Solar Battery Tender

sweetwater · 12-04-2012, 03:00 PM

I am looking for a reliable, safe, solar option for a "battery tender" I can use with my 2010 Concours. I've used little 5watt panels in the past for deep cycle RV and marine batteries, but I want "Battery Tender" level reliability and confidence. Any thoughts or experience?

BTW, I've combed the internet and not found any encouraging packages, so I'm guess DIY.

GreaseMonkey · 12-04-2012, 03:16 PM

Well here is one already put together:

http://batterytender.com/5-watt-solar-panel.html

Or if you want to go DIY and already have a solar panel, you can purchase a float charger with the wall wart and just replace that with your panel and save about $65 from the above item:

jon_l · 12-04-2012, 05:00 PM

Maybe I misunderstood your question?

How about a solar battery tender?

sweetwater · 12-04-2012, 11:35 PM

Well, I feel stupid. My work firewall didn't allow battery tender to display or I would have seen this. Looks like a good prepacked set with panel and controller...

ttpete · 12-05-2012, 07:45 AM

Solargizer. http://www.tstonramp.com/~rhinocharge/pulsesol.html

sweetwater · 12-06-2012, 02:56 AM

That's another quality option. I just need to figure out how much distance I need to cover in this outbuilding while my garage is filled up with junk...what a hassle, but being able to keep two bikes on tenders will make me happy.

sweetwater · 03-17-2013, 06:51 AM

Quick follow up:

Deltran 15amp Solar Battery Tender, one for each bike, working very well in my storage area. I would recommend this product to friends.

Gramp-Z · 03-17-2013, 07:57 AM

Sweetwater , how long of a wire run did you have to go ? The reason I ask is i have been maintaining my van battery for maybe 10 years with a 1.5 watt solar battery charger . Starts every time (even in the cloudy , dark northwest) , so I am thinking you have a crapload of extra power there .

sweetwater · 04-13-2013, 06:16 PM

You're spot on that I've got gobs of extra! The side story is that I'm using the extra to power my radio station too! Direct answer though, is that I'm running 31' of total wire...

Keeps bikes happy and runs 1 gallon Yaesu "all channels" and a 50 watt 2m/440 Yaesu base station.

12-04-2012, 03:00 PM	#1
sweetwater ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Charlotte Metro Oddometer: 169	Solar Battery Tender I am looking for a reliable, safe, solar option for a "battery tender" I can use with my 2010 Concours. I've used little 5watt panels in the past for deep cycle RV and marine batteries, but I want "Battery Tender" level reliability and confidence. Any thoughts or experience? BTW, I've combed the internet and not found any encouraging packages, so I'm guess DIY.

12-04-2012, 05:00 PM	#3
jon_l Southern Ontario Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Oddometer: 1,974	Maybe I misunderstood your question? How about a solar battery tender? __________________ '09 Honda CBF1000; '09 Yamaha WR250R

12-05-2012, 07:45 AM	#5
ttpete Rectum Non Bustibus Joined: May 2009 Location: Dearborn, MI Oddometer: 3,508	Solargizer. http://www.tstonramp.com/~rhinocharge/pulsesol.html __________________ 10 Ducati 1098 Streetfighter S - "Sleipnir" 09 Kaw Versys "The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money" _____ Margaret Thatcher

03-17-2013, 07:57 AM	#8
Gramp-Z Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Maple Valley , WA , USA Oddometer: 637	Sweetwater , how long of a wire run did you have to go ? The reason I ask is i have been maintaining my van battery for maybe 10 years with a 1.5 watt solar battery charger . Starts every time (even in the cloudy , dark northwest) , so I am thinking you have a crapload of extra power there . __________________ Save yourself $5 us my SmugMug coupon b87YWgTeSWxEc Couple volcanos , stonehenge and some peg scraping http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620436 Old Man plays with his Wee http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608068

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12-04-2012, 03:16 PM	#2
GreaseMonkey Rhymes w/piecejunkie Joined: Jun 2006 Location: The only county in Illinois with no train tracks Oddometer: 4,757	Well here is one already put together: http://batterytender.com/5-watt-solar-panel.html Or if you want to go DIY and already have a solar panel, you can purchase a float charger with the wall wart and just replace that with your panel and save about $65 from the above item:

12-04-2012, 11:35 PM	#4
sweetwater ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Charlotte Metro Oddometer: 169	Well, I feel stupid. My work firewall didn't allow battery tender to display or I would have seen this. Looks like a good prepacked set with panel and controller...

12-06-2012, 02:56 AM	#6
sweetwater ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Charlotte Metro Oddometer: 169	That's another quality option. I just need to figure out how much distance I need to cover in this outbuilding while my garage is filled up with junk...what a hassle, but being able to keep two bikes on tenders will make me happy.

03-17-2013, 06:51 AM	#7
sweetwater ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Charlotte Metro Oddometer: 169	Quick follow up: Deltran 15amp Solar Battery Tender, one for each bike, working very well in my storage area. I would recommend this product to friends.

04-13-2013, 06:16 PM	#9
sweetwater ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Charlotte Metro Oddometer: 169	You're spot on that I've got gobs of extra! The side story is that I'm using the extra to power my radio station too! Direct answer though, is that I'm running 31' of total wire... Keeps bikes happy and runs 1 gallon Yaesu "all channels" and a 50 watt 2m/440 Yaesu base station.