Solar battery charger

grandpa Love · Apr 17, 2019

I was going to hook this up to our
8n (alternator isn't charging) but
#11 says I need charge controller/
regulator? What am I supposed to
buy? Something at a parts store?
O'Riley's? Thanks!
<img
src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto20153.jpg">

<img
src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto20154.jpg">

John T · Apr 17, 2019

Grandpa, a Solar Charge Controller is the device located between a solar panel and the battery intended to be charged.

HOWEVER a teeny tiny 1.5 Watt Charger cant produce enough energy to charge a rubber chicken let alone a tractor battery. If you used 13.6 charging volts at 1.5 Watts that's ONLY 0.11 charging Amps. In comparison a battery trickle charger or battery tender type of charger may produce 1 to 3 charging amps. At 3 amps and 13.6 volts that would be like 40 Watts...

Better get that charging system fixed as a teeny tiny 1.5 watt solar panel even in bright direct sunlight ain't gonna cut the mustard...?

John T

grandpa Love · Apr 17, 2019

So.......a battery maintainer would be better? That solar thing won't even maintain a charge on a decent battery?

John T · Apr 17, 2019

Yes a battery maintainer provides much more energy then that solar thingy HOWEVER a small 1 to 3 amp trickle charger is no comparison to an alternator or regular battery charger which might charger at 10 to 50 or so amps. They are just as they say to maintain a battery when the tractor sits long periods NOT a full fledged charger for a weak battery

John T

rlp in Co. · Apr 17, 2019

That little solar panel won't need a charge controler. It might not even be able to maintain a battery at full voltage. It will only put out 100 milliamps and that is probably at high noon in the summertime. A large battery might self discharge faster than that can keep up with. Put it on your battery for a week and monitor the voltage and let us know what happens. I'm curious.

grandpa Love · Apr 17, 2019

Will do.

GEO-TH, In · Apr 17, 2019

I don't spend a dine repairing my old alternators. Last one I bought at Auto Zone was under $50 and it was a lifetime. Many times my old alternators need bearings, brushes, diodes or VR. Not worth my time. I take it off a new one goes on.

John T · Apr 17, 2019

"It might not even be able to maintain a battery at full voltage. It will only put out 100 milliamps and that is probably at high noon in the summertime"

EXACTLY or in my words it wont charge a rubber chicken LOL LOL

John T

D beatty · Apr 17, 2019

The one I put in my truck that was parked first of October and just started truck yesterday and battery was fully charged and battery in truck was installed in 2015. I have a little larger panel on my trailer for winch battery and has been on trailer for 4 years and has kept battery charged.

Solar battery charger

grandpa Love

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John T

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grandpa Love

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John T

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rlp in Co.

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grandpa Love

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GEO-TH, In

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D beatty

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