Solar Powered Float Charger"

cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Does anybody know if I can buy a "Solar Powered Float Charger" If so where is the cheapest and best or are they all the same?

Would it keep a Battery Charged enough to run an Auto Bilge Pump and still be able to start the engine? V-6 I/O
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

they say yes, but google them
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

Honorary Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,834
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

That is just the controller. You will need a panel to connect to it.

I have a horse trailer that has a small solar panel on the top of it. I bought the solar panel and controller on ebay for a little over $100. The solar panel is a 20W panel or so.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

still looking
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

I like the price of the one on Ebay much better. $24.95 Free Shipping too.
At the bottom of the page it has options for plugging into Cigarette lighter which would work better for me. Because I could snake the wire out from under the cockpit cover.
On second thought. I would have to think on that one a bit because with the solar panel so obvious it might invite Thieves where as the other one I could mount on the Swim Platform or stern out of sight or at least not so obvious?
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

Do you think the 1.5 amp at harbor freight would charge the battery enough to run an Auto Bilge Pump and sttill be able to start the boat after a couple days.

I as looking in Defender and the Johnson Automatic Bilge Pump with the built in float switch only draws 2.5 amp's
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

Honorary Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,834
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

That is 1.5W not 1.5A. I wouldn't rely on it running a bilge pump at all. That will keep a battery charged that starts charged..that is it.

How long is your boat sitting between use?
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

Honorary Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,834
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

The people that rate these panels use a lot of "specmanship" when they rate their panels. Bottom line is that you need to look at the current output to see if they will perform to what you want to do. Even with that number, I would derate it by 25% or so.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

Would I have to unplug the Solar Charger when running the boat engine with any of them? I never realized there were so many. Isn't the Forum great where minds, thoughts and experience can aid one another. Thank You ever so much tashdaddy. I gotta go but will keep looking. I've bookmarked all these pages so I can study the options and even search more.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

Bruce
It would sit no more than two or three days Idle.
 
Z

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

A panel like that will not come even close to running a bilge pump. If you need to run a pump you'll need a giant panel that costs hundreds of dollars. You'd be a lot better off just adding a second battery for the pump. Those little solar panels only counteract the self discharge of a battery and small loads like a clock - they will never actually charge a battery.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

bruceb58 said:
What is the purpose of the charger going to be? Do you want to charge a battery that is not fully charged yet or just keep one topped off?

This is the controller I own:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sun-Saver-10-So...2QQihZ001QQcategoryZ41980QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Click to expand...

I want to keep the battery topped off since I only have one battery and the boat stays in the Lake three weeks at a time. If I go away I want to be able to power an Automatic Bilge Pump and since I only have one battery still be able to start the engine after a couple days and so I was wondering which way was best and cheapest way to go a solar powered charger or second battery.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

I've even considered a Jump Start Battery pak from Harbor freight for $49 when they run them on sale. The only thing is to get one big enough to do the job. the other thing is we are in a membership Campground and someetimes I am a long ways from the boaat to have to be carrying anything heavy. I'm not young anymore to be carrying something that weighs 25 lbs a half mile. we do have security to.
 
cbavier

cbavier

Lieutenant
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

In looking in the Defender catalogue they have three and all three are out of the question but they would probably do the job. I'll list them

Pg 303

4A- $752
6A- $959
8A- $ 1150

They are dreaming, well in fact they still have them .....Ha! Ha!

Chuck

Ok I got so many responses so fast I have to go back to the top and read the whole forum from top to bottom.

I'll catch up in a bit and try to answer anyone's questions.......THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE and keep the posts and Ideas coming!
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Solar Powered Float Charger"

i don't know enough about them to have an opinion. i have 2 totally indepentant bilge pumps in my boat. one manual on starting battery, the other auto/ manual on the accessories battery. they both have their separtate hose and thru hull fitting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top