Recommend a solar charger

[Fake Concern]

My XM battery has gone flat again through not being used since X Rally. I'm sure I saw a solar trickle charger recommended on here recently, but can't find the thread. Who has one that they would recommend?

[Stickyfinger]

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-249 ... 23389&ar=6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

that will do

[demag]

I bought one from Maplin once and it flattened the battery on the Bx so make sure you get a good one.

[myglaren]

I bought one from Maplin once and it flattened the battery on the Bx so make sure you get a good one.

There should be a diode incorporated to prevent reverse current, your's probably had a faulty diode or none fitted.

[Xantidote]

I bought one from Maplin once and it flattened the battery

Funnily enough, I also bought a troublesome one from Maplin a few years ago. It charged in the sunlight, but the battery was down a few days later. Never got as far as checking the diode

[old-un77]

depending on which panel you buy, the output is in reality only a few milliamps(ie sometimes only 15watts) and that may not have been enough to overcome your ambient current usage of the car, alarm, etc....
Bob

[Gibbo2286]

I have one here doing nowt, It worked for a short time then the output dropped to two volts even in bright sunlight. I might try to fix it but it's not a priority at the moment.

I was given a very nice iiyama wide screen computer monitor that the guy said was dead, popped the covers off but could see nothing wrong, tested the charger unit (Chinese) and no output, stripped and found the most disgusting soldering of the circuit board that I've ever seen, cleaned up and re-soldered and all ok, you win some.......................................

[Hell Razor5543]

The one shown on Lidls' website is more for use with smartphones and such, not for keeping a car battery topped up.

[MikeT]

I bought one of those from Maplins too and didn't say nothing cos thought I had a duff one or was just unlucky. ie, it killed my battery after just a few days, so it seems they are NOT to be recommended after all.

[Stickyfinger]

What can I say, my two (from Maplins) keeps a battery charged for me on the donor Activa and the other one keeps the electric chicken fence charged.

[Fake Concern]

Not sure what to make of the advice so far! I suppose the real answer is to use the XM more!

[myglaren]

I believe I have read of them being factory fitted by SAAB.

If you could find the SAAB specs it would give you something to work with.

[Gibbo2286]

With the reported poor performance of some of these it makes you wonder how good/reliable those panels on thousands of roof tops are.

[dnsey]

If you fancy a little project, you can buy reject photovoltaic cells, intended for rooftop panels, very cheaply. They mostly work OK, and are just chipped etc. You could make quite a decent charger with a few of them and a diode or two (use Schottky diodes to minimise voltage drop).

[old-un77]

where would one acquire some of those Dnsey?

Bob

silly question/ fleabay?