Solar battery maintainer

[Pronto]

Anyone have any experience with one? My father-in-law doesn't drive his car often (thank God!) but the battery ends up running down from the clock and alarm system. It's outside all the time so I thought maybe a solar charger might do the trick. It's a 02 Toyota Camery. Does that 12v plug stay live with the power off? Do they have an overcharge protection built in so you can leave it on for days at a time?

 

[Audie1]

I believe that most of the better Trickle Chargers have over charge protection and just maintain the charge once it's fully charged. I used to have a Vette that I did not drive much, it was always running the battery down. I bought a regular charger and charged the batteries up every couple of weeks. I should have gotten one of those Trickle Chargers in the first place. As for the key being in the Off position and the 12v plug in staying hot.........I don't know on the Camery. My wife's Toyota Tacoma does not stay on with the key in the off position. :smile:

 

[UNGN]

Anyone have any experience with one? My father-in-law doesn't drive his car often (thank God!) but the battery ends up running down from the clock and alarm system. It's outside all the time so I thought maybe a solar charger might do the trick. It's a 02 Toyota Camery. Does that 12v plug stay live with the power off? Do they have an overcharge protection built in so you can leave it on for days at a time?

Unless you buy a $100 (10 watt) panel, no way it will overcharge a car battery.

I have a $60 (5 watt) one off E-bay on my gate and it keeps the battery charged without any additional charging, just plugged in with no regulator of any sort.

But I'm in Texas. The northeast doesn't see as much sun, especially in the winter.

 

[leophious]

They work

 

[Pronto]

But I'm in Texas. The northeast doesn't see as much sun, especially in the winter.

You would very surpirsed how bright and sunny it can be here in the winter!


I guess the next step is to test his 12v outlet to see if it's always hot.
Thanks.

 

[salvageV6]

I had one and used it a few years, 5 watt panel also.

They won't help a crappy Die Hard Gold Sears battery.

Might be a good application for him though, I doubt the socket is live like most cars have been for 100 years, after all it's a Tater.

You could hook it to a inline wire quick disconnect splice wired to a BAT slot if you can find one, then put the wire out of the way for driving and disconnect it.

 

[Pronto]

I've seen female sockets that I could wire in. The question will be if he will be able to figure out how it use it. He's got the elderly dementia going and really shouldn't be driving anyway but it's tough for the old bird to give up the independence.

 

[Little6pack]

Anyone have any experience with one? My father-in-law doesn't drive his car often (thank God!) but the battery ends up running down from the clock and alarm system. It's outside all the time so I thought maybe a solar charger might do the trick. It's a 02 Toyota Camery. Does that 12v plug stay live with the power off? Do they have an overcharge protection built in so you can leave it on for days at a time?

Tell that Cheap P-R-I-C-K to just buy a new battery.

 

[sawmillman]

I've got a plug in battery maintainer and solar maintainer both from harbor freight.Personally I like the plug in better the solar seems not to work as well Just doesn't keep the battery up but when it's dark no power.Btw I only paid 4.99 for the plug in and 9.99 for the solar at harbor freight on sale

 

[Pronto]

Tell that Cheap P-R-I-C-K to just buy a new battery.

The battery in the car now is about 1 year old and he got snookered for something in the vacinity of $125 for it at the Toyota dealer. The one he replaced I put in 3 years ago for about $60. The constant discarging killed it. A maintainer would keep that from happening. I wish he would just sell the car to me. 23k miles, runs excellent and great on gas 4 cyl but I think he'll give to to my brother-in-law down in Quincy. If that happens that car will be destroyed in about a week.

 

[SGRIM]

Anybody ever use those switches that when it gets to a certian level it cuts off the drain from the battery?


I usually have between 150-200 cars to keep running at any given time. The only way I have found to keep them from going dead is to crank them 2 times a week....

 

[Little6pack]

I wish he would just sell the car to me.

You AIN't Got NO ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!