Marine Solar Battery Charger Kit

Best Battery Maintainer Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

• Not very powerful
• No display to indicate if the unit is working properly

This solar-powered battery charger and maintainer uses the power of the sun to charge your vehicle battery. It works in both full sun and cloudy conditions. The unit is water-resistant and comes with clamp connections to attach it to your battery. Its ideal for boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, and RVs. It will maintain a 12V lead-acid battery.

This charger and maintainer doesnt need electricity to work. Its also rated for indoor and outdoor use. This gives you complete freedom in how and where you use this battery charger.

Unfortunately, this charger and maintainer doesnt put out enough power to keep the battery charged if you have other components in your vehicle using the power. This means it wont be effective on modern or higher-end vehicles that have a lot of electricity-demanding features. The fact that this unit is solar also makes its charging ability spotty since youre dependent on the sun for it to work. While you can use it outside, it isnt waterproof, so exposing it to rain or snow will ruin the charger. There is also no indication of whether the unit is working or not.

Installed Solar Powered Charging Kits

The All-In-One Samlex Solar Charging Kits come in 100W or 150W. Every Charging Kit includes an industry leading 30 Amp Charge Controller with a detailed display, Model SCC-30AB. The charge controller can manage up to 500 Watts of solar. This solar panel is a perfect starter kit and leaves room for expansion so you can add more panels down the road.

How To Determine What Solar Panel Kit For Your Boat Or Rv

On Samlex solar powered kits, one-hundred watts at 10 amps will typically run a light, a water pump and will keep your battery topped up. One-hundred and fifty watts you can add a fan. If you want to expand your solar power potential, add another Solar Panel kit. By doing this you add an additional, 100W or 150W. . Two-hundered and fifty watts will run a light, water pump, fan, tablet, laptop, tv and charge the battery. 300 Watts will do what the 250 watts will do plus run kitchen appliances. Four-hundred watts will allow for doing what the 300 watts will do but also allow you to run a vacuum or small fridge. If you still have questions regarding how to size for solar, check out this solar sizing guide

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Best Car Solar Charger In 2022

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One of the worst feelings is sitting down in your car, turning the key, and hearing absolutely nothing. You may have left a light on, or maybe you just let your car sit for too long without driving it to replenish its battery. But whatever it was, it means you can no longer get where you need to go. You may have someone nearby to jumpstart your car, but you may not, in which case your dead car battery could cause you some serious trouble.

If you have ever experienced this, then you probably swore to yourself that you would find a way to be better prepared and avoid this situation in the future. And you also probably promptly forgot about this promise you made to yourself once you got your car back up and running. There is no time like the present to follow through and make sure you never have to experience that terrible silence ever again. One way you can do this is to purchase a solar trickle charger for your battery.

There is a wide range of quality options on the market today. In this article, we will be reviewing five solar chargers for your car battery to help you choose the best one for you.

Solperk 12v Solar Battery Charger And Panel

The SOLPERK 12V Solar Panel is a trickle charger. It charges and maintains 12V batteries like Wet, Gel, MF and many more. The automatic charging and maintenance controller provides protection against short circuits, open circuits, reverse and overcharging.

It’s lightweight and easy to install on jet skis and small boats. The best thing about the SOLPERK? It has thin film amorphous solar cells that allow it to work on cloudy days. Win/Win!

• Size: 21.3″ x 18.2″ x 1.2″
• Charger Type: Trickle Charger
• Panel Type: Amorphous solar cells

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Tips For Using A Solar Car Battery Charger

Here are a few things to keep in mind when using a solar car battery charger.

• Never have the ignition ON when charging your battery. Though the cigarette outlet adapter on many of these solar car battery chargers makes it seem like you can charge the battery while the engine is running, you cannot. The engine must be off.

• Consider purchasing a controller if the solar car battery doesnt already come with it. In short, a controller prevents reverse discharge by acting as an on/off switch. If, for example, a dark cloud passes over the sun, charging will reduce significantly. If your solar panel doesnt have a diode built in, this can lead to reverse discharge. For panels above 6W, a controller is usually recommended.

• Maintain the cleanliness of the panel. Especially for small solar panels, specks of dirt and grime can make a big difference. Be sure to regularly wipe down your solar panel to keep maximum charge efficiency.

Best Solar Car Battery Chargers

A solar car battery charger will provide endless energy without draining your car battery. There are so many on the market that its difficult figuring out which are worth getting. We put together a detailed guide highlighting the seven best solar car battery chargers available.

Before getting into the details, here is a quick summary of the best solar car battery chargers.

Maybe youve never considered buying a solar car battery charger perhaps youve browsed online but were overwhelmed by the choices. We set out with a simple goal in mind: find the best solar car battery chargers on the market.

