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Solar trickle charger, any good?

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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 08:53 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Solar trickle charger, any good? Reply with quote

Im having to take my bikes battery inside to keep it charged while not riding it every day. Its a PITA so im wondering about a solar trickle charger with the panal mounted on the shed. Are they any good? Any recommendations on a good make?

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RedRooster
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PostPosted: 10:23 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cant say i have ever used one but the idea sounds good depends on where you live really. We dont get much sun here on the east coast. If its a cheapo probably not going to work that well
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Islander
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PostPosted: 10:33 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Solar power in Aberdeen. Genius. Laughing

Run an extension to the shed temporarily and use an Optimate or similar.
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doggone
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PostPosted: 10:37 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

You will get a small output even on dull days, the problem is that cheaper ones tend to have flimsy cable and connectors that corrode and fall to bits in a year or two.
I wouldn't bother unless you are buying it more to experiment/play with.
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davebike
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PostPosted: 12:17 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use a solar panel it originality was purchased to keep the car I would only use 2/3 times a month charged it a bit big at 5W but dose a great job of keeping whichever bike I not using charged !
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 12:57 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive ordered an Oxford one. £26 is more expensive than generic China import but given its something that will be plugged into the bike for long periods unattended id prefer a known brand.
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 13:01 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Islander wrote:
Solar power in Aberdeen. Genius. Laughing

Run an extension to the shed temporarily and use an Optimate or similar.


Aberdeen is only a little to the south west of the Bahamas. Or at least the way Aberdonians react when snow appears suggest so.

I have a major crazed Gnome infestation that roam around the stately pile. This makes running a cable tricky. I've permission to bury a cable but never get round to it.
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Hong Kong Phooey
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PostPosted: 20:48 - 12 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can get a LiFePO4 battery for around £65.
Much lighter than stock, cranks harder and also holds charge for ages.

I'd be putting my £26 towards the upgrade.

Do eeeet.
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Hahadumball
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PostPosted: 00:23 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

youll be lucky to see 150mah from one of those solar chargers, not worth it imho
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 00:38 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

How far is your shed from your house? Just electrify!

It's cheap to do so, no compromises = 230 V @ 50 Hz all the time with no fluctuations.
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 09:04 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stoker wrote:
What, with your sunny disposition towards your "clients", I'm surprised that you need an external charger!

Hmm, howabout you set up a solar array outside J&S?


Hope to god when you're old and stuck in some hellish old folks home you have someone as awkward as me involved in your care. Hope.
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 09:07 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

RhynoCZ wrote:
How far is your shed from your house? Just electrify!

It's cheap to do so, no compromises = 230 V @ 50 Hz all the time with no fluctuations.


Its only ten meters but means going across local authority land. That's no problem i have permission from the local authority to lay the cable. The problem is the idiot Tennant of the local authority who rents the flat below me.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 09:28 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've tried a couple of the A4-ish sized ones and they didn't keep charge in batteries. You'll want something big enough to offend your fellow sponger.
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BTTD
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PostPosted: 09:38 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a 5w one and a charge contoller. It seems to work well enough.

For the most part I leave it connected to an old car battery that powers some LED lights, but if I'm not using the bike for a week or more I stick it on the bike.
I've read some accounts of solar chargers without regulators knackering batteries, but never experienced any issues when I used to use it without a controller in an old car.
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Islander
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PostPosted: 11:10 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

jnw010 wrote:
I have a 5w one and a charge contoller. It seems to work well enough.

For the most part I leave it connected to an old car battery that powers some LED lights, but if I'm not using the bike for a week or more I stick it on the bike.
I've read some accounts of solar chargers without regulators knackering batteries, but never experienced any issues when I used to use it without a controller in an old car.


There's a huge difference in winter solar intensity and especially duration between the south coast of Englandshire and Aberdeen. Daylight hours are an hour and a half shorter, mean insolation will be about half of that on the south coast and then there are weather conditions to take into account.
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Polarbear
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PostPosted: 11:52 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

It will struggle in the winter but just to keep it topped up? Certainly will help.

I have a 280 watt system on my boat and even that is struggling at the moment to recharge the batteries after an evenings use of TV and lights at the moment.
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 14:10 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I suppose it depends on how much the battery charge is dropping per hour which ive not tracked. Super cold nights really significantly suck charge from the battery though.
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Islander
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PostPosted: 15:43 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ribenapigeon wrote:
I suppose it depends on how much the battery charge is dropping per hour which ive not tracked. Super cold nights really significantly suck charge from the battery though.


Erm... No.

Cold weather cools the battery down and slows the chemical reactions that produce the current available at the terminals. Warm the battery up and it returns to normal.
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Hong Kong Phooey
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PostPosted: 16:47 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ribenapigeon wrote:
I suppose it depends on how much the battery charge is dropping per hour which ive not tracked. Super cold nights really significantly suck charge from the battery though.


Cold temps slow down self discharge, which is ~5% per month with lead acid.
Lithium self discharge is ~2% per month, if you don't have an alarm on the bike it wouldn't need topping up.

Mine has been on over a year and have had no probs.
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 19:58 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Normally voltage is at 12.7v over a week though it will drop to 12.3v but when it got to 12.2v i pulled it out and stuck it on the charger.
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cb1rocket
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PostPosted: 21:23 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

you got an alarm connected?
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 22:11 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

cb1rocket wrote:
you got an alarm connected?


Yes there's a small drain from the alarm. Definitely doesn't hold charge as well when weather is cold. I did some battery research and if a battery has a low charge then in freezing conditions it can lose charge quicker but a battery in good condition can withstand very low sub zero temps. I suspect my battery does fine for a while but then if it drops to a particular point, say 12.3v and then the temperature drops below freezing then loss of capacity accelerates. A small trickle charge may be just enough to hold off that point then.
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BTTD
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PostPosted: 22:27 - 13 Dec 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Islander wrote:
There's a huge difference in winter solar intensity and especially duration between the south coast of Englandshire and Aberdeen. Daylight hours are an hour and a half shorter, mean insolation will be about half of that on the south coast and then there are weather conditions to take into account.


Laughing That's a good point. I thought you were just taking the piss in your first post.

OP should move to the south coast.
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