middlecalf
Sweet, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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Hey all-
Unless I missed something in the search, I couldn't find any suggestions/discussions on solar battery conditioners/minders. I now store my camper under cover (ShelterLogic shelter) so my solar panel on the roof no longer works to maintain my batteries while off the truck. I'm looking for something to maintain my batteries without having to remove them, and I have no power at the shelter location. I can do a monthly charge with my generator, but I'm looking for something solar to make it easy (lots of sunshine where I'm at). Something like this maybe http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_solar_5W.htm ? Any ideas or experience out there worth mentioning? Thanks in advance.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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I've used the VDC solar BatteryMINDer controller on our HTTTH for several years, it works great. I use a 15 amp SCC180 controller with someone elses 15 watt panel (no seperate 15 watt panel available from them when I bought mine). If you have a specific question, pm me.
IMO 5 watts is a bit small.
* This post was
edited 10/13/08 07:42pm by Chuck&Gail *
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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BrandonR
Oregon
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Joined: 04/12/2006
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5w is a maintainer not a charger and that's if you eliminate all phantom loads in the camper (battery disconnect). I would expect to come back to a dead battery if I left the LP detector and stereo memory on with only a 5w solar panel.
Brandon Reed
Albany, OR
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PJ Colahan
Antioch, CA
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Joined: 04/15/2008
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Here is an inexpensive solar panel that you can connect to your battery directly. If you do a search at Northern Tool you will find many other models. Hope that this helps.Solar Panel
PJ
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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I use the 15 watt to keep up four golf batteries in sunny so. CA.
It barely keeps up 13.4 volts in the winter and maybe 13.7 volts in summer. Never gets to 14.2 that would trigger the lower float voltage. Batteries are otherwise completely disconnected. The panel is mounted flat on the roof. I am satisfied but it is barely enough. This is for storage only, it provides virtually nothing while camped. I recommend an absolute minimum of 5 watts for each battery.
15 watt solar battery minder
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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middlecalf
Sweet, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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smkettner- The info in the link you provided shows that the cable length from the panel to the controller is 9.5 feet. Can you tell me what the length from the controller to the battery connects is? Does it come with the aligator clips or is that an additional assessory? Thanks.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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The included wire to connect the controller to the battery is about two feet, maybe three. It comes with ring terminals for the battery, an inline fuse and a quick connect for easy battery removal.
Now that I look, it appears to be the lug harness shown below that is included. And a short jumper to get from the harness to the controller.
I had to extend the connection from the panel to controller. It must be 25' of #14 wire to get from the roof to the front compartment of my trailer. I figured that was enough for 1 amp max. The instructions warn to limit extending the wire to 5 additional feet using the same size wire. I think the wire supplied was maybe #16 or #18.
* This post was
edited 10/14/08 11:28pm by smkettner *
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msiminoff
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 12/31/2006
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Hey middlecalf,
That 5 watt panel will do a fine job maintaining your camper battery as long as you start with them fully charged and there are no phantom loads.
Best,
-Mark
2004 Alpenlite Saratoga 935, 188w solar, RV-30S cntrl, Trojan T125, Prosine 2.0
2005 Ram 3500 QC, Cummins, Vision 19.5 w/Michelin XDE-MS 245's, RR airbags, Torklift w/Superhitch, Roadmaster sway-bar, Thuren trackbar, Rancho RS9000X, Modified bumpstops
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