Solar Trickle Charger

[Disaster Area]

Hello everyone,

As my shed does not have mains electricity, I'm after a method of trickle charging my bike's battery. The local versions of Halfords have various sizes of solar panels available so does anyone have any top tips on size/connecting/things to watch out for?

Thanks,
DA

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Something like this will do the job.

 

[HTB]

Paul’s recommendation +1
If you don’t go for something like this, you need to make sure any solar charger will not discharge your battery when the sun is switched off. Cheap chargers will potentially do this if no reverse current (diode) protection in place. Just saying... no. I’ve never flattened the battery on my Landrover with a cheap solar charger....

 

[Giles]

I do have the Halfords charger you're talking about. (£30?). Its a bit of a temporary measure until I get power down to my shed (month or two away yet) but i've checked it on a multi meter and it is delivering a very small amount!

I'm not using it to charge a low battery, but hopefully there's enough juice to just keep a good battery healthy.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Allotment-build/i-KHCpnDF/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Allotment-build/i-KHCpnDF/0/eaa280b4/L/IMG_0484_HEIC-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

 

[Disaster Area]

So would something like this work? https://www.jaycar.co.nz/12v-20w-solar-panel-with-clips/p/ZM9052
Would I need one of these? https://www.jaycar.co.nz/power-batteries/solar-power/solar-charge-controllers/c/0HC?sort=popularity-desc&q

 

[er-minio]

What Paul posted, or, a bit on the expensive side, but have a look here: https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/549526-ALTERNATIVE-BATTERY-TRICKLING-POWER-SOURCE-QUERY

 

[ymfb]

I recently bought one from optimate for the campervan, but it uses the same connector as the bike charger and my air pump. A bit more expensive than the leaders suggestion.

 

[Rich C]

I do have the Halfords charger you're talking about. (£30?). Its a bit of a temporary measure until I get power down to my shed (month or two away yet) but i've checked it on a multi meter and it is delivering a very small amount!

I'm not using it to charge a low battery, but hopefully there's enough juice to just keep a good battery healthy.

The above is correct.. Nothing like enough juice to charge a battery but will keep one topped up. I used one for several years on a leisure battery I had and didn't use over the winter.