Solar battery charge controllers

[The_bluester]

Thought I would stick this here as this is completely non Astro related.

Does anyone have any experience with the Jaycar solar charge controllers like this one? http://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-5a-battery-charging-regulator-for-solar-panels/p/AA0348

I have a tractor that has a moderately weak battery but which also sits unused for weeks at a time, in winter if it has not been started for a week or so I get one shot at starting it or I have to wheel the gen set and battery charger over. I was thinking of putting a solar panel on the roof of its canopy and installing a charge controller to keep it topped up. Even with a new battery it occasionally sits long enough to be a risk of not starting and in those cases it often knocks the battery around through sitting discharged.

[xelasnave]

I have used that or very similar for years and I have been very happy.
It hangs off a 85 watt panel and 100 amp hour battery.
Over the last year I am hardly around so it obviously handles long periods.
Its been a while since I looked at it but I think it is the same as the one you put up if not very close to it.
There is another one in a light coloured box which I have used on my old boat and it was OK as well.
Alex

[xelasnave]

The key would be keep the battery and panel with you for a month and moniter with a multimeter and when happy put it in service.

[Chris.B]

That would do the trick. You can get cheap solar panel and regulator packages on ebay if you want the lot. That reg would handle a 60-80w panel.
I run a solar setup to charge the camper trailer battery whilst away.
Solid panels are around $1/watt up to $2/watt with a MPPT controller but you only need a pwm one for what your doing and that would be about $1.50/watt tops delivered.

[Chris.B]

something like this?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/60W-Mono-Solar-Panel-Charge-Kit-Generator-Battery-20A-PWM-Solar-Panel-Controller-/251781645535?hash=item3a9f5b04df:g: JskAAOSwdzVXmB5Q

[iborg]

Have you seen these types of self contained panels, they are intended to keep car batteries topped up.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Solar-Maintenance-Charger-2-4-Watt.aspx?pid=292830&menuFrom=40801#Recommendations

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Solar-Maintenance-Charger-4-Watt.aspx?pid=340106&menuFrom=40801#Recommendations

Philip

[The_bluester]

Actually the SCA ones might be a fair bet. I would just screw it on to the roof, wire it down and if they don't have a diode in them to prevent reverse current flow, wire into a normally closed relay that would interrupt the circuit when the tractors ignition is on.

I could see the purpose of a couple of these things. There are a number of low use cars in my shed which need regular battery charging to make sure they will actually be usable when I want them.

[iborg]

Hi

I am glad I mentioned them then. Good luck.

Philip

[The_bluester]

Yeah, to be honest, I typically side step Supercheap (Some "interesting" experiences there which we don't need to go into) but at the price that is worth a crack to see if it is any good.

It is not like I am trying to keep an expensive UPS battery alive here, at $45 I can just hard wire it in and see how it goes. It may even get enough light in the (Open sided) shed to keep the battery alive in there.