Solar Panel & Other non mains trickle chargers

[Rogue_Shadow]

Hello BCF

This could of gone in the Geek Zone section, but hey'o.

I've recently moved out & will be storing my bike in a shed in the near future. As I don't use my bike to commute, there is risk for the battery to lose charge or not keep at optimal charge. In a perfect world I would simply connect up a mains trickle charger, however with the shed being away from any mains power and no chance of running an extension lead I was thinking of other options.

Does anyone have any ideas how to trickle charge a battery without mains power, i'm not after a battery charger or something that will return a battery from the dead.
Would a solar panel trickle charger system fit the bill?
I've seen a few on ebay/ maplins & other gadget shops, but didn't know if they work well or safe to use.
( Shed inferno's need not apply )

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers

[Itchy]

A big one will do it, but a small one not a chance. I had an A4 sized one it ended up killing a battery.

You know you can remove the battery from the bike and take it inside right?
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[CaNsA]

[doggone]

Will be better than nothing, a bit unreliable though and most so when you really need it. Like in Winter.
I use a 4watt one on a mini-digger and it keeps it topped up.
That battery is a good bit bigger than any bike.
If a battery is flat you will never get it to charge up with one though.

[Llama-Farmer]

I'd just get a big enough extension lead to use an Optimate in the shed once a week... or remove the battery from the bike and Optimate it in the house instead.

Solar powered trickle chargers are never particularly brilliant, they have to be big to work well. And in a shed it's going to be in the shade or indirect light a lot as well, rather than in direct sunlight.
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[G]

What's your budget?

A cheapish solar panel on ebay designed for motor-home and so on with a £10 pwm controller should do the trick.

You'll need it on the shed roof, presuming it gets direct sunlight.

The last panel I got was a 235w 24v one for £80; unused but not sold as new.
That's overkill for your needs - 30w or so I reckon should be about right. The maplins ones tend to be too low power to be useful.

[Vincent]

I've seen a few wind generators used on boats....not sure if they were charging the batteries with them though.

I tried one of the cheapo solar panels on eBay with the cig lighter plug and it was totally useless on car and bike
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[G]

They will have been charging batteries. However, they do tend to be noisy.

They are often used in combination with solar - hoping that if you don't have sunny days, there will probably be some wind.

Charging a bike battery doesn't need much, so personally I'd stick to solar as it's simpler due to no moving parts and so on.

[Rogue_Shadow]

Thanks for your feedback guys
Yes Cansa, KISS again
However taking the battery out or running an extension cable to the shed is not simple. It's hassel
Sticking a solar panel in the window of the shed or even on the roof, would be far more convienient that the above.
Like I mentioned, this is not to charge the battery from flat. It's something that will be connected up occasionally after a ride, knowing it maybe a week or so till I ride again.
I'll have a gander when I'm closer to getting a shed, but it seems a viable option. I was just worried about damaging The battery or the charging system bursting into flames

[G]

£25 panel:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251131513443
£3.70 PWM unit:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221494053775

Bit of wiring, couple of connectors and a fuse (incase water makes a short circuit or something) and it should be sorted well enough to keep a bike battery topped up.

Without the controller* you can have the battery discharge through the panel. I wouldn't go less than 20w, which is only a little over 1a - but that should be enough to keep it topped up I reckon.

(*And I've got no idea if it's actually good enough - my 20a one cost me a tenner posted from the UK and has done me fine, so a £3.70 3a one from china doesn't seem unreasonable.)

[bikersupermot...]

iv got a 20w polycrystalline panel - had it 7years now ( they were really expensive then! ) - its connected to a charge controller which is then permanently connectly to my van battery - never had a flat since.
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[iooi]

[Rogue_Shadow]