Does any one know of a portable solar power solution that can both triple charge a car battery and be used to charge electronics. Most solar power solutions I have found only have a USB or other power cable running from the solar panel. I don't want some thing mounted to my 4runner as I also like to raft and would like to be able to take it with me but if my car battery dies I want to be able to trickle charge it when I get off the river. Any Ideas?
Portable Solar Power Solution (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter snowboy1682
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Solar will take many hours to charge a dead battery. Better plan if you don't have an aux battery is to pick up one of the li-ion/poly based high current jump starters. They're small and will get your vehicle started so the alternator can get some charge back into it.
Any solar solution that could put our 5+ amps for charging a dead battery would require a panel in the 100W range and again you would need to wait several hours for it to get the battery sufficiently charged to crank/start. It also presumes you a) have sun and b) are close enough to a sunny area to run the panel.
Most use solar to keep an already charged battery topped up while running a fridge etc.
cheers,
george.
Any solar solution that could put our 5+ amps for charging a dead battery would require a panel in the 100W range and again you would need to wait several hours for it to get the battery sufficiently charged to crank/start. It also presumes you a) have sun and b) are close enough to a sunny area to run the panel.
Most use solar to keep an already charged battery topped up while running a fridge etc.
cheers,
george.
I 2nd what George recommended...I carry the Anti-Gravity X10 for jumping and also portable LED light powering as well as charging phones, tablets & laptops..I've used mine to jump start a diesel along with several automobiles. Biggest bang for the buck IMHO and takes up very little space in the truck.
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I looked at that system and it seems like it would work. Is there any way to charge it with a solar panel?
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If you read the specs of the X10 it has a cig lighter plug to charge it. Simplest to charge is to use solar to top up your vehicle battery and use that (nominal) 12V to then charge the X10.
A li-ion/poly unit like the X10 will remain charged for many months, so just top it up before heading off for a trip somewhere.
What Solar panel setup are you thinking about? The key to using a higher current solar panel is the charge controller...
cheers,
george.
A li-ion/poly unit like the X10 will remain charged for many months, so just top it up before heading off for a trip somewhere.
What Solar panel setup are you thinking about? The key to using a higher current solar panel is the charge controller...
cheers,
george.
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I think I found my solution in a company called Aspect Solar. If you have a chance look at their powerbar 250. They also have car battery charging cables that hook up to their solar panel. For what I want this is the first company that seems to have it all.
^^
A 13 watt (max, ideal conditions) is a tiny solar panel. Yes, if it was placed behind the windshield it would put a little juice back into the car battery each day the car was in direct sunlight, but that charger will "never" charge up a dead car battery. It'll take forever.
Get a bigger panel.
A 13 watt (max, ideal conditions) is a tiny solar panel. Yes, if it was placed behind the windshield it would put a little juice back into the car battery each day the car was in direct sunlight, but that charger will "never" charge up a dead car battery. It'll take forever.
Get a bigger panel.
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$460 (list) for an inverter, some usb outlets and 20AHr of lifepo4 battery capacity is a LOT of $$$. You still need to charge it somehow... The solar panels are EXTRA $$. There's some serious mark up there on the actual cost of goods!
I'd rather install (have done so) a dual battery system in the vehicle. Then just buy 100W of solar panels for your recharge needs. Keep an X10 if you flatten both batteries, though that is a LOT less likely with an isolated dual battery system.
cheers,
george.
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I think I understand more about this now. I am looking for a system that can do it all and still be portable. This doesn't really seam possible. So the system I found earlier would be great for the portable part, but then I would need either another jump starter battery for my 4Runner or a complete other system. Still I like the idea of what I found for portable power when running rivers and other back country excursions.
If I'm understanding your needs... I would do as @george_tlc suggested, early-on, and get a good jumpbox.
You can charge phones, etc. from a jumpbox and jump your 4runner, to get it started.
They don't really trickle charge, but you can jump your truck to start it and let the alternator charge it back up, while you drive.
This is a much simpler and cheaper solution... it's how I roll with 44 and with my Tundra... in fact, I am also able to recharge the jumpbox from my Tundra or 44 without draining the battery.
My jumpbox is about 7 years old and still going strong.
When I'm towing our trailer, I use an 80-watt solar set up to keep the trailer battery up and also carry a Honda eu2000i generator, for those sun-free days.
You can charge phones, etc. from a jumpbox and jump your 4runner, to get it started.
They don't really trickle charge, but you can jump your truck to start it and let the alternator charge it back up, while you drive.
This is a much simpler and cheaper solution... it's how I roll with 44 and with my Tundra... in fact, I am also able to recharge the jumpbox from my Tundra or 44 without draining the battery.
My jumpbox is about 7 years old and still going strong.
When I'm towing our trailer, I use an 80-watt solar set up to keep the trailer battery up and also carry a Honda eu2000i generator, for those sun-free days.
