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Old 06-12-2013, 04:19 PM   #1
dkahs05
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Solar Battery Tender

Does anyone use a Solar Battery tender with there rig? If so what kind and how do you like it?
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Old 07-18-2013, 05:24 AM   #2
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Can't believe no one uses solar to keep there battery charged.

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Old 07-18-2013, 06:38 AM   #3
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I use a solar panel when dry camping to keep the batteries up but not one of those smaller 15W type solar battery tenders. While the RV is "sitting at home", I just plug it in to 110V every so often and allow the converter to do its job.
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Old 07-18-2013, 08:42 AM   #4
Bean
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The small (15W or so) ones are next to worthless.

Get a decent one (45W or higher) if want it to have any effect on battery charge.

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Old 07-19-2013, 07:19 PM   #5
dkahs05
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Originally Posted by Bean View Post
The small (15W or so) ones are next to worthless.

Get a decent one (45W or higher) if want it to have any effect on battery charge.

Bean
Yeah that's what I have heard. Thanks for the input.

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Old 07-20-2013, 05:41 PM   #6
chuck&gail
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I have two solar Battery MINDers, I love them. I aso have two $20 solar panels working constantly.
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Old 07-22-2013, 08:11 AM   #7
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I have two solar Battery MINDers, I love them. I aso have two $20 solar panels working constantly.
I just need something to keep my battery charged while its in storage. What do you recommend.

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Old 07-27-2013, 07:30 PM   #8
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Well answer is it depends. If 120 VAC is easy, then the 8/4/2 amp charger is great.

If you want solar, it depends. IF you have a battery cutoff switch, a $20 solar maintainer will keep ONE battery charged up. If more than one battery, they can be paralelled. VDC Electronics makes a 5 watt panel and controller that can use two panels max. There are also larger units IF you want to CHARGE the battery, not just KEEP it charged while stored.

Note if you do NOT have a cutoff switch, I'd go at least 100 watts.

Hope that helps.
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Old 07-27-2013, 08:13 PM   #9
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My 5th wheel is kept at a storage lot between trips with no electricity available. I find it quite simple to pull the batteries, bring them home, and hook them up to a Battery Tender.

That way I know they are fully charged.



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Old 07-28-2013, 06:10 PM   #10
dkahs05
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My 5th wheel is kept at a storage log between trips with no electricity available. I find it quite simple to pull the batteries, bring them home, and hook them up to a Battery Tender.

That way I know they are fully charged.



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Yeah that's what I do now. I am just looking for something easier.


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Old 07-28-2013, 06:10 PM   #11
dkahs05
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Originally Posted by chuck&gail View Post
Well answer is it depends. If 120 VAC is easy, then the 8/4/2 amp charger is great.

If you want solar, it depends. IF you have a battery cutoff switch, a $20 solar maintainer will keep ONE battery charged up. If more than one battery, they can be paralelled. VDC Electronics makes a 5 watt panel and controller that can use two panels max. There are also larger units IF you want to CHARGE the battery, not just KEEP it charged while stored.

Note if you do NOT have a cutoff switch, I'd go at least 100 watts.

Hope that helps.
Hey thanks for the info.

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Old 08-03-2013, 04:20 PM   #12
Blk_Adventurer
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I have the solar battery tender on my R V that I store in a storage yard for weeks. This unit doing a great job at keeping the battery charged. I highly recommend this device.

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Old 08-05-2013, 08:48 PM   #13
dkahs05
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I have the solar battery tender on my R V that I store in a storage yard for weeks. This unit doing a great job at keeping the battery charged. I highly recommend this device.

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Which one do you have?

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Old 08-23-2013, 09:37 PM   #14
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I bought one off amazon and it didn't really do much. I would recommend a high wattage one if you are going to be using it for dry camping.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006J...pi=SL500_SS115

That's the one I bought. YMMV
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