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Solperk 20w 12v Waterproof Solar Battery Trickle Charger

Type: Monocrystalline solar panels

Wattage: 10W at $37.99, 20W at $49.99, 30W at $74.99, 50W at $89.99, 100W at $94.99

Size: 20W 14.6 x 13.2 x 0.7 inches

Applications: maintainer for Wet, Gel, MF, EFB, and AGM 12 volt batteries for RV, car, boat, marine, camper, lawnmower, motorcycle, jet ski, water pump, shed, gate opener.

Why we love it:

This SOLPERK kit is another best seller in the monocrystalline category. It offers different versions, going from 10W all the way to 100W, so there is something for everyone, regardless of their demand for power. Our pick is the 20W kit available at $49.99, which is sufficient for most average camping applications. It was recently upgraded for optimal cell efficiency, reduced cell loss, and a longer panel life.

As confirmed by countless full-time campers, this highly efficient monocrystalline solar charger delivers well even in low-light environments. The conveniently included charge controller will ensure that your battery is topped off at the right amount of current based on the batterys voltage so as to avoid overcharging and extend battery lifespan.

You are going to get a lot of use out of this solar powered battery charger for RV down the road, thanks to its rugged construction that uses tempered glass, weatherproof film, and aluminum frame that can withstand extended exposure to brutal outdoor use for more than 10 years.

Pros:

• Charge controller sometimes acts up

Rigid Eclipse 190e Expansion Kit

The RIGID Eclipse 190E Expansion adds another 190 watts of power to your full 190W Eclipse Solar Kit.

As your need for power grows, so can your RV solar system by adding additional modules to your existing Rigid Eclipse Solar Kit. Each Go Power! expansion kit includes a solar module, mounting hardware and expansion connections to quickly connect to the existing solar module on your RV roof. All Go Power! Solar Expansion kits are compatible with one another 100 watts or higher.

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Benefits Of A Solar Car Battery Charger

A solar car battery charger is an awesome choice for topping up your battery, and as such, we commend you for considering it. Here are the pluses of having a solar car battery charger.

• Free energy. The sun provides free energy for the taking, so we might as well use it! The solar car battery charger will do that for us.
• Cheaper. A solar panel can last a long time as long as 25 years. Because most of the items on our list go for under a hundred dollars, this is an awesome investment. Much cheaper than the electricity required to charge with a traditional wall outlet.
• Portable and mobile. Unlike a wall outlet, the solar panel can go with you anywhere. No matter where you are in the world, as long as you have your portable solar panel with you, you can charge your car.

How To Choose A Solar Trickle Charger

Harness the sun’s rays to keep your boat’s battery charged.

Solar technology is improving every day. Manufacturers are developing small, effective, low-wattage, portable rigid/semi-rigid chargers for recreational users. We took a look at three of them to see what makes sense, and here are our thoughts.

ITC Solar Duravolt DV8-MarineThe Positive: This is a lightweight, 8.3-watt solar panel including a 10-foot fused power cable with a factory-installed SAE quick-connect output plug. Its packed with three options for connecting: ring terminals, alligator clips or a cigarette-lighter plug all with SAE termination.

The Negative: Alligator clips are subject to rusting, especially in saltwater conditions. Caution should be taken with SAE connectors. They should be taped with electrical tape to prevent separation or shorting in extremely wet conditions.

Deltran 10-Watt Tender Battery ChargerThe Positive: This is a 10-watt solar panel with a built-in three-step automatic microprocessor charge controller with LED indicator lights. It comes with a five-year warranty. At 10-watt output, this panel is good for minimal charging as well as being a reliable trickle charger.

The Negative: Its heavy, weighing in at a hefty 5.5 pounds. Optional connecting methods are available for an extra cost. Connecting cables should be longer.

The Negative: The battery-connecting ring terminals appear to be a little light. Alternate connector options must be purchased separately.

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Fastest Charging: Blsolar2 25 Watt Solar Battery Charger

Rating: 4.1/5

If you want a really low-profile choice, consider the BLSOLAR. At just 2.5 Watts, this wafer-thin, lightweight option from the minds of NOCO is an affordable option for the occasional user.

The BLSOLAR2 2.5 Watt Solar Battery Charger was made with the clouds and the rain in mind, so this is what its optimal for. The reverse diode prevents reverse discharge and the wattage is so low that overcharging will never be a problem. The BLSOLAR may take a while to charge up your battery, but this is an excellent option if youre going to be out in the clouds with no outlets on hand.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to carry. The BLSOLAR is compact and thin as a disk, making it very easy to mount on the inside of your car.
• Affordable. If youre going to use a solar panel only occasionally, this is a good one to consider.

