Solar charger

[bae501]

Do's anybody out there have a solar charger for there fish house? I just purchased a 5 watt one at Cabela's and was wondering how they work and any mounting idea's.

[stubby1]

I bought my solar panel off HSOList 2 years ago and love it all the way.I put mine on the ice house in the winter and on the boat in the summers.It charges my batteries during the week and I use the batteries during the weekend.I use the same batteries during the summer and winter.Ever since I bought the panel I quit rotating my dead batteries for charged batteries.The only thing I have added was a regulator so it doesn't over charge the batteries.That may be something that I would look into if I were you,they aren't all that expensive and some of the manufactures of the solar panels sell them as an accessory.Good luck,My 2 cents

[bae501]

Stubby what watt is yours?

[nytelyter]

ok here goes.... a 5 watt panel has enuff power to maintian a trickle charge to a deep cell but if you are out each and every day in your shack heres the deal

a typical deep cycle battery will need 45 watts for each battery you choose to run trust me on this i have 3 15 watt panels on my house and it does not keep two charged enough i have done alot of phone callin on this and from what i have gathered for two deep cycles you should have about 100 watts with the the desigenated regulators on them

my next investment is in the wind generators that are availble for about 600 dollars you can harness the power from the wind and i ask you .... when is it not windy on the lake in the winter???? these babies need only 7mph of wind to start produceing power and are not linmited to daytime chargeing

the new technolegy (spell check) that areo has come up with on their design has only two moveing parts and matt i do not and am not a rep for areo but i think that more of us sleeper owners should get on the band wagon on this you will never have to LUGG another battery in and out i plan on puting one on my shack in the next two years and had o not so heavely invested in solar panels 3 x $170 each there would already be one on mine if you do go solar save your dimes and get none less than a 50 watt plug and play panel these will run you about $500 - $600 and WILL sufficiently charge and keep up one deep cycle battery also both solar and wind chargers should (from what i was told) not be taxable something about renewable resources you cant miss me out on the ice with my three 15 watt panels looks like a huge message board on it i have gotten a few remarks about it but what the heck

anyways make some phonecalls do some computer searches on both but dont get caught short if had it to do over again it would be wind

a 5 watt panel will do a great job on your flasher batteries and i keep one on my quad runner when i am not useing it but save your money as it will not be enuff if you fish alot and use alot of accesories .... tv dvd lights fans my three cents worth!!!

[waskawood]

I have one 15 watt panel and it kept my 2 deep cycle batteries charged. I fish a few hours every night but don't have anything other than lights in my 6 1/2 by 12 foot 6 holer.

[stubby1]

I tried to find the info paper on my solar panel from when I bought it,but no luck.I am not sure but 7 or 7.5 watts sticks in my mind.I looked on HSOList for the guy that I bought mine (since he manufactures them)from is still selling to see what the info is there.He is not selling anything on hsolist right now.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

So...if I get out only on weekends and use 2 deep cell batteries...I run a couple lights @ night and the kids may run a TV/DVD...A 15 watt would be adequate.

[nytelyter]

may be enuff if only on weekends but i would use maybe just one deep cell onit there are lots of dealers to get these panels from but with me i am out every nite and run all of my shack on two deeep cells and three will not keep up just not enuff direct sunlight days are two short just tellin ya from my research and expierence.

still lookin for good ice......... have a great day

[MinnesotaMuskie]

I only get out on weekends as I work from 7AM-9PM in the winter.

What do you mean"only use 1 deep cell/" I havbe them connected...I heard that 2 connected last longer than 1 by itself???

[nytelyter]

two will prolly work fine but one would charge better and on a good battery one will get you thru a weekend why risk haveing both stolen if you were broken into

[MinnesotaMuskie]

Good Point....gosh I love the hints we pick up on this site...and all for free:)