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 Post subject: Solar charger
PostPosted: 16 Feb 2016 20:41 
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Joined: 07 May 2009 17:44
Posts: 605
Current ride: Xb12r
Location: Corby
Has anyone here got a solar charger? I have no way of getting power to the garage, but I'd like to try and keep the battery topped up. I nearly ordered a solar panel charger from maplins, but didn't as it said in the description it was weatherproof, but in the questions when asked if it was waterproof, they said it wasn't, and it will have to be fitted outside. There was something else I'd need to buy to stop it overcharging the battery, but can't remember what it was called.

Thanks for any tips or links.


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 16 Feb 2016 20:50 
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Joined: 10 Mar 2010 20:06
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Current ride: 2004 Buell XB 12s
Location: Schoorl ,Netherlands
This ,
https://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/webshop/ ... SC&aid=121

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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 16 Feb 2016 22:34 
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Location: Corby
brother in buells wrote:


Can't open the link, comes up with a message about a dodgy certificate...


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 17 Feb 2016 16:01 
Like you I have a lock-up with no power, so I purchase one of these a couple of months back (see- link), it works really well and is waterproof. I made a steel frame for it, mounted it at 45deg on the back of my garage which is not easily accessible nor can be seen that well, and thus can't be tampered with or run the risk of bored kids slinging rocks at it. :sad1:
I also read that one should add a controller to stop back charge, although the panel I bought has a blocker on it for that, but the controller does several other things including monitoring to stop overcharging on a bright sunny day, that's assuming we will ever get any. :sun:
I bought one of these the 20w one to match the panel (see- link)


Solar Panel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20w-Solar-Pan ... SwX~dWr6tU

Controller
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-10-15-20-30 ... gl-G11V_2g


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 17 Feb 2016 19:30 
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Current ride: 2004 Buell XB 12s
Location: Schoorl ,Netherlands
bikerdude666 wrote:
brother in buells wrote:


Can't open the link, comes up with a message about a dodgy certificate...



Well it was a link to a Voltage Regulator for all Buell XB9 and XB12 models from 2003-2007

I thought that you meant that by stop it overcharging :headbang:

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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 18 Feb 2016 11:34 
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Joined: 07 May 2009 17:44
Posts: 605
Current ride: Xb12r
Location: Corby
kernow60 wrote:
Like you I have a lock-up with no power, so I purchase one of these a couple of months back (see- link), it works really well and is waterproof. I made a steel frame for it, mounted it at 45deg on the back of my garage which is not easily accessible nor can be seen that well, and thus can't be tampered with or run the risk of bored kids slinging rocks at it. :sad1:
I also read that one should add a controller to stop back charge, although the panel I bought has a blocker on it for that, but the controller does several other things including monitoring to stop overcharging on a bright sunny day, that's assuming we will ever get any. :sun:
I bought one of these the 20w one to match the panel (see- link)


Solar Panel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20w-Solar-Pan ... SwX~dWr6tU

Controller
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-10-15-20-30 ... gl-G11V_2g


That looks good, not too expensive either! I assume you mean the controller was 20A? My garage roof is in the sun for most of the day, so should work pretty well.


brother in buells wrote:
bikerdude666 wrote:
brother in buells wrote:


Can't open the link, comes up with a message about a dodgy certificate...



Well it was a link to a Voltage Regulator for all Buell XB9 and XB12 models from 2003-2007

I thought that you meant that by stop it overcharging :headbang:



Ah right, no, thanks, it had a new Reg/Rec a few years ago...


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 18 Feb 2016 15:01 
That looks good, not too expensive either! I assume you mean the controller was 20A? My garage roof is in the sun for most of the day, so should work pretty well.

Hi :yup:
Yes you have a choice on the controller power range from about 5w up to 30w, so I chose the 20w being the panel is 20w.
On most days two of the red led's are lit up, and down here in Cornwall today we have some bright sunshine :sun: so all three are showing today. If you purchase the panel in the link you have a fair amount of lead with it with 2x crocodile clips attached, I cut these off because I drilled a hole through the wall for the cable to pass through. Once inside the garage I connected the 2x wires + and - into a normal 13-amp switched household socket, from there I attached some flat twin core flex the type used for bedside lamps etc and connected a 13-amp plug with a 3-amp fuse to a short length of twin core flex into the first 2x terminals on the controller which are for the current from the panel into the controller, connect another twin core length to the second pair of terminals on the controller which simply go to whatever you want to charge.
The reason I did it this way is that I switch off the supply from the panel before connecting or disconnecting the cable to whatever I'm charging.


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 19 Feb 2016 21:05 
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Joined: 06 May 2009 21:29
Posts: 1483
I have, it works a treat :D

Image

Just as a bit of an insight, the last three months account for 2% of the power generation of this system, its as optimum as its possible to be position wise, we have actually had several days when all that produced nearly nothing, I wouldn't guarantee that one of those chargers would charge a battery all the time.

Andy


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 19 Feb 2016 21:24 
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Joined: 07 May 2009 17:44
Posts: 605
Current ride: Xb12r
Location: Corby
kernow60 wrote:
Hi :yup:
Yes you have a choice on the controller power range from about 5w up to 30w, so I chose the 20w being the panel is 20w.
On most days two of the red led's are lit up, and down here in Cornwall today we have some bright sunshine :sun: so all three are showing today. If you purchase the panel in the link you have a fair amount of lead with it with 2x crocodile clips attached, I cut these off because I drilled a hole through the wall for the cable to pass through. Once inside the garage I connected the 2x wires + and - into a normal 13-amp switched household socket, from there I attached some flat twin core flex the type used for bedside lamps etc and connected a 13-amp plug with a 3-amp fuse to a short length of twin core flex into the first 2x terminals on the controller which are for the current from the panel into the controller, connect another twin core length to the second pair of terminals on the controller which simply go to whatever you want to charge.
The reason I did it this way is that I switch off the supply from the panel before connecting or disconnecting the cable to whatever I'm charging.


Thanks, didn't think of wiring it up to a switch, another good idea. Will probably order 1 on Friday. But at work today I mentioned it to 1 of the other blokes, and he dug out some old little panels they use (he did explain what it was for but I can't remember what, powering some sort of sensor I think). Anyway, it was free and he gave me a lead to connect to the battery and then connect the panel so will have a go with that as well.

spondon440 wrote:
I have, it works a treat :D

Image

Just as a bit of an insight, the last three months account for 2% of the power generation of this system, its as optimum as its possible to be position wise, we have actually had several days when all that produced nearly nothing, I wouldn't guarantee that one of those chargers would charge a battery all the time.

Andy


Lol yea we've got solar panels at work on 1 of the plants and on top the warehouse. I can't remember the figures, but it hasn't saved much money. But they were free. I'm not hoping for a huge amount of power from it, just enough to stop the battery going completely flat if left a couple of weeks. There's no alarm or anything on it draining it.


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 Post subject: Re: Solar charger
PostPosted: 20 Feb 2016 03:23 
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Joined: 06 May 2009 13:43
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Current ride: The wife
Location: Cofa's tree
bikerdude666 wrote:
My garage roof is in the sun for most of the day

:rotfl: :rotfl: In Corby! :rotfl: :rotfl:

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