Solar Trickle Charger

[CalvinT]

I may get the solar charger and connect it to something that's always hot. I wonder how much sun gets blocked by the windshield.

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[BoverW]

Harbor freight also has one for sale. But yeah, you cannot charge through lighter port. I see some use obd port?

 

[CalvinT]

Harbor freight also has one for sale. But yeah, you cannot charge through lighter port. I see some use obd port?

ODBII port would work. It would allow quick install and removal. I wouldn't put too much power through it. A couple of amps should be OK.

Pin 16 is battery, pin 4 is chassis ground.

 

[gbub]

I have the power port in the cargo area programmed to be always on. The only time it shuts down is if the battery voltage gets too low. I am guessing that would include the other power ports too.

I have a small solar charger that has plug for a cigar lighter that I've had for many years. I never needed to use it. I may try it on my Bronco. I doubt it has enough power to run all the modules but it is worth a try. It may help make the battery last a little longer.

 

[theblackangus]

I have owned cars for 43 years and have never used a trickle charger when not using a car for an extended period of time. Never came home to a dead battery.

It depends alot on your climate.
I can tell you that I have to keep 2 of my cars on the charger in the winter months as they get driven very very little. Not doing so results in a dead battery.
Heck I didnt drive one of them for 4 months this summer and the battery was dead.

 

[gbub]

It also depends on if the battery has a draw on it. I have a race car that is only on track one weekend a year now. It is stored in Kansas in a non climate controlled building. The emergency shut off is disconnected so there is no draw on the battery. The battery is certainly not fully charged after a year but still has acceptable voltage in it. I use a 200 watt solar panel to charge it while I am getting the car ready to go on track. The battery is usually fully charged within 4 hours even with some cloudiness.

 

[gbub]

I have a small solar charger that has plug for a cigar lighter that I've had for many years. I never needed to use it. I may try it on my Bronco. I doubt it has enough power to run all the modules but it is worth a try. It may help make the battery last a little longer.

I found my small solar charger that is intended to keep a battery from being drained while not in use. I plugged it into a power port around 3:30 pm with cloud cover and even some mist. I checked the battery voltage before plugging in the small solar panel and it was below 12.2V. After an hour of being plugged in the battery voltage was up to 12.43V.

I find that hard to believe and suspect the modules shut down and allowed the battery to show higher voltage. I did check the voltage output of the solar panel before plugging it in and it read around 20V. As small as the solar panel is, I doubt it can produce much in amps.

I am going to keep it plugged in and monitor it to see if it is helping my battery maintain higher voltage.

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