1.5 Watt Solar battery charger from Harbor Freight

rooster · June 12, 2008, 10:49:05 AM

I picked one of those Harbor Freight 1.5 watt Solar 12 volt battery chargers. It was only
11 bucks and change Was wondering if anyone else has tryed it and what kind of results
should I expect?

I keep my old F-150 pickup over at my mom's old house and its been sitting for about a
year and the battery is down and wont start anymore. The riding mower wont start either,
I have to jump start it. I thought this might be a cure! There is no electric at the house.

GPster · June 12, 2008, 11:46:59 AM

If you park the truck out side so the sun will hit the charger then someone will see it, and steal the charger then the battery. GPster

rooster · June 12, 2008, 04:16:13 PM

Quote from: "GPster"If you park the truck out side so the sun will hit the charger then someone will see it, and steal the charger then the battery. GPster

The truck is parked outside. Ths solar panel is only 15" long and 7" wide, it will fit on the dash and then plug directly into the cigar lighter.

At this time I have it on the back porch charging the battery out of the coupe ( its been sitting also) Ill try and get a picture later. I go over to the house once a week to cut the grass , my thoughts were that this might be charge to crank the engine in the ford without jump starting it.

MrMopar64 · June 12, 2008, 04:33:28 PM

Late model VW's came with those to keep the battery up when the car sits for awhile. My sister got one with her 2006

MM64

BTW... make sure the lighter is not turned off with the key

GPster · June 12, 2008, 05:04:51 PM

Sorry for the remark! I'd think that it wouldn't bring a dead battery up. Maybe while you're mowing you could leave your vehicle running with the jumper cables attached to the truck and let it bring the battery up that way. Then let the solar charger keep it up. GPster

wayne petty · June 12, 2008, 09:51:53 PM

i have one..... it only keep a fully charged battery full...

it will not charge a discharged battery...

there is not enough current to move major amount of electrons across the plates... only enough to stop the discharge that happens from sitting...

slow charge batteries.... charge dead ones through a 194 bulb... or use a ajustable current power supply.... set voltage to 16 volts and 0.25 amps.. that is a quarter of an amp ... i usually use 18 volts at a quarter amp... and i can bring back really dead units in a few days.... but i have a really good unit.. and i watch the gauges...

on regular battery chargers for dead batterys... that have not sat for long.. (less than 2 days.) i use the 2 amp setting.. more than 2 days dead use the ajustable unit with settings above..

or put a 194 bulb in line on one side ... and set the battery charger to its lowest amp setting... like 2 amps or 10 amps... the bulb acts as a resister to limit current into the battery so it does not cook the cells...

sorry i have gotten off thread again....

wayne...

rooster · June 12, 2008, 10:49:21 PM

Todays results:

Battery volts at start 12.06
Battery volts after charge 12.10 (allday)

I dont have a adjustable voltage charger but I do have a charger that is for 12V/6V and only has the output of 18Watts. Also have some others, 4 amp, 6 amp & 12V.

wayne petty · June 13, 2008, 11:21:05 AM

battery state of charge after removing the surface charge...

(remove surface charge with the headlights on for one minute)

with a digital volt meter...

12.65 volts = 100% charge
12.45 = 50%
12.25 = 25%

------------------------

cleaning the top of batterys with hot water... a little dish soap and a scrub brush.. then putting silicone sealer around the base of the battery post where it comes through the case... this prevents vapors off the electrolite (sulfuric acid) from migrating up through the gap... (i think the slosh or driving will force the liquid up through there) this stops the acid from causing corrosion in the post cable end connection...

when it does... and you are cleaning it... you will notice the post and lead ends get a crispy surface on them.. this is what happens with the acid, oxygen and electricity pass through the connection... turns the surface of post and lead cable end to lead oxide..(a ceramic , non conductor)

i my self don't use baking soda to clean the tops of batterys.. only the hot water .. if they are greasy a little dish soap.. the baking soda can get through the gap and into the battery ruining the battery...

i do use the baking soda to clean the cable ends... half an inch in a disposable cup... hot water... twist the end of the cable and dip and swirl it in the baking soda and hot water.. do this 2 or 3 times .. then clean the contact areas ....

oops... running off in ..... charging off in the wrong direction...

Ed ke6bnl · June 16, 2008, 03:50:14 AM

Quote from: "MrMopar64"Late model VW's came with those to keep the battery up when the car sits for awhile. My sister got one with her 2006

MM64

BTW... make sure the lighter is not turned off with the key

that the one I have the dealer would keep them i believe bought mine on ebay.. used it last couple of weeks on my al boat to keep the trolling motor up to charge put it in a plastic baggy they are not for outside use they have suction cup for the inside of the widow. I believe they are 5watts. 18volts.

rooster · June 18, 2008, 09:47:19 AM

Quote from: "GPster"Sorry for the remark! I'd think that it wouldn't bring a dead battery up. Maybe while you're mowing you could leave your vehicle running with the jumper cables attached to the truck and let it bring the battery up that way. Then let the solar charger keep it up. GPster

I did just that ! and got the old Ford going , also put afew gallons onf fresh gas in it and run the truck for about 3 hours hauling tree limbs and formosa trees that seem to grow everwhere. Im going back today and see if the truck will start on its own.

The riding mower wont start either! The battery is about 2 years old, it reads about 12.5 volts on the meter but when I try to start it the voltage drops quickly to around 10.5. Going to get a new battery for it on the way over to the house today.

GPster · June 18, 2008, 10:20:36 AM

Believe it or not there seems to be more to lawn tractor batteries than I thought. The ones with hydrostatic drive seem to use a battery with increased cranking amps. A girl at Lowes surprised me with this information and of course I needed the one that wasn't on sale. And Craftsman mowers have the terminals in the wrong places so you'll go to Sears and buy your battery. If your tractor has hydrostatic drivethe tranny may be adding a lot of resistance having set for awhile. What does the battery voltage do when you're cracking it to start? GPster

rooster · June 20, 2008, 09:06:05 PM

Quote from: "GPster"Believe it or not there seems to be more to lawn tractor batteries than I thought. The ones with hydrostatic drive seem to use a battery with increased cranking amps. A girl at Lowes surprised me with this information and of course I needed the one that wasn't on sale. And Craftsman mowers have the terminals in the wrong places so you'll go to Sears and buy your battery. If your tractor has hydrostatic drivethe tranny may be adding a lot of resistance having set for awhile. What does the battery voltage do when you're cracking it to start? GPster

I really dont know what the voltage is while cranking.

I put a new barrery in and its working ok now on the mower, the mower is a low end MTD from home depo, I dont like all the safty stuff on! And I dont like not having the option of pull start (sorta traped).

The f-150 is cranking over well and starting very well, thats the good news! The bad news is , the HF solar charger is melting sitting on top the dash in the sun light. Ill probly just set it in the bed of the truck after I unload it.

I think Sum has one of these small chargers also.

MrMopar64 · June 20, 2008, 09:25:03 PM

Quote from: "rooster"The bad news is , the HF solar charger is melting sitting on top the dash in the sun light.

Take it back.... ya got 30 days

MM64

Crosley.In.AZ · June 21, 2008, 02:15:13 PM

Careful with the solar charger... some RV guys have reported over charging with solar stuff. This may not matter with this discussion.

I bought a walmart battery for my Craftsman lawn tractor. Fit perfect.

I use a Schumacher battery "tender" on my lawn tractor. Maintains a constant voltage in the battery , it is NOT a mini charger .. it is a battery tender device.