[TimH]

I've stuck this in the 260 section as its one of the weak points that the car will suck the power from the battery if not used regularly.

I have been using two solar trickle chargers on my 260 over the last month or so to see if its worth doing and can report it is. With all the wet weather we have had in the last few months I would have had to top up with the mains fed charger, but no more. I'm getting it free of charge (no pun intended). Admittedly the position of the panels are getting 60 - 70% of sun during the day so the rate is max'ed out for a good period. But with the bits and bobs on the car it is working.

The reason for two was that from discussions people were suggesting one charger would not keep up with the drain from trackers, satnav, etc.

Be interesting to see if the winter months can keep the battery topped up. Will monitor how it goes.

Well worth the £20 spent. From Maplins online store.

 

[SH4RKY]

Hmm... I may be interested in this in the coming winter months. I use my car every day but for a fairly short journey (8miles) so with the heat/lights etc on I suspect (like with my past cars) the battery will slowly drain.

Where have you positioned the solar panels, rear parcel shelf im guessing?

Do you think they would they achieve enough charge over winter with reduced day light hours and lower solar azimuth??

Thanks
Ian

 

[pmessling]

looks like the one i have tim, from maplins, when i was on holiday my dad plugged it into my cigar light to keep it topped up, when i did start the car all was good. we have two and my dad was also using one whilst he was a away. would definately recommend using them.

 

[TimH]

Hmm... I may be interested in this in the coming winter months. I use my car every day but for a fairly short journey (8miles) so with the heat/lights etc on I suspect (like with my past cars) the battery will slowly drain.

Where have you positioned the solar panels, rear parcel shelf im guessing?

Do you think they would they achieve enough charge over winter with reduced day light hours and lower solar azimuth??

Thanks
Ian

They are remote to the car Ian, against the garage windows on the inside. Was going to put them on the roof but did not look water proof. I'm going to monitor over the winter months to see if they are up to it.

looks like the one i have tim, from maplins, when i was on holiday my dad plugged it into my cigar light to keep it topped up, when i did start the car all was good. we have two and my dad was also using one whilst he was a away. would definately recommend using them.

I have noticed with the battery max'ed out the car fires up with the first turn of the engine. Even after leaving for a week at a time.

 

[SH4RKY]

EDIT: NM, found the link over on 260s

Oh ok... So probably not best if using daily and the car is parked out side then

Got a link product anyway? Had a quick look but couldn't see it.

 

[Goose]

I've recently bought one of these, and I'm sure it's helped (I plug it in to the cigar lighter and put the panel on the dashboard). My ZT's used fairly regularly (usually every couple of days), but the battery's definitely seen better days! For £9.99 it's not bad at all. Link: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&C=Maplin&U

 

[reverie158]

:topic: With the current weather we'd all be better off sticking a water wheel on the side of the garage!

 

[FuManchu]

I've stuck this in the 260 section as its one of the weak points that the car will suck the power from the battery if not used regularly.

I have been using two solar trickle chargers on my 260 over the last month or so to see if its worth doing and can report it is. With all the wet weather we have had in the last few months I would have had to top up with the mains fed charger, but no more. I'm getting it free of charge (no pun intended). Admittedly the position of the panels are getting 60 - 70% of sun during the day so the rate is max'ed out for a good period. But with the bits and bobs on the car it is working.

The reason for two was that from discussions people were suggesting one charger would not keep up with the drain from trackers, satnav, etc.

Be interesting to see if the winter months can keep the battery topped up. Will monitor how it goes.

Well worth the £20 spent. From Maplins online store.

Came to this conclusion some time ago and installed a Maplins panel permanently on the rear shelf, the wires nicely hidden by running them down behind the rear seats, with the clips hidden away in the battery well.
It seemed to work, mostly, and I came back after a week away without any trouble but, subsequently, it did once need a top up charge so I wonder if I also should have fitted a second panel which you seem to have decided at the outset. I think Maplins also do a bigger capacity one as well although another £10 seems a good enough idea.
I looked at the space under the sun roof where it could be supported on the privacy screen; a bit messy.

 

[sojourner]

Is this just an SE problem as my 'lightweight' version has never suffered from low battery power (famous last words). There again it is normally used daily.

 

[Goose]

Is this just an SE problem as my 'lightweight' version has never suffered from low battery power (famous last words). There again it is normally used daily.

No, mine's a non-SE and I've had to recharge the battery several times. When it was new, however, it was sat around somewhere for more than 6 months before I bought it which probably didn't help. One day I'll buy it a new battery!

 

[JeanWoods]

I've stuck this in the 260 section as its one of the weak points that the car will suck the power from the battery if not used regularly.

I have been using two solar trickle chargers on my 260 over the last month or so to see if its worth doing and can report it is. With all the wet weather we have had in the last few months I would have had to top up with the mains fed charger, but no more. I'm getting it free of charge (no pun intended). Admittedly the position of the panels are getting 60 - 70% of sun during the day so the rate is max'ed out for a good period. But with the bits and bobs on the car it is working.

The reason for two was that from discussions people were suggesting one charger would not keep up with the drain from trackers, satnav, etc.

Be interesting to see if the winter months can keep the battery topped up. Will monitor how it goes.

Well worth the £20 spent. From Maplins online store.

Plenty of efficient solar chargers are available in the market.. I have got one recently and it charges battery at very quick rate..