Solar Panel

[henrym3]

Being miffed about having to plug my trickle charger in on a regular basis, because of short runs I've decided to hard wire in a solar panel with an on/off switch. As I don't particularly like and therefore never use my sunroof, that's where it's going. £25 for the bits. As I'm waiting on some bits to arrive and other things (abs module) I've just bunged it up there to see how it does over the next week or so.

[X5Sport]

Our unit minibus has a 100W solar charger on the dash and it's cr8p! 

The windscreen seems to prevent UV light passing through and many solar cells (but not all) need that to work so the output current is too low most of the year.  We keep getting a flat battery  >:(

I don't know what versions caravaneers use or how good they might be, but they seem to be outside on the roof which could be significant.

[henrym3]

Bloody hell, there's not much hope for my 10 watt then. Time and hopefully NOT a flat battery will tell, I was working on the principle that if it worked at this time of year there wouldn't be any problems in the summer. Maybe the sunroof has more solar friendly glass.

[IanP]

Tried one of these years ago, it only worked outside the car

[graemeX5]

Hi

The only cars I know of who had a solar panel fitted to the car was on an Audi RS6 but it was an option so not fitted to all (and poss the A6 and A8) which had a small rectangular sunroof above the front seats, and possibly a similar size to the one on your 4.6.

I don't know the rating but I believe it was used to keep the car cooled during the summer by powering the fan inside.

It may be worth reading up that spec that used as a good starting point and poss looking out on favourite auction site for one if size is similar as that could ultimately be a more powerful system.

Hth
Graeme

[Smeeagain]

[quote="henrym3"]
Being miffed about having to plug my trickle charger in on a regular basis, because of short runs I've decided to hard wire in a solar panel with an on/off switch. As I don't particularly like and therefore never use my sunroof, that's where it's going. £25 for the bits. As I'm waiting on some bits to arrive and other things (abs module) I've just bunged it up there to see how it does over the next week or so.
[/quote]

Alternative suggestion - can you not a) take the car on a longer run once a week? 30 mins would do it.
OR leave it running on your drive for longer than 20 mins (they don't start putting the charge back in oil at least 20 mins worth of running as far as I recall from previous info from X5Sport

As posted the results from the solar panels have been mixed/non existent due to the UV blocking, and as also stated the is why the caravaners put them on the roof.

[X5Sport]

[quote="henrym3"]
Bloody hell, there's not much hope for my 10 watt then.
[/quote]

10W gives you a charging rate of 0.8A max.  Ideally your solar panel should be at least 50W to give 4A charging.  Being unregulated a 4A panel could overcharge the battery in time.  A battery conditioner might give you a better option and you can leave them connected when the car is not in use.

CTEK do a range that have snatch plugs so all you need to do is plug in.  No crock clips etc.  Mine has a cable hard wired to the under bonnet points and a short lead with tell-tale traffic light LEDs and that has a connector onto which the charger goes.  They do different length cables that you can plug together to increase the distance between car and conditioner.

Just a thought.

[henrym3]

If you look at thing s from my point of view you'll see why this thread is slowly but surely getting me more and more depressed, It would appear I'm doomed to failure on this one. I do have a CTEK but I'm normally a the back of the que on the driveway at the end of the day. I know, pathetic excuse,but.  Anyway, as they say, all great battle plans go to a bucket of s*^t after the first shot is fired. A new plan is needed.
If you see a black X5 running about Dorset with a 6ft table on the roof you'll be able to say. "I know what he's planning"

[graemeX5]

Hi

From what you said apart from taking the car on a longer run the other thought I had was you could install an outside weatherproof socket near where your car parks and then have the charger plugged in there. It would be a more permanent solution for any of your cars that need it at any time.

I'm not sure of the wiring needed but I think it would have to be armoured cable and if I remember I put mine under drive in conduit as well but it was just a 18' run to the garage and then some concrete on top afterwards.

Just a thought
Graeme

[sid10]

My battery was continuously flat after a few days parked on the drive , I replaced the battery kept it on trickle charge but the final straw was arriving back from holiday 11 pm at night after a 12 hour delay with three kids to find it flat even with a solar panel on the dash . I also took the booster battery pack everywhere but on this occasion it wouldn't start .
Booked it in to the dealer , they said it was a lazy starter motor that was pulling all of the power , replaced that and touch wood 3 years later the car never misses a beat ! Get the starter motor checked or replaced and it hopefully will go away .
  Sid10

[Smeeagain]

[quote="henrym3"]
If you look at thing s from my point of view you'll see why this thread is slowly but surely getting me more and more depressed, It would appear I'm doomed to failure on this one. I do have a CTEK but I'm normally a the back of the que on the driveway at the end of the day. I know, pathetic excuse,but.  Anyway, as they say, all great battle plans go to a bucket of s*^t after the first shot is fired. A new plan is needed.
If you see a black X5 running about Dorset with a 6ft table on the roof you'll be able to say. "I know what he's planning"
[/quote]

So why cant you just leave it running on the drive, or in your lunch break, or once or twice a week take the long route home?

[henrym3]

On at least a couple of occasions this year it will be left at the airport, so had been hoping the solar panel would do the business. Seems like I'll double up with booster pack at least at the airport. Don't think there's anything inherently wrong, just my life style at the moment. Don't think I'll do the idling thing I'd rather use the gas on a longer drive home.

[Smeeagain]

Unless youre away for four weeks or more it should be fine at the airport as the drive there will charge it up (im guessing you dont live close or you'd take a cab), but a booster is an excellent investment
Smee

[Smeeagain]

Forgot to say you need to get a decent booster - lots of them arent powerful enough for the x5 and the correct spec aint cheap. X5Sport can advise what you need
Smee

[grumpywurzel]

I have used Ring battery boosters before which I quite like. Their top end booster circa £140 and has a 33 Ah internal battery and can jump cars up to 3.5ltr.

Obviously you can go up to silly money for stuff, I guess it depends on what you need.