Battery maintainer

[pony bh]

Has anyone used the Solar powered Battery Maintainer. If so how well do they work. Looks like a good way to keep battery charged for 5 X 8 dump trailer, if it works well. Thanks.

 

[DeltaRed]

Neighbor bought one to 'maintain'/charge a battery on a tractor he had on a remote farm wirth no power.It worked.Did what it promised.

 

[Case Nutty 1660]

the ones I have looked at were not to in "damp/wet" areas, have they started making them to be in the weather? if they do I would by several, I use the 110volt plug in maitainers and really like them but a solar would be even better to me for my outside units cnt

 

[Chip812]

I have one on my Massey... Keeps the battery topped off. This will be the second winter for it. I made sure that I got the 'outdoor' version so that it could be out in the rain/weather.

 

[550Doug]

I've got one, BatteryMinder from Northern Tool. It works good but I had to make my own mounting brackets. Otherwise it works just fine, even in very cloudy weather and rain.
Solar Battery Minder

 

[LJD]

You don't need an expensive setup like that. It's a waste of money. All you need is a 10-12 watt, 12 volt solar panel hooked directly to the battery with no other electronics. It's cheaper, weather proof, and is all that is needed when charging a full size battery. I have several trucks and tractors with 12 watt panels hooked to them. My old Allis Chalmers HD6 with a 24 volt system has dual 12 watt panels hooked in series. Been that way for 5 years now.

You can buy brand new 10-12 watt, 12 volt panels for $40-$50 if you shop around (with free shipping). Sometimes even cheaper.

A 12 watt panel can only put out 8/10ths of an amp max in the brightest sun and most of the time it will be less then half-and-amp. No controller needed. Even 15 watt panels don't need controllers unless you live somewhere in the southwest where the sun is really bright almost every day.

A few examples:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10watt-solar-panel-Mono-crystalline-12v-charge-batteries-Rv-marine-/251084154370?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a75c82602

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&sowigan=&Breite=185&Quer=&Felge=14&Speed=&kategorie=6&LoadRange=&Marke=&ranzahl=4&suchen=View+tires

 

[Motorcraftman]

It is the BEAT Invention for Battery maintainers, Works Excellent!! Onec You Buy it thats it, No more cost, Larry

 

[Motorcraftman]

I'tll Do the Job! Larry

 

[da.bees]

If a charger has the ability to do any meaningful charging,it can and will over charge thereby doing damage unless it includes a means to adjust rate of charge. Granted you may leave a tiny charge on your tractor 24-7 without obivous trouble but the guy across the road has nothing on his and gets the same results.
Having said that,I believe a good maintainer will extend the life of any battery because of it's ability to desulfate which an alternator can't match.

 

[LJD]

RE: your comment "you may leave a tiny charge on your tractor 24-7 without obivous trouble but the guy across the road has nothing on his and gets the same results"

Not true. All lead-acid batteries self-discharge when sitting. Average rate even if unhooked is 5% to 10% per month. Putting a small maintainer on it prevents that. A 10 watt solar panel can do it fine in moderate sun areas and no controller needed.