What Is A Solar Car Battery Charger And Who This Is For
The solar charger for car batteries is an innovative solar product. It is made of a solar panel glass and an ABS plastic material. It also has a monocrystalline silicon solar cell. This charger is compact and lightweight. It is designed, engineered and made to keep a car battery topped off. It works likes a solar charger and maintainer that prevents dead battery.
It also has safety and protection features to prevent reverse charging, for instance. The device is ideal for applications, such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, car, tractors, Powersports, and marine. It is for those that want to use a solar charger that can be used in charging the batteries of different vehicles.
Also, this device is for those that want to save money and energy cost. It depends on solar power thus, it does not rely on electricity at all. In this case, you can benefit from the free energy coming from the sun. With it, you also do not spend more money because it does not add to energy cost.
Besides, the car charger is also for people that want to help conserve nature. It is for those that are looking for alternative energy products. With a sun-powered charger, you can give your share to the environment.
These are only some things to know about a solar car charger that you need to know. In this case, you will have a better idea of how it can offer you with benefits.
What Features Should I Look For
The main thing to look for is what wattage the solar panel offers. A smaller watt will be fine for trickle charging and preventing a flat battery and will cost less. A higher wattage battery charger will be able to restart a dead engine but the panel will be bigger and it’ll cost more.
Also, try to find a solar car battery charger that has an OBD option. While not every car comes with an OBD socket, most modern ones do and it’ll make trickle charging a lot easier.
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Solar Car Battery Chargers Won’t Replace Traditional Chargersyet
While solar car battery chargers could certainly prove to be useful, they’re still a pretty new product on the market, and they’re simply not advanced enough to replace outlet chargers yet. So, if you’re looking for a nifty little gadget to give your car’s battery a little boost now and then, a solar car battery charger could be a great option for you.
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How We Chose The Chargers For Our Solar Car Battery Charger Review List
Before making this list, I studied up pretty heavily on car batteries, chargers, solar energy, and how they all work together. I wasnt terribly knowledgeable on the subject of car batteries in particular, but Ive learned that knowledge is a powerful tool for keeping my family safe.
So, I applied that research and new knowledge to discovering the best solar car battery charger options on the market.
I started out by crafting a list of needs for the standard charger which helps us know if the charger is worth considering in the first place. Then I went looking for reviews from others on solar chargers for car batteries to see what options are most popular and most highly rated by pro reviewers and real-life users alike.
This search resulted in about 80 different chargers. Obviously, I wasnt about to review every single one of these, so I hacked down the list by first eliminating any solar car battery charger that didnt have high enough reviews for me to consider them to be above average.
Then I chopped the list down further by looking through the comments and reviews given by real-life users to see what their experiences had been with the various chargers. This knocked the list down to about twenty that seemed worth reviewing.
This list of twenty was then chopped down by doing my own reviews and research into each choice. Below, you have the results of the hours of work put in reviewing and researching the options.
How Does It Work
The 0solar automotive battery charger works in the same way as an ordinary charger. It charges a cars battery. It works by converting the light energy into a DC. This solar car charger works even if it is cloudy or if there is a low light condition. Most of these devices are being used for trickle charging.
They can top off a battery and prevent dead battery but without overcharging it. It feeds low current to the battery so that it remains in a charged state. On the other hand, some of them can recharge a car battery completely.
Usually, they are with a solar panel on their face. All you need to do is to place it in an area where it can receive sunlight. You can put it on the top of the dashboard or near the cars window. On the other hand, you can also connect some of them to a battery, while the others are feeding power to the battery through the power socket or cigarette lighter.
These solar chargers are not expensive, while also being efficient in extending your cars battery life. Also, they do not add to the cost because they are sun reliant. They are also reliable that they can keep your battery charged. Finally, they are eco-friendly to keep your battery charged.
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Suaoki 12v Solar Car Battery Charger
- Two ways of charging
- Cables are short
- There is a need for a transformer or controller.
Today, it is always smart and practical to have a solar charger specific for your cars. This is especially true for your vehicles sitting idle for months due to seasonal use. With the Suaoki 12V solar car battery charger, you can always have fresh batteries as if it has not to be left waiting for you.