Cons:

• Not optimal for extreme heat and direct sun. Many people think when they buy a solar panel that the best thing for it is direct sun. This is not always the case, as demonstrated by BLSOLAR2. Because this product is best in overcast conditions, hot desert sun conditions can fry the plate and explode the glass.
• Weaker charge than some. Coming in at just 2.5 Watts, you had better not have plans if you want to charge your battery with the BLSOLAR2: charging will take a while.

Types Of Trickle Chargers

Traditional Charger

Dumb chargers are traditional chargers that come with more cables that are plugged into a wall socket. They are powerful, cheap, and can charge any battery size. Dumb refers to the fact that these chargers cant monitor the charging status and often lead to overcharging of the battery if left unsupervised.

Smart Charger

Smart battery chargers sport a modern design and can track the progress of the charging system to prevent overcharging. They are priced high due to their advanced safety features that prevent any battery damage. The chargers can be left unsupervised and can automatically adjust the settings to suit the charging needs of the battery. However, they cant charge all battery sizes like a traditional charger.

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Trickle Charger Key Features

Capacity

The capacity of the battery and chargers is marked in amp-hours. You need to ensure that your trickle charger has a higher amp-hour value than your vehicles battery. Most chargers have adjustable ampere rates, but ideally, a maintenance charger needs to be under 5 amps while a fast charger should be at least 10.

Charging Monitoring

If you are going to maintain your battery throughout the winter season, go for a charger with an automatic battery-charge monitoring feature. This will ensure that your battery isnt overcharged and that its topped off every time the battery level goes down. It will buy you time by keeping your battery in good condition before you get to use your car.

Safety

The trickle charger needs to have some safety features that prevent damage to the battery. That might include reverse polarity connection safety, which ensures that you dont damage your cars electrical system in case you connect the charger to the wrong terminals. Other safety features include spark-proof technology, short-circuit protection, overload, and overheating protection.

V Solar Battery Charger Faqs

A solar battery charger takes energy generated from solar panels and feeds it into a leisure battery or battery bank. The charger will control how much and how fast the batteries are charged. It will also ensure batteries are not overcharged.

Yes, our solar panels kits usually include a solar battery charger. The kits are designed to provide the right amount of power with the right hardware in the right situation. You can upgrade parts of the kit if you like and well be happy to advise on upgrades if you want to expand your current solar panel kit.

An MPPT solar battery charger is the most efficient charger around. The MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking and is an electronic charger that uses intelligence to provide exactly the right amount of charge to the battery in every situation. They can be much more efficient than standard chargers but are more expensive due to their complexity.

Most of our solar panel kits come with the correct size charger but if youre building your own solar panel setup, you can use this basic calculation. Add the total watts of solar panels and divide by either 14.4 for 12v systems, 28.8 for 24v or 58.8 for 48v systems. Alternatively, talk to one of our team who would be happy to help.

There are three main terms you need to be familiar with when buying a solar battery charger. Watts is a power rating made up of current in amps x voltage in volts .

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Best Budget Option: Sunway Solar Car Battery Charger

Rating: 4.5/5

The Sunway Solar Car Battery Charger represents the healthy middle of the line of our chargers. It has many things to like about it and few downsides, making it a terrific choice, especially if the price is a major consideration.

The interesting shape of the Sunway Solar Car Battery Charger makes it fit perfectly on your dash. The long, rectangular shape means that more of the panels catch the sun when charging. The cigarette outlet adapter means that the Sunway can charge your battery without you even having to remove it from its spot in the engine. Though the wattage is low, the Sunway is an excellent trickle charger that can top you up just as well as any other.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to carry. The Sunway Solar Car Battery Charger is extremely easy to carry around because of the shape and size. Take the Sunway with you on any trip with total ease and be confident that you can top off your battery in a pinch.
• The price! For all that we like about the Sunway Solar Car Battery Charger, the price is impressive. It beats almost all of its competitors in this aspect.
• The cigarette outlet adapter makes charging easy.
• It is shaped to get maximum sun on the dashboard of a car.

Cons:

Drawbacks Of A Solar Car Battery Charger

As with most positives, there are some negatives. Here are some things to consider about solar car battery chargers.

• Trickle chargers. Almost all solar car battery chargers are trickle chargers, which means that they wont be able to start up your battery from dead. They are almost always used to top off a battery rather than to bring it from 0 to 100.
• Solar energy is slower than wall energy. Be prepared to wait for a long time for a similar charge. The solar panel just doesnt charge as fast as a similarly priced wall outlet charger, and some users get frustrated and give up altogether.
• The solar panel can be fragile. Depending on the product you buy, users have reported solar panels that are easily broken. Be careful about this when considering a solar panel, as very few warranties cover accidental damage.

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