Solar powered charger?

[Jimbob]

Hello to all...,first post......I saw one of these today at Harbor Freight Tools  and was wondering if anyone uses one? It says its a 12 volt solar powered 2 amp auto,marine,ect. battery charger.  Thanks

[nwgabassmaster]

Welcome!  Nope, I have never used one, but if it really works, and works really well, that would be something that would be worth investing into.

Again, welcome to the forums!  

[Muddpuppy]

I had inquired into several of them a few years ago and was told almost unanomously that at best they are good for is maintaining batteries that are left to sit unused. I think they work pretty good for that, if you have a sunny area that you park your boat, but I haven't used one myself. One dealer that I know said that somebody he knew went to the extent of putting an automatic positioner (said it cost about $450.00 if I remember right) on his and it still didn't do much good. The ones that I looked at didn't produce enough charge to begin with much less to equal the draw of any utilities or a trolling motor that are being used. Keeping it positioned is a big problem especially on the water, the panel has to be where it basicly focuses on the sun, and that would be almost impossible to do and still fish. Even under ideal conditions the charger that you mentioned would produce 2 amps, so if the electronics draw 3 - 5 and the trolling motor draws 45 it not going to help much.

There maybe some models that do work better than any of those I looked at, but the ones I saw were made for marine use and around $100.00+ so I didn't look long. And like I said this was what I was told and not from personal experience.

[Ben]

A few years ago, I had a friend that bought two for both his jet skies when he stored them for the winter.  Next spring when he was getting them ready for the lake, batteries were stone dead in both.

[Mo_Tick]

we used solar charger for hot Wire fences on the Ranch. 2 12v batts, one solar charger for 25 miles of Fence. it would keep a fence hot enough for 5 months. i cant tell you the draw of a fence charger, but if you have an AG store close. check out Fence chargers.

might be worth it.