bahf Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 Does anyone have a recommendation or has anyone tried the 5W solar trickle charger sold by Screwfix, manufacturer Ring,at circa £25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 I bought this 10W panel and it is superb. Sadly it seems to have doubled in price! I use it with a lorry size battery and it keeps it topped up with ease. I think 5W would be enough for a Caterham or even a normal car size battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 9, 2023 Member Share Posted November 9, 2023 It's good to hear of success. More, please. When this has come up in the past it usually hasn't ended with a working system. NB current drain at rest varies enormously between different Sevens. Battery isolation isn't difficult and might make all the difference for some. Jonathan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 From a battery health perspective if the solar panel is continually connected, it is advisable to have a smart charging program the same as a battery maintainer would provide, as opposed to a constant over-voltage like a trickle charger provides. The battery will last a lot longer with a “smart” charging cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 I agree, James “killing it through kindness”. I set this up when I had a stubborn dynamo problem which I later resolved. I very rarely need to use it these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted November 9, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted November 9, 2023 (edited) Optimate have a package to do exactly this. https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/optimate-solar I considered one of these for the remote garage on which I keep the 21, in a Carcoon. I chose not to, partly as it it a council garage, partly because it is a dozen streets away, partly because the garage door faces north. Edited November 9, 2023 by Golf Juliet Tango Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlastererPete Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 I bought one of the Optimate Solar chargers (10w version) as a “free” way to trickle charge the 7. During summer it was great, winter however even in direct sunlight/daylight it was barely able to keep up with the parasitic loss of the immobiliser. I switched to a standard plug in Optimate 2 which has worked a treat for the past two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 given the shelf life of a battery is (so I gather) two years, I charge it and disconnect it, several months later the car starts - I did try solar things and they were stolen. Great. Yes parasitic drain is the enemy. ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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