Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (May 2001, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 26 May 2001 17:45:12 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar Panel "Battery Saver"
Comments: To: Jay L Snyder <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jay L Snyder wrote:

> I bought one of those battery saver solar panels that puts out 1/4 amp in > full sunlight. I put it in my car that was sitting outside for several > weeks without being started. The battery was "not saved". It was quite > near death when I went to start the car. Is there some reverse current > leakage when the sun goes down? Does it need to be un-plugged at night? > If so, this is a real pain. I saw an add for a similar, but larger panel, > that had some kind of circuitry to prevent reverse flow. I was planning on > using this for my '85 Westy, but not if I have to disconnect every night > and re-connect the next morning. > Jay

If you have a multimeter which can measure current, hook it up so that it monitors the current from the panel to the car. Don't connect both meter leads to the battery terminals when it is set for current! Make the meter part of the current path for ONE of the wires from the panel, a series connection. If the current flow reverses when you cover the panel to make it dark, there is a problem. Adding a silicon power diode of a 1 or 2 amp rating in series with one of the wires should solve the reverse current problem. It will also, however, introduce a voltage drop of about .6 or .7 V and reduce the charging current a little.

Larry A.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.