What makes this solar battery very reliable is it can fully charge your battery and consistently maintain it at a correct storage voltage. All these being done for free since its source of energy is the sunlight. Aside from not needing any expensive additional resources to work, this battery charger is also designed. Hence, it provides you with excellent service for years. It is ultra-light, and it is made of materials that are both water-resistant and heat resistant. With its quick heat dispelling properties, you are sure that this is a purchase that will be with you for years to come with quality output every time.
Based on reviews and users, this solar car battery works very well. It delivers a solar cell efficiency of 22.5% with an output voltage of 18v with 18 Watts of energy. Whats more, is it is extremely versatile offering you two ways of charging.
Using this car battery charger is very easy and not complicated at all. This is highly recommended for those with old cars who have encountered trouble with the battery due to infrequent use.
What Are The Different Types Of Solar Car Battery Chargers
These solar car battery chargers work in the same way. They can maintain the charged state of your battery and prevent dead battery, as you would read in a 12v solar car battery charger review. Regarding the types, it just differs from brand to brand and model to model. For example, some of them work as a trickle charger that keeps the battery-powered so that it is ready whenever you need it.
On the other hand, some models work as a battery charger and maintainer. As it implies, it works by maintaining and keeping your battery charged. It is useful for plenty of applications, including marine, RV and car. It is also for snowmobiles, Powersports, tractors, and farming equipment. Nevertheless, the types only vary from one brand to another. Still, in many cases, these chargers are available in a 12V kit.
If you would like to buy the right solar battery charger, you can get started in the comparison process using the top suggestions and reviews earlier. They can give you an idea of the unique qualities, pros, and cons of these chargers. Nonetheless, these products are by reputable brands. They are high in quality and can last through the years. They do not require maintenance, too.
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Trickle Charger For Car Battery
A trickle charger is very important for car batteries to maintain the charge on a car battery when the car is not being driven. It keeps the battery from being drained by the cars electrical system and keeps it charged so it is ready to start the car when needed.
When you leave your car for long periods of time you may find a dead battery. The battery discharge of a car battery is even higher than for idle batteries as the cars electrical system which includes Alarms and lights continues to issue the batterys charge.
So for a car battery not only does it need a maintainer but to be regularly topped off against this discharge.
To use a trickle charger with a car battery, you will need to connect the charger to the battery using the proper connectors. Once the charger is connected, you will need to turn on the charger and let it run until the battery is fully charged.
Consider a Solar Trickle Charger
A solar trickle charger is a small solar panel designed to provide a small charge to keep your battery topped off. A solar trickle charger is really easy to use and anyone can use it. It is also convenient as it only requires power from the sun. This means that you can use it from anywhere.
Solar chargers have been specialized with 12v connectors that include alligator clips, cigarette lighter connectors, and o-ring terminals that can be easily connected to the battery and charge your batteries.
Are Solar Car Chargers Worth It
If you just need a quick charge, solar car chargers are worth it. And if youre trying to cut back on electricity usage, solar car chargers are better for the environment. If you drive an EV, you might want to keep one in your trunk in case of an emergency. Sometimes, you cant make it to the charging station in time. Simply put, solar car chargers are great if you are trying to maintain a charge rather than fully charging it.
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How Long Does It Take To Charge A 12
Depending on the size of your battery, itd require approximately five to eight hours to fully charge car battery with solar panel that could generate 1 amp of current.
In addition, if you want to ensure a more effective charge, be sure that the solar panel is free from any obstruction and is positioned directly facing the sun.
Please note that charging time usually varies depending on the amp output and size of your panel. A large-sized panel could charge a car battery more quickly than a solar charger with a small-sized panel.
One Way Plug Connector Plug And Play Pretty Safe And Very Easy To Install
- For optimal power, ensure the panel is directly facing the sunlight.
- Clean the Solar Battery Charger MONTHLY, or more frequently to maintain peak efficiency.
- Check the battery is 12V and larger than 20Ah.
- If the battery capacity is 20Ah or greater, the charger will not overcharge the battery or cause any damage.
- If the battery capacity is smaller than 20Ah,a suitable charge controller will be required. Or,please don’t continuous charging more than three days.
