock with the charge controller on the back of the panel. Then I would run 14 gauge wire for up to 15 feet for 12 gauge up to 25 feet and use anderson power poles with dust covers as a quick connector.

The kids solar panel has kept their battery charged. They have always had power to play their music. Somedays they leave it running all day. So it is working well for us.

 

[Bruce]

The solar charge controller prevents the panel overcharging the batteries. I would not hook up a solar panel without a charge controller.

 

[KXCam22]

You can buy RV ones pretty cheap in one package. Cam.

 

[Jim Robeson]

I put a complete solar system on my dock to raise the lift and have a little light and some outlets. It uses a 140 watt panel with 4 golf type batteries. It does a nice job and I can also use it to keep the batteries charged on the boat through the week. I do pull my batteries in the winter and use the solar system in the summer.

 

[Speedling]

Coleman solar battery charger.
Found at home depots and menards etc.
6 watt, or 440mAmp charge rate with overcharging protection and feedback protection all built in. Not gonna charge up a dead battery but will keep it live! I can keep my battery in my camper and use it and it's good to go anytime in the middle of the winter. Also use it to maintain the lawnmower battery, which means i need another one.
Found on sale for $25 one day at menards

 

[Sjetter]

Coleman solar battery charger.
Found at home depots and menards etc.
6 watt, or 440mAmp charge rate with overcharging protection and feedback protection all built in. Not gonna charge up a dead battery but will keep it live! I can keep my battery in my camper and use it and it's good to go anytime in the middle of the winter. Also use it to maintain the lawnmower battery, which means i need another one.
Found on sale for $25 one day at menards

Thanks

 

[Sjetter]

I put a complete solar system on my dock to raise the lift and have a little light and some outlets. It uses a 140 watt panel with 4 golf type batteries. It does a nice job and I can also use it to keep the batteries charged on the boat through the week. I do pull my batteries in the winter and use the solar system in the summer.

Thanks

 

[Sjetter]

You can buy RV ones pretty cheap in one package. Cam.

Thanks

 

[Sjetter]

Can you mount it to the dock?

How quickly do you need to charge?

How many batteries to you have?

I built a solar powered stereo system for my kids playground. There is a little info in this thread.

I used this $60 30 watt solar panel http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COBQR14/

And this $20 solar charge controller http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00752TRNW

The solar power is stored in a marine battery.

Solar power is highly dependent on where you live. 4 hours of peak production seems to be the norm for central Texas. So you can expect the 30 watt panel to produce 120 watts hours (10 amp hours) per day. The charge would peak at a rate of 2.5 amps. So this is a trickle charger. Your battery likely has around a 100 amp hour capacity. You will damage it if you discharge below 50% so you are unlikely to run it that low on any outing. So the 30 watt panel should give you a full recharge from the maximum reasonable discharge over 5 days.

Ideally I would mount the panel to the dock with the charge controller on the back of the panel. Then I would run 14 gauge wire for up to 15 feet for 12 gauge up to 25 feet and use anderson power poles with dust covers as a quick connector.

The kids solar panel has kept their battery charged. They have always had power to play their music. Somedays they leave it running all day. So it is working well for us.

Thanks

 

[soggyshoes]

@Jim Robeson Did you build your system or buy a kit? Either way do you remember how you did it or what you bought?
Also, is it possible to share any pics?
Thanks

 

[subysti]

This is what I use. I works great and even revitalizes old batteries.
http://www.batteryminders.com/12-volt-solar-charger-maintainer-desulfator-panel-scc-015

it will do up to 4 batteries and keeps them conditioned.

 

[Sjetter]

@Jim Robeson Did you build your system or buy a kit? Either way do you remember how you did it or what you bought?
Also, is it possible to share any pics?
Thanks

Not yet, still deciding what setup to go with

 

[latitudeadjuster]

I have used the solar charger in the winter for the last couple years. Really has helped save and maintain the battery. Be sure to get the 10 or 12 foot extension available.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-1164-Solar-Charger/dp/B004Q86JJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427038542&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+battery+tender+10

 

[Jim Robeson]

@soggyshoes ... the first solar charging system I made myself. Used a solar kit from Harbor Freight ... http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-68751-8527.html ... I purchased a 2000 watt inverter off of Craigslist and used a deep cycle battery. All in all I had maybe $300 in the setup. The only problem was that it wasn't approved by the Corp of Engineers and I have to have them approve any changes on my docks since I'm on a Corp managed lake. Last summer I went ahead and had a dock company put in a "legal" system, the one I described above. The new system I have cost me $2500 which got me a set of engineered plans and something that the Corp will approve when my dock is due for inspection.

Doing it yourself is very easy if you don't have to have any approvals to do so. You could easily use the Harbor Freight kit to keep your batteries hot if that is all you need. It comes with a regulator so that your batteries don't overcharge. I never had any issues with this kit whatsoever.

I don't have any pictures of my old set up, but the next time I go to the lake I will snap some shots of the new one if you're interested in something like that.

 

[Sjetter]

I have used the solar charger in the winter for the last couple years. Really has helped save and maintain the battery. Be sure to get the 10 or 12 foot extension available.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-1164-Solar-Charger/dp/B004Q86JJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427038542&sr=8-1&keywords=solar battery tender 10

Looks like a great setup....thanks for the info

 

[Sjetter]

@soggyshoes ... the first solar charging system I made myself. Used a solar kit from Harbor Freight ... http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-68751-8527.html ... I purchased a 2000 watt inverter off of Craigslist and used a deep cycle battery. All in all I had maybe $300 in the setup. The only problem was that it wasn't approved by the Corp of Engineers and I have to have them approve any changes on my docks since I'm on a Corp managed lake. Last summer I went ahead and had a dock company put in a "legal" system, the one I described above. The new system I have cost me $2500 which got me a set of engineered plans and something that the Corp will approve when my dock is due for inspection.

Doing it yourself is very easy if you don't have to have any approvals to do so. You could easily use the Harbor Freight kit to keep your batteries hot if that is all you ne!ed. It comes with a regulator so that your batteries don't overcharge. I never had any issues with this kit whatsoever.

I don't have any pictures of my old set up, but the next time I go to the lake I will snap some shots of the new one if you're interested in something like that.

I to am on a Corp lake but private marina, I'll have to check on the approval. Thanks for the info!

 

[soggyshoes]

@subysti @latitudeadjuster and @Jim Robeson
Thanks for all the help, I don't need government approval so no need for a $2500 system. But all three of your suggestions look like they will work perfect for me.
Thanks again! You make this the best forum out there.

 

[steined]

I'm doing valet launch this year and don't have access to power unfortunately. I am exploring options for a solar charger and I like @Bruce 's suggestion so far. I need to see if they will allow me to mount the solar panel to the carport covering my boat (I suspect they might), and the orientation of the sun to see if it is practical. I'm guessing two of those 30W panels with the charge controller would actually charge the battery from a mildly depleted level (~3-4 Amp charge peak). Otherwise I might have to lug a generator out on occasion I suppose. Thoughts?