Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

anyone use one ?

looking to keep the battery charged up on the toon when we dont get up to the cabin for a while

FIJI wrote:anyone use one ?

looking to keep the battery charged up on the toon when we dont get up to the cabin for a while

I use a small one that I leave on at all times, it seems to do a great job. I think its rated at like 1.5 watts.

do you d/c the battery each time to hook up to the solar?

Cant get a straight answer from Bentley

I did use one, I now use a 5 watt with a power regulator. the 1.5 watt will over charge your battery in time. It did mine and ruined the battery by over charging. I bought the solar panel from harbor freight for around $20. the regulator came from west marine for around $ 80.

I don't see how a 1.5watt over charged your battery and killed it. That barely enough juice to keep it topped off. I've run a 5 watt with no charge controller for years on my pair of Batteries and the panel can't manage to raise the voltage past about 13.3-13.4v in the full bright noon sun. You don't start damaging batteries until that have a constant 14v + with more than a few amps constantly charging them. Usually a charge controller isn't needed until you go to a 15watt+ panel per battery.

rancherlee wrote:I don't see how a 1.5watt over charged your battery and killed it. That barely enough juice to keep it topped off. I've run a 5 watt with no charge controller for years on my pair of Batteries and the panel can't manage to raise the voltage past about 13.3-13.4v in the full bright noon sun. You don't start damaging batteries until that have a constant 14v + with more than a few amps constantly charging them. Usually a charge controller isn't needed until you go to a 15watt+ panel per battery.

Kind of what I thought? In full sun, it shows to make ~16v with a dc meter. But I see no volt change even over 3 numbers from the battery when I hook it up. So it really just seems to hold it at a full charge. I typically use the boat every other week and the battery voltage every time I check it is at a topped off 12.6x volts so Ive been thinking anyways that it was doing a fine job. Mines just alagator cliped on I dont even remove it while at the lake, voltage while under way seems to always be 13.8 to maybe 14.2 depeding on engine rpm; which again Ive been thinking this was perfect. Found mine on a clearance shelf at Northern tool for 9 bucks. Grabbed a few of them, they seem to also do a nice job keeping the motorcycle battery and the kids 12v toys topped off real nice.

Ryan

ordered a basic 1.8w panel from Northern Tool

we'll see what it does.

FIJI wrote:ordered a basic 1.8w panel from Northern Tool

we'll see what it does.

Probaly the same one then, I hope you like it fine. I believe it is made by Coleman, kind of rectangle shaped maybe 4" wide and 12-14" long.

I've got this one. So far, so good. I always had to use a booster pack if I didn't use the boat for a few weeks.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50022-Ba ... B0006JO0TC

Totally agree with RancherLee. Besides, he's from Northern MN. I run a five watt panel for each of my batteries with no controller. I have for years with no issues. This isn't usually enough to even 'charge'. It will keep them from discharging tho. West Marine makes this recommendation as well. Just make darn sure it has a diode to prevent 'reverse discharging' at night

guess I screwed up. this is what I got

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200422045

I selected one with a diode...but didnt notice that it wasnt waterproof until it arrived Guess I just figured they were ALL waterproof

will it work in indirect light ? (the toon is under a hoist/canopy)

will it work if I put it in a plastic bag for protrection ?

anyone use the lighter plug option? sure would be easier than accessing the battery itself

FIJI wrote:guess I screwed up. this is what I got

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200422045

I selected one with a diode...but didnt notice that it wasnt waterproof until it arrived Guess I just figured they were ALL waterproof

will it work in indirect light ? (the toon is under a hoist/canopy)

will it work if I put it in a plastic bag for protrection ?

anyone use the lighter plug option? sure would be easier than accessing the battery itself

Looks identical to the ones I have and also got from Northern. Yes it seems to still work well in non direct sunlight and sure the 12v lighter plug option works great as well. Neighbor keeps one pluged in his lawn tractor at all times and it stays outside in the weather. My toon is under a large carport and gets indirect sun for most of the day and maybe full sun for the last few hours of the day. I'd say use it and not worry with it, Check the voltage each time you get ready to use the boat If its 12.6x then it is keeping it topped off just right. IMO

Ryan

gauge wasnt quite as high as I expected - 11.5-ish - but I'm not 100% sure that this is any different than it always is.

She fired right up...so I plugged the solar back in when I left

FIJI wrote:gauge wasnt quite as high as I expected - 11.5-ish - but I'm not 100% sure that this is any different than it always is.

She fired right up...so I plugged the solar back in when I left

Ya you might want to check your guage or meter, 11.5v is very low. 12.6 is a full charge but I think you can really start to hear them dragging at around 11.8 or so.....

fired right up again last night

must be the gauge