Solar trickle chargers.

[Road Dog]

Guys, I need your help. Our Dodge is a 97 Ram diesel 4x4. Most of the time it just sits so the batteries tend to run down. The Interstates I have in there now are about 18 months old and are starting to need to be jumped if I don't drive the truck about once per week.

You have 2 problems -- something is staying on and your battery is never charged properly.

Any light - even a glove box light - will draw down the battery over a week or two. It can be a wire where the insulation has rubbed off or the seat belt lock fails energized (it happens). You need to start pulling fuses and find the draw.

The other problem is lead-acid batteries like to be kept fully charged and jump starting and driving around a while won't do it. If you need to jump start then you need a charger and a day or two to bring the batteries back to a full charge.

My '02 sits around for months in the Winter without issue. If I remember I'll hook up a charger once a month to keep it fully charged. My last set of batteries lasted 12 years.

 

[DavidC]

It has to be Solar ?. No 110 available ?
Never Mind. I saw your previous post of why.
Dave

 

[bcbender]

Reviving this thread as I am in the market for a solar charger for a dump trailer... Lots of stuff out there, so wondering if anyone has one or recommends one. Trailer is a small PJ with a single deep cycle battery, sits in the sun (well when the sun is shining in SW Washington ST. Looked at some small suitcase size integrated units in the 30-50W range but thought Id throw it back out there.....

 

[bcbender]

No thoughts or ideas? I thought for sure somebody had done something similar in the last 6 years.. I plan to put a 100W panel on a dead tree for my dump trailer, but this is not an option for my dad.

 

[Ozymandias]

Amazon has a truck load of these solar trickle chargers, check the ratings, read the reviews and find one that fits your needs.
I don't believe there are big differences between them because they are all made in China.
Personally I probably would buy direct through AliExpress.com for something like that and get a higher priced good quality unit. It's always better to buy direct from a manufacturer if possible.

 

[AH64ID]

No thoughts or ideas? I thought for sure somebody had done something similar in the last 6 years.. I plan to put a 100W panel on a dead tree for my dump trailer, but this is not an option for my dad.

100w seems pretty big for a trickle charger. Are you going to put a controller with it?

 

[Grumpy8811]

100w seems pretty big for a trickle charger. Are you going to put a controller with it?

yeah, assuming it was 100% efficient that would equal about an 8 amp charge rate at 12vda, which would probably cook a unused battery over time

 

[Topzide]

HF has a nice 25 watt panel with battery clips and lighter plug; https://www.harborfreight.com/25-watt-solar-panel-63940.html
Was looking at this one to split between the 2 tractors. Would be plenty to keep them up and keep from freezing over the winter months.

 

[GAmes]

HF has a nice 25 watt panel with battery clips and lighter plug; https://www.harborfreight.com/25-watt-solar-panel-63940.html
Was looking at this one to split between the 2 tractors. Would be plenty to keep them up and keep from freezing over the winter months.

Be sure to also get the solar charge regulator. There isn't a cut off in their little solar panels. 7 Amp Solar Charge Regulator

 

[bcbender]

100w seems pretty big for a trickle charger. Are you going to put a controller with it?

It has a controller with it,.. Was one I bought many moons ago and thought I'd at least use it for something.

 

[bcbender]

Be sure to also get the solar charge regulator. There isn't a cut off in their little solar panels. 7 Amp Solar Charge Regulator

I've been looking at some 20 & 30 W units online that have MPPT smart controllers with them. I think 30W would be enough to get a decent charge over time (given the WA state weather). Costs a little more with that controller but probably worth it not to overcharge, My dad is not the mechanical / electrical type and I don't live close enough to babysit it, so looking more for simple and reliable than cost.