Solar battery maintainer

JST · 01-28-2017, 03:38 PM

I bought one of these thinking it was probably BS and wouldn't work, but it did.

Keeping the Porsches battery charged in the winter is always a challenge, because I can only usually drive it a couple of times a month. Using a normal maintainer is not ideal, because the car is parked pretty far from a plug and I'm not convinced that leaving these things plugged in and lying on the ground is a good idea.

The solar maintainer is the perfect option; you can plug it into the cigar lighter and string the wire out the door. The unit is weatherproof, as well.

bren · 01-28-2017, 07:00 PM

I thought about one of those for the trailer battery.

So did you put in a mounting post, or do you just toss the panel on the ground?

JST · 01-28-2017, 07:59 PM

The car is parked next to my porch table, so I just put it on that. I probably wouldn't leave it on the ground, but any pole or small table should do. Orientation doesn't seem to be super critical.

kognito · 01-29-2017, 09:06 AM

I had one of those in my Volvo 780. Those big trucks have a lot of parasitic draw.

I just laid it on the dashboard. But it was a big ass red truck, so I didn't care if it blocked some discoloring of the dash. (but it didn't)

Alan · 01-29-2017, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

The car is parked next to my porch table,.

You have a porch table on your driveway ? Does the driveway circle around the whole house to the back of it ?

JST · 01-29-2017, 10:05 AM

It's more that my back porch doubles as a parking spot.

rumatt · 01-29-2017, 11:15 AM

Cool, I think I want one of these.

How well does it work if you leave it inside the car?

And which brand did you buy?

*clyde* · 01-29-2017, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AF

You have a porch table on your driveway ? Does the driveway circle around the whole house to the back of it ?

(JST, sorry I'm such an asshole for laughing)

*clyde* · 01-29-2017, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Using a normal maintainer is not ideal, because the car is parked pretty far from a plug and I'm not convinced that leaving these things plugged in and lying on the ground is a good idea.

I took the battery out of the Jaguar. It's sitting on ground in garage. I plug it into the tender overnight once a week or so. Everything in the car will have to be reset when it goes back in...windows, e brake, etc. Because why not have those things have memories that hinge on power source?

01-28-2017, 03:38 PM	#1
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,614	Solar battery maintainer I bought one of these thinking it was probably BS and wouldn't work, but it did. Keeping the Porsches battery charged in the winter is always a challenge, because I can only usually drive it a couple of times a month. Using a normal maintainer is not ideal, because the car is parked pretty far from a plug and I'm not convinced that leaving these things plugged in and lying on the ground is a good idea. The solar maintainer is the perfect option; you can plug it into the cigar lighter and string the wire out the door. The unit is weatherproof, as well.

01-29-2017, 09:06 AM	#4
kognito older fart than ZBB Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On the road again Posts: 8,900	I had one of those in my Volvo 780. Those big trucks have a lot of parasitic draw. I just laid it on the dashboard. But it was a big ass red truck, so I didn't care if it blocked some discoloring of the dash. (but it didn't) __________________ 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium

01-29-2017, 11:15 AM	#7
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Cool, I think I want one of these. How well does it work if you leave it inside the car? And which brand did you buy? Last edited by rumatt; 01-29-2017 at 11:30 AM.

01-28-2017, 07:00 PM	#2
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	I thought about one of those for the trailer battery. So did you put in a mounting post, or do you just toss the panel on the ground?

01-28-2017, 07:59 PM	#3
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,614	The car is parked next to my porch table, so I just put it on that. I probably wouldn't leave it on the ground, but any pole or small table should do. Orientation doesn't seem to be super critical.

01-29-2017, 10:05 AM	#6
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,614	It's more that my back porch doubles as a parking spot.