Solar battery charger (trickle)? [Archive] - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

: Solar battery charger (trickle)?


WHYT LIE
08-06-2007, 02:26 PM
Does anyone have experience with a solar powered battery charger that will trickle charge a Yellow Top Optima in a flat bed car hauler trailer?

I've found a ton of them online, but the information provided is not enough to tell if it will trickle charge and condition a battery. Or what wattage is enough, etc.

I use the Optima to run my Superwinch 4500 winch and auxiliary lights. Two small lights in my trailer tongue box and 4 lights on the deck for strapping down the vehicle.

I thought that my truck would charge the battery while towing, but that does not seem to be the case. Also, I go months and almost a year at a time without towing the trailer, so I don't know if the battery would drain on it's own in that time and then not be ready to go without the truck charging it. So the solar powered charger would be a good solution.

Thanks.

precision37
08-06-2007, 04:02 PM
I bought a Battery MINDer solar charger from Northern Tool, item #167987, this spring to charge and maintain a deep cycle battery that runs the water pump at my camp. So far it works just fine. It keeps the battery charged, and desulfates as well.