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[Porkscratching]

I'm most interested in Mr Wittsends solar panel on the sunshield set up, was this knocked up from bits by yourself or some kind of kit?
Any chance of some details as I'd be tempted to gash something like that together myself?

[Wittsend]

I bought my original solar battery trickle charger from (the much missed) Maplins, it was about £18.
Similar can be found on eBay, for example:-
auction: #313334739363

If you don't have a sun visor, then make one from a piece of plywood.
Just glue or use double-sided tape to fix the panel to the plywood/visor.
Fix to the top rail on the windscreen frame with a couple of hinges and I used a length of small chain to hold the sun visor up when not needed, and lowered the sun visor when parked up.



Here is that sun visor and you can just see the little chain that holds it up when not in use.






 

[Porkscratching]

Thanks for that Mr W..  ... oddly enough I was actually thinking of making up a sunshield when a bit dazzled by low sun the other day!

[Porkscratching]

Another question, do you recommend the 18v 7.5w version particularly?
There's quite a few punted as for cars at 12v but I'm guessing you're going for a bit more oomph?

[Wittsend]

Sorry, I just picked the 1st I came to on eBay as an example.

You need to read the bunf, you need one for a 12V battery - most with the car cigar lighter plug will be suitable.
They will/can put out up to 18V, but this shouldn't harm the battery, the current output is quite low.
They are diode protected, so wrong connection shouldn't be a problem.


 

[Porkscratching]

OK thanks for clarifying that, I'll look at the 12v ones with a reasonable wattage, they vary from about 2w to 10w it seems. The Croc clip option would suit best as I've no cig socket, tho easily modified! .. I guess you disconnect it before starting the engine..?

[LN11AAB498A]

This could be one of those "Mine is bigger than yours" jokes.
Although it puts yours in the shade Alan, quite literally you could say, when it comes to low bridges you are the clear winner.
Photograph curtesy of CLR magazine.

[richardhula]

Another question, do you recommend the 18v 7.5w version particularly?
There's quite a few punted as for cars at 12v but I'm guessing you're going for a bit more oomph?

Nominal 12 volt PV panels work with best power transfer when loaded to output around 18 volts, dependant on light conditions. Off load they can reach 20+ volts.

Any panel of useful size needs to be hooked to a 12 volt battery via a dedicated mppt (max power point tracking) controller. This will load panels for max efficiency according to conditions and provide voltage controlled multi-stage charging to your battery much like a modern smart charger.

A tiny panel of just a few watts will probably do no harm connected directly since it won't have the power to get your battery anywhere near 18 volts, which would of course fry it.

[Porkscratching]

Thanks for the info gents, I saw a 12v one at 10watts on amazon for about 25 quid, that one seemed to have good reviews elsewhere (ie not on amazon) , so may go for one of them.
I've got a new battery on order too as mines well past it's best (its not liking the current weather) and was a secondhand freebie at least 5 yrs ago, so doesn't exactly owe me anything!