Solar Battery Tender
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Solar Battery Tender
I am leaving on a trip and leaving my CTS-V at the airport for 3 weeks. I purchased a "Sunforce" brand battery tender which had an option of hooking to the battery or plugging into cigarette lighter.
Does hooking up to the cigarette lighter really to the trick? It would be a hell of alot easier as I would place the solar panel in front of the windowshade and run wore down.
Thanks and Happy Holidays.
Does hooking up to the cigarette lighter really to the trick? It would be a hell of alot easier as I would place the solar panel in front of the windowshade and run wore down.
Thanks and Happy Holidays.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Not all cars will let the power flow through the lighter. You can get a solar powered charger that plugs into the OBD port and those work great. In fact VW uses them to keep the batteries charged when their cars are parked at the port. You can find them on ebay because they come with the car and most people don't know what to do with them.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
OBD Port?
What is an OBD port?
Not all cars will let the power flow through the lighter. You can get a solar powered charger that plugs into the OBD port and those work great. In fact VW uses them to keep the batteries charged when their cars are parked at the port. You can find them on ebay because they come with the car and most people don't know what to do with them.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Thanks Much!!!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
have you tried the lighter socket when your key is out? if it's "hot"meaning it works, then you should be fine. The Corvette's does; that's where I plug my battery maintainer in at home.
If it's not hot, then you'll have to find the place that is.
If it's not hot, then you'll have to find the place that is.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Some cars have a diode (or something similar) that will only let the current flow one way, but I don't have list of cars.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,888
Likes: 4,342
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 529
Likes: 11
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County CA
In an airport situation, the cell will be behind glass cutting output by 10% or so. Also assuming the car is parked so that the sun rays hit the cell exactly perpendicular at 2 pm, not much electricity will be generated before about 10 am or after 4 pm. The integrated charge over each day should be well within the capability of the battery.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 529
Likes: 11
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,328
Likes: 405
Here's a good link to read about solar panels:
http://www.amsolar.com/solarpanels.html
It's winter now and the OP is in FL meaning higher operating temps on the panel plus he's at sea level...according to the link, the 18.5V and 5W rating may be down to ~15 V and 3W. Not much chance of overcharging the battery at that rate, especially since those numbers will occur for only a few hours per day at peak sun.
http://www.amsolar.com/solarpanels.html
It's winter now and the OP is in FL meaning higher operating temps on the panel plus he's at sea level...according to the link, the 18.5V and 5W rating may be down to ~15 V and 3W. Not much chance of overcharging the battery at that rate, especially since those numbers will occur for only a few hours per day at peak sun.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Sunforce
This is the one I bought last week.
Up to 1.8Watts and 125mA (max)
http://astore.amazon.com/sunforce.so...ail/B0006JO0KG
I hope it puts out enough juice. Any EE's out there???
Up to 1.8Watts and 125mA (max)
http://astore.amazon.com/sunforce.so...ail/B0006JO0KG
I hope it puts out enough juice. Any EE's out there???
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County CA
You know, at 270 ma under ideal conditions, I would think you would be lucky to get one Amp-Hour per day into the battery.
(and I re-read this one) Thanks, Lloyd