Solar trickle chargers

joeperry · 03-05-2012 9:27am #1

Anyone got one? I have a flat battery this morning through lack of use of the car. I borrowed a solar trickle charger from a mate.

It plugs into the cigar lighter and the solar panel has a flashing blue LED to show it's charging. Will this actually work and bring the battery back to life? How long might it take before i can start the car?

whomitconcerns · 03-05-2012 9:32am

Almost certain that will not help a flat battery. They are more intended to keep it topped up in first place..

joeperry · 03-05-2012 9:36am

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Almost certain that will not help a flat battery. They are more intended to keep it topped up in first place..

Oh no that's a pain. Is there anyway to recover the battery? If i jump start the car and drive it for a couple of hours, then plug the trickle charger back into it?

whomitconcerns · 03-05-2012 9:40am

well depending on battery state if you get it started and drive it for an hour it should be ok...it really depends on how long its been standing for. As regards those trickle things i see a number of issues, ideally they are just to be used when you initially park the car up..if at all.. And secondly, lack of major sun could render it almost useless..not sure what the weather is like bakc home at the mo

joeperry · 03-05-2012 9:44am

I just checked with a multimeter it's giving out 18volts at the minute.

langdang · 03-05-2012 9:46am

joeperry wrote: »

How long might it take before i can start the car?

Do you need it anytime before Christmas?
Jump it and drive it or get a better charger, trickle charger isn't gonna cut it.
If it's a very modern car I'd be inclined to charge it rather than jump it..

joeperry · 03-05-2012 9:50am

langdang wrote: »

Do you need it anytime before Christmas?
Jump it and drive it or get a better charger, trickle charger isn't gonna cut it.
If it's a very modern car I'd be inclined to charge it rather than jump it..

It's an BMW E39 and it's in the garage parked front ways in so i heard you shouldn't jump it from the battery in the boot but from the points under the bonnet

If i could get it out it push starts real easy as it's a manual car.

pburns · 03-05-2012 11:08am

I have one for an infrequently used 4x4. I haven't measured with multimeter yet but it seems to be a help in keeping battery topped-up. I connect directly to the battery and leave the charger on the bonnet or in the cab. It'd be pretty useless at actually charging a battery from flat as you suggest though...