blw2
Well-known member
I'm thinking of going solar, but small.
I'm not looking for something to recover charge in use. Only to put a bit back in the battery while it's sitting for weeks in storage to offset the self discharge and add just a bit of charge back over time IF it is a little bit down
I want to keep it cheap and simple
and I don't want something uncontrolled that would boil my batteries while in storage.
I so far have done fine without solar. As much as I love the idea of a large solar set-up with an inverter, controller, etc.... for off grid supoport, but I just honestly don't need it.
I disconnect my batteries at the post when I store, and the rig will sit in storage typically no more than maybe 4-6 weeks between uses. Self discharge hasn't really been a problem...
but
I suspect that many times when I put her to bed that the house battery could be a little less than full.
I see that Batter Tender has 5 watt, 10 watt, and 15 watt panels
but even the 15 watt panel would only be like 1.25A at 12 volts, right? That doesn't seem like it would be enough to offset a 2% self discharge rate. What am I missing?
Anyone here have experience with these things? Are they weather resistant enough to roof mount and leave in the weather?
Are the controllers reliable?
I'm not looking for something to recover charge in use. Only to put a bit back in the battery while it's sitting for weeks in storage to offset the self discharge and add just a bit of charge back over time IF it is a little bit down
I want to keep it cheap and simple
and I don't want something uncontrolled that would boil my batteries while in storage.
I so far have done fine without solar. As much as I love the idea of a large solar set-up with an inverter, controller, etc.... for off grid supoport, but I just honestly don't need it.
I disconnect my batteries at the post when I store, and the rig will sit in storage typically no more than maybe 4-6 weeks between uses. Self discharge hasn't really been a problem...
but
I suspect that many times when I put her to bed that the house battery could be a little less than full.
I see that Batter Tender has 5 watt, 10 watt, and 15 watt panels
but even the 15 watt panel would only be like 1.25A at 12 volts, right? That doesn't seem like it would be enough to offset a 2% self discharge rate. What am I missing?
Anyone here have experience with these things? Are they weather resistant enough to roof mount and leave in the weather?
Are the controllers reliable?