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 Solar trickle charger question:		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/27/2007 :  19:59:10  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Do I have to disconnect my Sunforce 5 watt solar trickle charger from the battery when I'm running my Tohatsu 9.8 electric start outboard that also charges, or can it stay connected, especially when I'm motoring on long windless cruises?
Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 03/27/2007 :  20:06:36  Show Profile
Frank,
You can leave it hooked up while motoring. Your solar panel comes with a blocking diode built in so power can only go one way and that's from the panel to your battery and not from your battery to the panel so your okay.
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 03/27/2007 :  21:59:45  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Thank you! So there's no problem with the battery receiving two chargings simultaneously; one from the o.b., one from the solar panel? And BTW, will the 5 watt solar trickle charger be as effective as my 120V Guest trickler?
Edited by - AADIVER on 03/27/2007 22:31:42
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 03/28/2007 :  09:34:41  Show Profile
Frank,
Watts are watts so if they are both 5 watts you would think they would be equal but thats not the case. The Guest charger will work 24/7. The solar charger will work best in bright sunlight and have a diminished capacity in anything less. At night it will be useless. They both may be capable of keeping your batteries topped off but even that is dependent on what you leave juiced on your boat when you are away. The only thing I have that is a power draw is the memory in my stereo but even that can pull the voltage down over a period of a week if I leave the charger off. Over a month it would probably drain them substantially.
Joe
Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 03/28/2007 09:39:52
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 03/28/2007 :  11:27:37  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Most of my sailing/motoring is during daylight so I have no continuing drain on the battery. On multi-day cruises I only use the interior LED units at night, or if anchored, the mast top anchoring light.
Again: when I'm motoring can I leave the solar trickle charger connected?
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KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts
Response Posted - 03/28/2007 :  12:20:29  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Again: when I'm motoring can I leave the solar trickle charger connected?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
YES. Neither will bother the other.
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 03/28/2007 :  15:50:27  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Thanks to you and tompotter I don't have to buy and install a weather proof on/off switch ;-)
Unit's installed, pics to come. Now, if my motor doesn't start I'll know I don't have enough trickle with the sun. 120V cable and Guest trickler standing by!
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.