solar panel battery chargers

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:43 pm

Hi all,
I'm wondering about getting one of the RV type, maybe 4-5 watt, to, hopefully keep my batteries topped up during the day.
does anyone have experience/tips/cheap sources?

thanks,
Ygmir

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:18 pm

theepicenter.com sells solar powered battery chargers. If memory serves me correctly I believe they even have one that plugs right into your cigarette lighter and does some sort of nifty reverse charge thingy. It's where I get my MREs and flashlights every year. They have pretty damn good prices, and the shipping was relatively cheap too.

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:21 pm

Yep, found em:
http://www.geoduck.com/epicenter/order. ... =%%CArt_id%%

There's a small one for 20 bucks and a larger one for 50.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:44 pm

If you connect a battery charger of any type through your cigarette lighter plug, make sure the cigarette lighter plug is not one that is switched off when your key is off, or nothing will happen.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:08 am

thanks for the link Jez, you're my hero..........

Ygmir

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:10 am

good point, Capn'.........

It'd be like the time my mother bought me an electric hot plate for my house, "for when the power goes out and your stove wont work".............

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:18 am

Realistically if you are using the battery for camp lights or to power an evaporator you are going to need much more amps to charge equal to the demand. I have a 1 amp hour draw to power my evaporator and I need $300 of solar panels to keep pace. At times I have had to supplement with a battery charger and generator. If you are trying to maintain an unused battery the larger of the panels should do the trick unless it is a battery on the way out. Then it is iffy. There are VW solar battery maintainers on Eslay that are about equal to the larger panel and some times cheaper but come with suction cups to apply the thing to the inside of a windshield. If the panel doesn't have a reverse current diode it will leak power back out the solar panel during times when it is not charging.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:36 am

yeah, most of my battery draw will be related to small amounts of water pumping for very short showers, since, I installed an outside shower, and, minimal lights indoors......
I'm bringing a propane powered generator I just got, but, thought if I could charge all day, when stuff isn't really being used.............
I'm thinking more of a passive evaporator, using wicking material to draw water up and expose it to more sun/wind......and, just hauling out what doesn't evaporate. I scored a bunch of HDPE food grade barrels, so, will just take an extra for gray water..........

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:05 am

Looks like you've got everything covered. Nice! Last year I used one of those food grade barrels to haul out what my evaporator did not evaporate. It saved my bacon! I used a 12 volt sump pump and cut up garden hose to transfer the grey water. Worked so well I didn't know what to do when I was done.

I have one of those really small solar panels on my bike to power my el wire set up. I don't know if it even charges it at all. The draw is so small for el wire that I think the battery would last all week and more. It still looks like it is doing something and that is entertaining in the least.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:48 am

motskyroonmatick:

I must've been channeling you.....that's the idea I came up with......hahahaha

I've been told I'm quite "Psycho".........I'm guessing they meant clarvoient........

I notice on your signature, you do repairs and welding on the playa?
If so, I'd be happy to lend a hand at times...do you need volunteers? I'm pretty good at "making things work again", especially with improvised materials........

Ygmir

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:15 pm

I'm doing the mutant vehicle thing this year so welding and repair will be super underground. If people in the know search me out at Stag Camp and I am there I will definitely help them out. I'm not going to advertise but if you run in to a repair that needs a welder I'll help out. Yah repairing stuff on playa is great. My favorite part is getting things to work with limited assets. My best fix last year disabled one of my spare bikes but got a tall bike up and running and damn near bomb proof. Captain Goddamit has me beat though. He once tore apart a can opener and used parts to fix a derailer. That's awesome! Stag Camp somewhere near 8:45 and E or F. Stop bye and grab a Black Rock City Welding and Repair Bumper sticker from the mailbox if I'm not there.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:55 pm

ok thanks, seeya there (home, that is)..........

Ygmir