solar panel battery charger? key off? really?

[e9999]

just got this dashboard solar panel battery charger as a freebie, the little affair you plug into the cig lighter and that supposedly will charge your battery in a jiffy. (With all of 1.5W, right... ).
Anyway, I was reading the instructions for it and they sure made it sound like you just plug this in any cig lighter receptacle and it'll work.
Me OTOH, I would have assumed this will only charge if the receptacle is an "always on even with the key off" type, as I would have thought the "receptacle off with key off" type would be disconnected from the battery and so there would be no charging. But there is nothing about that in the instructions. Am I missing something? Are some types of relays to shut the receptacle off only "one way off"? Is this charger relying on some odd electronics feature? Or are those just crappy instructions from China?

 

[DillonOnTheCoast]

Crappy instructions. The circuit to the battery is broken when the ignition is in the off position. No way it will charge.

I use a 30 watt panel to charge my battery. It produces about 1.7 amps in full sunlight.

 

[e9999]

well, I just saw something odd.
Had the panel in sunlight. When disconnected from the cig lighter receptacle, it showed a steady no load voltage of 18V, but when I put the plug in the receptacle with the key off, the measured voltage immediately dropped significantly, to a fluctuating 5V to 9V or so. No idea what that means but that suggests that the receptacle is not totally cut off from the circuit with key off, no? (There is no indication that there is any electronics in there except for a diode.)

(btw, not my LCs, it's the Accord, not that that matters probably)

 

[KLF]

The solar panel is trying to power the other accessories on the circuit.

Sent from my DROIDX using IH8MUD

 

[e9999]

The solar panel is trying to power the other accessories on the circuit.

Sent from my DROIDX using IH8MUD

possibly, what would those be? you would think that the cig lighter would have a dedicated circuit, though...

 

[bcart1991]

Some cars have power to the lighter even if the key is off/out. My BMW did, it would charge my ipod or run anything plugged in no matter the key condition. I think my parents' old Accord did the same thing, or maybe it was dad's old Z-car...

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

With a max published (China always lies about specs) output of 1.5W its not worth plugging in.

This keeps our battery up along with the fridge

 

[OregonLC]

With a max published (China always lies about specs) output of 1.5W its not worth plugging in.

This keeps our battery up along with the fridge

So Phil you probably don't have to worry as much in your neck of the woods, but in the PNW that panel would get crushed by branches. My worst trail rash is on the roof...

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

So Phil you probably don't have to worry as much in your neck of the woods, but in the PNW that panel would get crushed by branches. My worst trail rash is on the roof...

I have heard the same comment in the past but how many sun roof have you heard of being lost. Not to say it could not happen but a good panel is tougher then one would think.

 

[e9999]

Phil, how many W on yours? One could also conceivably make it easily removable to avoid damage in wooded areas since you don't need it when driving, and just use while camping etc. There are folding ones that don't seem to take too much space. Soon, flex ones too, hopefully.

still playing with my little toy. It does seem to make a slight difference on the battery charge, but not sure yet.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Phil, how many W on yours? One could also conceivably make it easily removable to avoid damage in wooded areas since you don't need it when driving, and just use while camping etc. There are folding ones that don't seem to take too much space. Soon, flex ones too, hopefully.

still playing with my little toy. It does seem to make a slight difference on the battery charge, but not sure yet.

Eric it is a 55watt ITE Siemens panel. Due to the cost mine is not easy to remove at least I hope so

I have a portable tri-fold Burton 25W for a motorcycle battery I use for my little camp trailer.

 

[e9999]

Eric it is a 55watt ITE Siemens panel. Due to the cost mine is not easy to remove at least I hope so

I have a portable tri-fold Burton 25W for a motorcycle battery I use for my little camp trailer.

55W is just right for a typical 12V fridge. Nice!

how do you lock it down?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

55W is just right for a typical 12V fridge. Nice!

how do you lock it down?

Custom mount on rubber groments. 100s of miles of wash board logged without issue.

I can go days without starting the LC on one reg lead acid battery. Waeco CF-50 full of beverages at 33°

 

[e9999]

you should have that thing run a fan continuously when parked in the sun so the driver is always cool too...

 

[QuintonSchoenrock]

just got this dashboard solar panel battery charger as a freebie, the little affair you plug into the cig lighter and that supposedly will charge your battery in a jiffy. (With all of 1.5W, right... ).
Anyway, I was reading the instructions for it and they sure made it sound like you just plug this in any cig lighter receptacle and it'll work.
Me OTOH, I would have assumed this will only charge if the receptacle is an "always on even with the key off" type, as I would have thought the "receptacle off with key off" type would be disconnected from the battery and so there would be no charging. But there is nothing about that in the instructions. Am I missing something? Are some types of relays to shut the receptacle off only "onhoe way off"? Is this charger relying on some odd electronics feature? Or are those just crappy instructions from China?

Those are just crappy instructions..Even I have been using these panels and have never done such things..

 

[JCruse]

LandCruiserPhil: That's awesome! Looks like my rig. Mine isn't mounted as firmly though. There's a slight flex in the home made support beams and no rubber grommets. There's about a quarter inch movement when the road gets bumpy. Still, I've got several hundred miles logged with it on, including bouncing like hell across beaches, and not the slightest problem.
Mine is the Renogy 100W. Makes close to 8 amps and feeds an Odyssey 2150.

I plan on adding a fridge this winter and as I understand it, the truck can sit parked for a couple days at a time with the fridge running 24/7.





.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

LandCruiserPhil: That's awesome! Looks like my rig. Mine isn't mounted as firmly though. There's a slight flex in the home made support beams and no rubber grommets. There's about a quarter inch movement when the road gets bumpy. Still, I've got several hundred miles logged with it on, including bouncing like hell across beaches, and not the slightest problem.
Mine is the Renogy 100W. Makes close to 8 amps and feeds an Odyssey 2150.

I plan on adding a fridge this winter and as I understand it, the truck can sit parked for a couple days at a time with the fridge running 24/7.

.

Should be fine providing you purchase an efficient fridge. I have a guy running a 100w stand alone system(Not connected to the vehicle) for a couple Years now in the Aspen area.

I have since upgraded my solar on my 80 series. Im running a flexable ultra thin (.12")100 watt panel.

 

[JCruse]

Woah! Now that's killer! This is your rig? If so you've done an excellent job ob it. Is that top custom?

Damn you can get two more of those panels up there and really have some juice!

Great looking truck.

Yeah I'm figuring on getting a small Dometic or Norcold, or maybe the cheaper Edgestar/Whynter. I assume any of these will be acceptable.


How does the stand alone system work? How many batteries, amp hours, and what can the one 100W panel power?

 

[Dubbinchris]

(btw, not my LCs, it's the Accord, not that that matters probably)

It completely matters as the cig plug in the Accord may be set up completely different, I.E. stays hot with ignition off.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Woah! Now that's killer! This is your rig? If so you've done an excellent job ob it. Is that top custom?

Damn you can get two more of those panels up there and really have some juice!

Great looking truck.

Yeah I'm figuring on getting a small Dometic or Norcold, or maybe the cheaper Edgestar/Whynter. I assume any of these will be acceptable.


How does the stand alone system work? How many batteries, amp hours, and what can the one 100W panel power?

Yes
Thanks
Pop top by CampTeq

Stand alone set up is basic and straight forward. Uses a 100W panel, controller, AGM battery running a National Luna fridge.