- The solar charger is a basic of trickle charger and it is best for slowly charging and maintaining battery charge.Please note that the charger is designed to top-up battery charge as a result of natural drainage. It is not intended to recharge a battery that has fully discharged.
- The charger is splashproof and waterproof,but it should not be submerged in water.
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Powoxi Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger 33w
- Connections: Clips, socket
- Rating: 3/5
Powoxi makes some of the best-selling solar chargers on Amazon, and it appears to be decent value, with a tough casing and large suction pads to attach the unit to a window.
A blue LED illuminates to show it is receiving power from the sun and the claimed output is reasonable enough at 3.3kW. In reality, though, the output didnt actually match that of the supposedly less-powerful AA and Halfords chargers in this test.
While it might keep a battery topped up if there is a light load, such as a clock or alarm, it would struggle to trickle charge a dead battery.
Can A 20w Solar Panel Charge A 12v Battery
20W and 50W solar panels are good for fast charging small 12V batteries. For example, a 20W solar panel can charge a 20Ah 12V battery in around 17 hours of direct sunlight. A 50W panel can do it in around 8 hours. 80W and 100W solar panels are good for fast charging large 12V and car batteries.
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What Makes A Good Solar Car Battery Charger
Efficiency The more efficient a solar charger is, the more light energy will be transferred into battery energy. That also means the less time the charger has to be out in the open, cutting down on times it can be damaged by weather or something similar. Efficiency is also important if you live in area with lots of cloud or shorter daylight hours, especially in winter. High efficiency will help make the most of whatever light energy is actually available. Efficiency of over 20% is very good by the way.
Reverse Charge Blocking Diode This is a really useful feature to see so useful in fact that youll likely find it present on all but the mot basic solar chargers. Basically, as the name may have implied, these devices require solar energy to function. There is none at night of course, so the charger stops, well, charging. A Reverse Charge Blocking Diode prevents stored energy from the battery leaking out through the charger when it is not supplying energy at night.
Power its possible to see power ranges anywhere from 2 to 18 volts with these devices. The total power is really just going to give you a rough idea of charge time. Also bear in mind that overcharge protection is limited or non-existent on these types of chargers. If you want to plug in and not worry too much about overcharge, go for a lower powered model.
Summary: Solar Car Battery Chargers
Solar chargers are an inexpensive, eco-friendly way to keep your cars battery topped up. For most of us, a 5W to 15W charger is all we need. If you want to completely recharge a dead battery, youll need to bump up to 100 watts or so.
We hope you enjoyed our overview of solar battery chargers, now take a look and find the right one for you! Here are our top picks for the best solar battery charger of 2021.
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Advantages Of Using Solar Car Battery Chargers
There are a number of advantages to using an auto battery charger that runs off of a solar cell, advantages such as:
- Simplicity These devices are very, very easy to use. A battery charger that plugs into a wall socket can supply a high level of power. That can require you tailor both the Amperage and Voltage outputs to suit your vehicle and current battery condition and if you get it wrong, it can damage the battery. No such worries with a solar charger, as it simply doesnt develop that level of power.
- Prolongs Battery Life & Health You may have read that last statement as a negative, that solar chargers are underpowered and not worth the time. They are only underpowered though if you expect too much from them. So no, they are not going to deliver the power to revive a discharged battery youll need a power cord equipped model for that. They will however deliver a steady stream of low power, making them the perfect trickle style chargers to offset natural discharge and keep a healthy, well charged battery topped up long term.
- Long Term Money Saving They can be a little more expensive than battery chargers with power cords. However, once youve made that initial outlay then thats it no more bills. A solar charger will not be adding money onto your house electricity bill, instead its a one off charge for long term energy.
Test Your Solar Car Battery Charger
To test my solar car charger, I simply took the solar charger outside and put the panel in direct sunlight.
Then I looked at the PV current display on my charge controller. It read 0.2 amps, meaning my solar panel was in fact charging my 12V battery.
It works!
Technically my solar car battery charger is done. I can just leave the panel out in the sun and the charge controller will cut off the charging when the battery is full.
Thats right this solar 12V battery charger has auto cut-off built right in. Pretty cool.
If I want to solar charge the battery while its in my car, I can just put the solar panel and charge controller on the hood of my car.
But I decided to take it one step further
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