Solar trickle charger

[Kallen425]

We park our travel trailer at a storage unit without power and would like to get a solar trickle charger for the battery. Recommendations on which one to buy? Also I’d love to be able to just plug it into the trailer’s Zamp solar connection if that is possible.

[kenandterry]

If you make your solar charger too simple of a connection, you invite the possibilities of it disappearing, seeing as you’re parked at a storage facility.

1. Are you turning OFF your battery control switch?
2. A good strong battery should be able to “sleep” occasionally, on its own.
3. Are you presently experiencing a dead battery when you return to the rig?
4. How about a solar panel inside, (see examples below) positioned in one of your windows?

[Flybob]

Solar can be an effective at maintaining the battery during storage, however the small 10-15W panels are inefficient for this purpose. To be effective at maintaining a battery I always recommend 40-50W panels as a min. You should also use a controller.

[Kallen425]

Would a smaller 15w be enough if there is no draw on the battery? I shut my battery disconnect off when parked. I only have one group 27 12v battery. Or still need at least a 40w?

[TowPro]

I use 50w to maintain a single car battery in my Jeep liberty. Even at 50, if I have the panel inside the vehicle behind factory tinted glass even facing the sun its not enough. but outside it works great.



in my MH I have two 27 coach batteries and one 27 chassis battery. using the solar controller that came with it (that charges coach, than chassis battery). I turn the battery switch off, but its parked under a canape so I mounted a single 100w panel on a box trailer that sits behind the MH out in the sun. 100w is enough to keep all 3 batteries charged.

[phillyg]

I bought a SUNER POWER 12V Waterproof Solar Battery Trickle Charger on Amazon ($60), about a year ago. I also installed a knife-switch that completely disconnects the batteries. So far, the solar charger has kept up the batteries 100%, and its onboard controller prevents overcharging.

I may have an advantage because the panel is in direct sunlight 100% of daytime, but I suspect it would still provide adequate charge under less than perfect conditions. The first charger I got had a bad controller, and after a phone call and quick troubleshoot, they quickly provided a replacement.