5W solar panel

[jlb27537]

I do not drive my truck on a regular basis. It sits for months sometimes. To keep the batteries up I am considering getting a small 5W solar panel, lay on the dash and forget it.

Anyone used one of these small panels? I have a lighter socket that is hot with the key off, so would be easy to install/use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOCO-5-Watt-...p2054897.l4275



UPDATE,

Went ahead and bought the panel. The weather has been cloudy, wet cold for a week or so. Batterys showed about 12.45vdc. The batteries are OEM, it sat on the dealers lot for about 8 months before I bought it. It sits for a month or so regularly in the summer and this winter, like last winter, sits for 4-5 months. (DW drives the Honda and we use it for daily use)

The last few days it has been sunny/cloudy and this morning the resting voltage was 12.78vdc and got up to 13.02vdc late afternoon yesterday.

My thought is, it will not charge up a pair of dead diesel truck batteries, but it will overcome the parasitic loads and will provide a good float voltage.

The open ckt voltage in bright sun is 22vdc and when loaded shows right @ .4 amps and loaded voltage is battery voltage.

These pics were taken about noon on a high overcast day:






Jim

[K0LCB]

5 watts is not very much. I think the phantom draw on new vehicles is greater

[TAKPAK]

A five watt charger is not going to be enough for a vehicle's battery, as that is less than 1/2 an amp. The "phantom" draws could possible be more than that. I have a 35 watt panel, and it does OK. It will NOT charge a battery back up, but will maintain one. Most of your "battery maintainer" chargers are 2 to 3 amp, which equates to 24 to 30 watts.

Also, if your truck is a diesel, with two batteries, it definitely would not be enough.

[DQDick]

I agree, it has no chance to keep diesel truck batteries charged.

[jlb27537]

UPDATE,

Went ahead and bought the panel. The weather has been cloudy, wet cold for a week or so. Batterys showed about 12.45vdc. The batteries are OEM, it sat on the dealers lot for about 8 months before I bought it. It sits for a month or so regularly in the summer and this winter, like last winter, sits for 4-5 months. (DW drives the Honda and we use it for daily use)

The last few days it has been sunny/cloudy and this morning the resting voltage was 12.78vdc and got up to 13.02vdc late afternoon yesterday.

My thought is, it will not charge up a pair of dead diesel truck batteries, but it will overcome the parasitic loads and will provide a good float voltage.

The open ckt voltage in bright sun is 22vdc and when loaded shows right @ .4 amps and loaded voltage is battery voltage.

These pics were taken about noon on a high overcast day:






Jim

[Rondo]

If you have a Harbor Freight near your location and you have a 120 outlet close to the truck, I would buy a trickle charger for your battery/s. I use them on my compact tractor, zero turn mowers and several other units here and at the farm and have had no problems. If the battery gets fully charged, the trickle charger will shut itself down. I do check the fluid in the batteries every so often just to make sure they do not go low on fluid but have never had to add any distilled water or fluid to them over the time. If you do not have a Harbor Freight near you let me know and I can pick one or two up for you and mail them to you!

[jlb27537]

Rondo, Thanks for the offer, At the house in Mo I do have elec available, but in Texas for the winter it is in a storage lot and no 120vac available.

I may pick up a maintainer from HF when I get home, but now, the solar may be working.

Jim

[Rondo]

No problem Jim! Hey, when you get back up here in the Central Plains come join us at the MOC Central Plains Regional Rally up here in Nebraska in June. Watch for more details here on MOC for updates on the CPRR!