Solar Chargers-Do They Work

[kevfish]

I have a permanent fishhouse that i fish out of for 2-3 days on weekends and then it is not used for 5 days. Would a solar charger keep the batterry charged for the season. I just run lights and a fan in the house so the charger would just have to recharge whatever is used by them. Trying to avoid having to bring the battery back with me every week.

[stubby1]

I have one and love it.I start out the year with a charged up deep cycle at home and put it in the fishhouse and hook up the solar panel. I am like you use the battery for a couple lights and fans on the weekend and let the panel do its work on the week.I never changed my battery the 1st year I used it.I didn't use the house the second year but am going to use it this year.A buddy of mine is looking to do the same thing after seeing how good mine worked.I also use mine on the boat for the deep cycles there too.As long as the sun is strong I get good results.I don't have the details on the solar panel as to the watts of charge etc but I know it works great.My panel is about 1'x 1'x .5".It has a swivel base that mounts just about any way possible with ten feet of cord to run to the battery. I bought mine on HSOList for $40 and the guy that I bought it from made them and now quit.Don't know why but thats the luck.

[beer batter]

What happens to a battery if left connected to a solar panel over extended period? Does it cook the battery or are the amps low enough to have no effect on it?

[nytelyter]

from my expierence. and there have been other posts on this subject. for just lights and a fan on weekends a 15 watt panel should do you just fine but it will depend on the sun amount during the week. most panels require about 8-12 hours of good sunlight to keep maximum charge rates. now for me. and i am out every night run lights, television, a converter for the dvd player. builge pump for the minnow box recycler. fans for heatr and exhaust. i have 3 15 watt panels. and alternate between two deep cycle batts. now if you are going to use these batteries for electronics in the shack and trolling motors and electronics on the boat buy only deep cycle batts. not dual purpose ie. start and deep cycle. as the starting side of those batteries if not used will eventually ruin the battery. why i do not know. something about them not being energized from non use. but if you use them for starting and electronics, they will be just fine. northern tool have a great selection of solar panels. and there are other sources as well. but what i would mostly reccomend is that you over buy and not under buy. as for over chargeing your batteries. all good solar panels will come with a charge limiter that will stop chargeing when battery is full. if i had it all to do over again i would buy one 50 watt panel and add another 50 when i could afford it. they will run you from $400 - $500 and will be ready to mount and hook up. again as for me my next purchase for the shack will be a wind powered generator. to work in combination with my solar. and i will never have to carry another battery except in the beginning and at the end of sleeper usage on the lake. and after that i will be upgradeing my deep cycles. hope fully this helps you out. get online and do some research. and GOOD FISHING.

[Gadgetman]

I would echo the overbuy comment. I have a 5 watt panel that is good for keeping the boat batrery charged in the summer but is worthless in the winter due to much less sunlight. I have even tried 2 of the 5 watt panels in tandem and that was no better. The bigger panels are expensive but the only viable option if you dont want to be in the battery hauling business

[beer batter]

I was in Cabalas last night and saw a solar charging panel in the bargain cave for just $15. It had a sticker on it saying "sold as is, no returns" and it looked like it had been open but I don't know if anything is broke or missing out of it. Pretty good deal for anyone knowledgable with these things if any tinkering needs to be done with it..