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Solar battery chargers and batteries
I noticed these new solar battery chargers in some of the catalogs I just
received. Being that I like to shut the engine down and listen to the radio,
leave the fish finder on, and use other electronics, would putting up one of
these solar gizmos be a good idea? It supposedly has some electronics so it
doesn't over charge.Also - since we are on the battery topic, my current battery is 3 years old,
and I do not want to take a chance for the next season. I need to buy a new
one. What marine battery brand is considered really good? I would like to go
to a local store, so they can take my old one. Are the Die Hards good? I am
not even sure if they make a marine version. Thanks! |
Dan
Oct 11
2005
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| The fish finder might be your big ticket item in the power department.
Unless you have a 900 watt stereo system. Most of these solar panels are
going to be limited to a few amps. I do the same thing, every three years I replace the battery just so I don't
have to worry about it. Since I know i'm only using the battery 3 years I
go cheap and big, wally world group 27 or if you can get it to fit a group
29. "Dan J.S." <me@hyperx.com> wrote in message |
JamesgangNC
Oct 11
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| Mine is 1.5 amps and the thing fried a deep cycle battery in 3 days of
moderate sunlight. I now have an amp meter to shut it off. |
Dry
Oct 11
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| LOL...or how about on board a 65 knot Parker with a sat-com down link?
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Netsock
Oct 11
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| I doubt any solar charger that you could fit on a boat will ever overcharge
a marine battery. But, to answer your question, yes a solar charger will
maintain a charge or, depending on how much stuff you leave on, extend the
time it takes to discharge the battery. The electronics are usually associated with a display of array current and a
diode to prevent the battery from being discharged by the solar panel at
night. To give you some idea, I had an RV with a solar panel rated at "50 watts".
In bright sunlight the most array current I witnessed was just under 3 amps. Eisboch |
Eisboch
Oct 11
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| I'll respond to the second part of your query, since I know nothing
about solar panels. I like AGM batteries for small boats. They last for many years, they
recharge quickly, and, aside from cleaning the terminals, they really
are maintenance free. They're a little more expensive than a decent 12V
"boat battery." There are several major brands now offering good AGM
batteries. |
Harry
Oct 11
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| Any idea how they work on fabulous 36' Zimmermanlike lobstaboats? --
Skipper |
Skipper
Oct 11
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