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Reply With QuoteYou will need a Charge Controller if the solar panel is not specifically set up to charge batteries.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Solar panel to charge batteries
So I found a solar panel at work that's a 12v, 1.25w unit that has a set of alligator clips. Has anyone used a basic solar panel to charge your batteries? Would something like this charge trolling motor batteries effectively or would they burn them up? I have no power at my dock currently and don't want to pull batteries out.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
You will need a Charge Controller if the solar panel is not specifically set up to charge batteries.
Clint
Far West Kentucky
Old enough to know better and way too old to care!
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Solar panel to charge batteries
If panel is1.25 watts ,output would only be 100ma @ 12v. Wouldn't think battery would even know it's there.
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Won't do a thing. May actually discharge the batteries overnight. You'd want at least 50W per battery to actually accomplish anything.
Slabmaster
I put one on a deep cycle battery in my john boat at my farm. I don't have power there and got tired of disconnecting/reconnecting and lugging the thing up a hill and home to charge and risking forgetting it when I went back to fish. It's stays connected 24/7 and its worked flawlessly for 2 years now. The best and cheapest solution for my needs. FYI, I usually only fish 3 to 4 times per month and it's never let me down.
Crappie.com Legend
I kept a 60 watt solar setup on my Saltwater boat. It stayed hooked up all the time. It was mounted on top of my t-top. It added a lot of fishing time to my big rig. I was using a 80# troll motor, with 2 batteries.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
I definitely think solar charger is my best option as well. Do you know what the specs are of yours?Originally Posted by tsherman
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I can only add that it MUST have a smart system that will turn it to maintenance mode or off when battery is charged. The one that I had generated enough power but would boil the battery if left connected. I returned it the next week.
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