solar chargers

[Soundguy]

Depending on work, weather, and other projects, sometimes I don't get to use the tractors much, or am using one of them to mow while the others sit for a month at a time or more.

I had noticed that Tractor supply company had 6 and 12v solar chargers ( for automated deer feeding stations ) packaged with aligator clips ready to sell. Thought about getting a set.

I happened to be by a harbor freight stor yesterday and noticed they also had a 12v solar charger... regularly 19$ on special for 9$.. had to pick it up. Claims a load voltage of 12.6 at 125ma, and a no load voltage of 20v, in direct sunlight.

Brought it home, thru it on the 12v batt in the tractor and set my digital vom on it. voltage started out at 12.47 ( nominal batt voltage ).. I added the charger, and about every 4 minutes or so, you would get .01v... In about 15 minutes I went in putting the vom up, and by that time it was 12.5.

Not too bad. Unfortunately they only had 1 left at the time.. maybee they will get more... I'll get one for each of my 12v tractors.. perhaps even a 6v model for my 8n..

They are diode reverse current protected too.. though not sure that a silicon cell needed that... but perhaps they had to add it for U/L happiness.

Soundguy

 

[rrw1238]

I bought one of thier $39 solar chargers. Its supposed to put out500ma. I put it on a lawn mower battery that was reading 12.48 volts. Checked it every day for about 3 days. The voltage was increasing every day for about 3 days until it reached 12.85 volts then stopped increasing so I disconnected it. I am satisfied with it.
Ralph /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I went back to harbor freight this weekend, and picked up one for each of my tractors.. heck at 9 bucks a pop.. its great. and at such a low charge current.. don't have to worry about overcharging the battery inbetween uses.

Soundguy