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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
Solar Battery Maintainer for Defender in Storage
Last winter I didn't use my Defender for a few weeks, left it in the garage, and my battery went flat (left the interior light on Embarassed ). I bought a CTEK charger from Brendan after that, and left it on a trickle charge.

But - I have just managed to get another garage, but there's no power in this one to power the trickle-charger...

My new garage:

...Yes I know I need to modify the door to get a Defender in... Whistle

So I was thinking about buying a solar charger so I can keep the battery topped-up when the Defender's left in the garage for any period of time. The garage has a SW facing window (on other side, so can't see on photo), but also I could mount the panel on the roof if required...

There's a few on ebay from very small costs, but I don't want to buy total junk just to find it's not man enough for the job...

Anyone done this? I guess caravanners do this all the time? All advice gratefully revieved. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #161167 10th Aug 2012 7:44pm
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WelshGas



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935
Wales 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
No disrespect intended, but would you get enough quality sunlight that far north to make a solar charger effective. Thumbs Up LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php
Post #161169 10th Aug 2012 7:53pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
WelshGas wrote:
No disrespect intended, but would you get enough quality sunlight that far north to make a solar charger effective. Thumbs Up


Bloody cheek! It's sunny today Very Happy Thumbs Up Rolling with laughter Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #161173 10th Aug 2012 8:12pm
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3674
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
we have a ford focus on call car at work that goes weeks without use, it has a tracker so the battery goes flat after about 2 weeks, a brief case sized solar panel from Maplin that sits on the dash and plugs into the cigarette lighter has sorted it DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #161174 10th Aug 2012 8:15pm
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WelshGas



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935
Wales 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Visited a hospital north of Edinburgh that had a number of internal, landscaped open courtyards. Unfortunately the grass kept dying as it didn't get enough quality sunlight. They replaced it with AstroTurf.
I'm sure a solar charger would work ok for most of the year, but you specifically mentioned winter, and I just wonder if the cheaper units would cope during the dark days. Thumbs Up LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php
Post #161177 10th Aug 2012 8:27pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
Done more digging...Ring do a 2.4w one at "Ring Automotive 12v Solar Trickle Charger" (sold by Maplins Webdeals...)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ERHAX4/?tag=recharradio-21

They also do a 4.8w one... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003M9FWY0/?tag=recharradio-21

Looks pretty cheap - probably worth a punt...

I'll do some more reasearch...

Thanks for the ideas LR90 & Welshgas Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #161178 10th Aug 2012 8:31pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
LR90XS2011 wrote:
we have a ford focus on call car at work that goes weeks without use, it has a tracker so the battery goes flat after about 2 weeks, a brief case sized solar panel from Maplin that sits on the dash and plugs into the cigarette lighter has sorted it


LR90 - any ideas if this is a 2.4 or 4.8w item ??? 2.4's are pretty cheap, but the 4.8 is 3x the price... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #161180 10th Aug 2012 8:50pm
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WelshGas



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935
Wales 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Most solar chargers seem to be of the internal variety, sitting on car dash, but you plan on having your vehicle in the garage. Therefore an external marine grade panel might be better. Even wind power

http://www.force4.co.uk/c/69/Solar-Power---Wind--Chargers.html Bow down LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php
Post #161181 10th Aug 2012 8:59pm
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3674
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
MartinK wrote:
LR90XS2011 wrote:
we have a ford focus on call car at work that goes weeks without use, it has a tracker so the battery goes flat after about 2 weeks, a brief case sized solar panel from Maplin that sits on the dash and plugs into the cigarette lighter has sorted it


LR90 - any ideas if this is a 2.4 or 4.8w item ??? 2.4's are pretty cheap, but the 4.8 is 3x the price...


unsure can check but wont be for a week DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #161186 10th Aug 2012 9:19pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 6005
United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
For a bit more umph - Maplins > http://www.maplin.co.uk/13w-solar-briefcase-99760 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #161197 10th Aug 2012 9:59pm
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3674
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
excossack wrote:
For a bit more umph - Maplins > http://www.maplin.co.uk/13w-solar-briefcase-99760


thats the one looks the same from memory DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #161223 11th Aug 2012 7:06am
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
Thanks, guys, I'll drop into Maplin next week. Thumbs Up Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #161380 12th Aug 2012 7:33am
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Glynparry25



Member Since: 16 Feb 2009
Location: Miserable Midlands
Posts: 3015
Wales 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS DCPU Tonga Green
Just to spoil the fun.

If you constantly charge a battery it will actually damage it. Devices like the CTEK actually turn on and off all the time so that the battery doesn't get 'over charged'. Most solar chargers pump power into the battery for all the time it has sufficient light.

It is a bit like a laptop battery. If you use it pugged in all the time the battery dies within 6-12 months. If you charge it and then unplug whilst using it you will get 2-3 years use out of it.

I would either:

A. Take the negative cable off the battery when you know it is going to be sat longer than a week or so.

If that doesn't work,

B. Take the battery out and attach it to the CTEK in the house (utility room).

HTH,
Glyn Dog Sheep
Post #161385 12th Aug 2012 8:18am
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3674
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
Might be worth checking, on the car at work the battery was fitted in 08 due to the original constantly failing, this was when the solar charger was purchased no problem since at 4 years approx old, the description on Maplins site states it comes with a charge regulator but may be worth asking thier tech department DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #161387 12th Aug 2012 8:31am
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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119
Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
If you took notice of this bloke you'd be mounting a 100w panel on the roof of your Defender
(wouldn't bother with the airfoil part tho)


I used to keep a 20w panel perm wired on the parcel shelf of my Fairlane because the battery would go flat after a week, the panel kept it good for another 3 years till I sold it, granted it was always parked outside.
Post #161390 12th Aug 2012 9:00am
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