Date:         Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:19:33 -0700
Reply-To:     Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon Digest - 26 Mar 2007 (#2007-324)
Comments: cc: jag@CS.UALBERTA.CA
In-Reply-To:  <20070327040413.C3053DD8063@mx00.csee.onr.siteprotect.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Martin,

I used and looked at a few of these solar trickle chargers. 

Your unit is rated at 1.8 watt which equals .15 amps.

I would expect that unit, in full sun,  outdoors and angled properly to put
out .10 to .15 amps.

If it doesn't take it back.

But my guess is you have a phantom draw or a less than perfect battery.

It wouldn't take much of a "phantom draw" to exceed .10 amps and result in a
dead battery.

I'd check the electrical system and have the battery load tested.
 
larry chase
www.roadhaus.com

- - -

Date:    Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:16:03 -0600
From:    Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.UALBERTA.CA>
Subject: Trickle charging battery with 1.8W solar panel = failure

Hi,

Before leaving for Europe last fall I bought a 1.8W solar panel trickle
charger and put it on my '82 Westy inside the windshield and facing straight
southward.

http://www.canadiantire.com/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=
1408474396672503&bmUID=1174953995011&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443275941&ass
ortment=primary&fromSearch=true
*
Product #*11-1880-2

Fast forward 5 months. I'm back in Canada for a month in March (digging
though 2 boxes of accumulated mail etc...)

To my disappointment the battery on the '82 Westy is almost completely
discharged. Trying to find a reason I measured the output of the charger at
two times: 1pm under full Alberta sun: 40mA,  at 4pm 10mA. That makes only
480mW and 120mW. Far from the advertized 1.8W.

Has anyone else tried to buy these chargers? Is the Watt rating pure
nonsense in general? Or is it worthwhile to bring it back and try another
one?

Martin