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Battery maintaining again... Solar power ???

S

SMHimrod

Member
Since the subject of "batteries" has been talked about so much this weekend... I would like to give a battery maintainer a shot too. Has anyone tried a solar powered battery maintainer? If so any pros or cons to them? Does size matter? I do not have power out by my tractor or camper and was wondering if these things really work to avoid using 200 feet of extension cord across the back yard. Thanks-SHON
 
It all depends on where you live and how much sun you get. Many so-called solar battery maintainers are only 5-15 watt which is very little.

Here in New York, a 5 watt solar panel can make about 1/10 th of an amp at 14 volts under normal sun conditions. Obviously, if you want even 1 amp, you need a 25-50 watt panel.

I have solar battery chargers on two of my old backhoes. Both have 80 watt panels and regulators. That's a bit overkill, but they work very well. Keep in mind that panels are sold by max ratings - and in reality, it rarely happens. An 80 watt panel is apt to make 40-50 watts at the best time of day when the sun is out. That comes to 3-4 amps of DC charge current.

A 15 watt panel is about the useful minimum in the northeast. It will make 1/2 to 3/4s of an a amp at 14 volts charge. If you live out west with a lot more sun, something smaller will work.

A big battery needs near a 1 amp charger just to offset the normal self-discharge rate. A smaller battery can be maintained with less.
 
I got one of the cheapies, then realized it doesn't really do much with the vehicle in a shed, no sun? Duh. What's the point? They aren't big enough to charge a battery that is low, barely keep up with the normal phantom discharges...

--->Paul
 
I have a relative that works for a company that has a lot of trailers that has electric brakes on them. The Minnesota DOT likes to gig you on the trailer battery if it is not up too charge. He put solar chargers on all the trailers and that was the end of the problem.
 
All lead-acid batteries lose 5%-30% per month of their charge. All depends on the metals in the battery AND how big it is. The more antimony used inside the battery, the faster it goes dead. Just because it starts a tractor after sitting, doesn't mean it's not partially discharged.

Antimony is added to the lead plates in batteries to make them more vibration resistant. So, the more HD a battery is, the faster it will self-discharge - and more it might need to be run more, or stuck on a maintainer.

AGM batteries (like Optimas), don't use a lot of antimony in the plates since the glass-matts help with vibration resistance. So, AGMs typically only lose 5%-10% per month.

In theory, a battery can last much longer if never left in a state of discharge. A battery can be near dead at 12 volts and still crank a tractor pretty well. 12 volts means a battery is 80% discharged. A fully charged battery is 12.9 volts. Most 12 volt systems crank at 9 volts.
 
Lots of battery maintainers on classic cars, classic tractors and hot rods. Not a lot of those are parked outside.
 
I'm FIRM believer in Solar power,, I have several vehicles, Tractors , Etc that i have 1.8MWatt panels on that I got from Northern, and they Work Great!! now, they won't charge a Batt, BUT will keep it charged ... You never have to worry about it, all thats required is access to a Window or other light source... One time price.. just My $'s worth Larry KF4LKU
 
I don't know what size batteries you are maintaining, or how much sun you get. A 1.8 watt panel - when in direct overhead sunlight can provide about 1/10th of one amp. Around here in NY, or in areas (or times of year) of mostly indirect sunlight, it's more like 1/20th of 1 amp. That won't keep a large battery (or duals) at full 12.9 voltage, but will on smaller ones.
 
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