| Old small solar panel [message #369683] |
Mon, 16 May 2022 20:59  |
boybach
Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island
Karma: 4
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Instead of continuing the combiner thread, I thought I'd continue my issue of keeping the house batteries charged in a new thread.
This afternoon I bought an old (2002 vintage) solar battery maintainer on marketplace for 10 bucks.
It's Chinese made of course but branded Volkswagen, model 1CO 915 687
the back reads:
Electrical Rating at 1000 W/m², AM 1.5, Cell temp. 25°C
Max power 3.2W
Voltage at max power 18.5v
Current at max power 170ma
Manufacturing date 03/06/02
Right now it plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, thinking I might change that over to clips and also extend the length of the output cable.
Is this a usable thing or should I send it down the road? Will I need a charge controller? Thinking I might.
Thanks
Larry
Larry - Victoria BC -
1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
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| Re: Old small solar panel [message #369684 is a reply to message #369683] |
Mon, 16 May 2022 22:38  |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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What you have is a solar charger that VW use to install in all vehicles destined to be shipped out of the country of origin. They used it to keep that battery up during shipping and outside storage for many months. The dealer was suppose to remove and discard it prior to delivery to the new owner. The max power out was around 150 ma in the sun. The maximum static drain on the battery was less than 20 MA so these kept the battery topped off when parked anywhere in the sun. Many of those removed panels made it on to the internet for $20 to $30. They did the job for VW. I put one on my brother's Honda for about 8 months. It did the job.
Now charging a dead battery with one will need something much larger.
It is really a solar trickle charger. Do not worry about the 18 volt rating. That is a NO LOAD figure. It will drop to less that 13 volts under load when attached to a battery.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Old small solar panel [message #369701 is a reply to message #369684] |
Thu, 19 May 2022 15:19 |
mghamms
Messages: 466
Registered: March 2016
Location: Ware, Massachusetts
Karma: 2
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I've had mixed results with these.
Will keep a new battery charged.
Will not work on a week battery.
Should have a little box on the wire from panel to plug, diodes in there.
To small to overcharge.
1977 Kingsley 455 as stock as it gets except lots of Ragusa parts
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| Re: Old small solar panel [message #369703 is a reply to message #369701] |
Thu, 19 May 2022 15:42 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Yes, they were sized to make up for the small discharge on cars parked for a month or more. They only charge a few hours per day and have to make up for the 24 hour discharge. I think they were 150 ma. max and I know GM's spec is the normal discharge rate is less that 20 MA. I do not know what VW's was/is. .
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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