Battery Maintenance with Solar?

[JOsmund999]

I'm having surgery in a month or so and won't be running my equipment for a while. I have a tractor, an ATV and mower in a shed without power.

I'm looking for the easiest way to keep the batteries charged. Rather than running three different solar charging units, could I put in one panel, run it to an inverter to 120VAC, plug in a multi port pigtail and then plug in three trickle chargers?

I really just need them to stay topped off.

 

[NYrr496]

Probably work fine. I used to have a flatbed that only got used occasionally. Battery was dead every time I went to use it. Put a solar charger on the dashboard plugged into the cigarette lighter and no more problem. Started up every time.

 

[chinboys]

I use two methods to trickle charge my toys when I don't use them for any length of time.

The first method is to use an intelligent multi-voltage and type of battery (lead-acid, AGM, Lithium) charger.
I happen to like the Noco brand as I switched from a heavy-duty standard lead-acid single voltage charger and a Battery Tender branding multi-port.
All of my toys are on AGM typed batteries hence I need a charger that can ramp up the charging as well as ramp down when the charge is full. This is where the intelligence is required from the new battery chargers relative to the old ones.
Then I use a multi-port SAE battery splitter (Amazon) and run dedicated lines (Amazon) with alligator clips (Amazon)to each toy. It helps if the dedicated lines are equal lengths and if each toy has been charged up.
But you will need to run an extension cord to the shed to supply power to the charger.
Now my toys are fully charged and are being trickle-charged for several months now.

The second method is to buy a 100-watt 12V solar panel, and a solar charge controller plus wire output distribution to your devices.
You need a charge controller as if you don't, you may boil off the electrolyte in a lead-acid battery as I did on my pickup truck this past summer resulting in a dead battery (was fixed by adding more distilled water).

I guess there exists a third method where you use methods 1 and 2 but that now requires an inverter to convert 12V to AC.

Get better sooner and avoid the above is the last method.
God speed on your recovery!

 

[JOsmund999]

I use two methods to trickle charge my toys when I don't use them for any length of time.

The first method is to use an intelligent multi-voltage and type of battery (lead-acid, AGM, Lithium) charger.
I happen to like the Noco brand as I switched from a heavy-duty standard lead-acid single voltage charger and a Battery Tender branding multi-port.
All of my toys are on AGM typed batteries hence I need a charger that can ramp up the charging as well as ramp down when the charge is full. This is where the intelligence is required from the new battery chargers relative to the old ones.
Then I use a multi-port SAE battery splitter (Amazon) and run dedicated lines (Amazon) with alligator clips (Amazon)to each toy. It helps if the dedicated lines are equal lengths and if each toy has been charged up.
But you will need to run an extension cord to the shed to supply power to the charger.
Now my toys are fully charged and are being trickle-charged for several months now.

The second method is to buy a 100-watt 12V solar panel, and a solar charge controller plus wire output distribution to your devices.
You need a charge controller as if you don't, you may boil off the electrolyte in a lead-acid battery as I did on my pickup truck this past summer resulting in a dead battery (was fixed by adding more distilled water).

I guess there exists a third method where you use methods 1 and 2 but that now requires an inverter to convert 12V to AC.

Get better sooner and avoid the above is the last method.
God speed on your recovery!

Thank you for the comprehensive response and well wishes. I have no electrical to the property so I'm dedicated to Solar.

I need to get to work.

 

[dcg9381]

My only caution with chargers in general is get one that is "smart". I've seen converters on RVs (essentially battery chargers) that peak charge lead acid batteries and hold there too long.

You CAN do what you're suggesting, I've just never seen solar "direct fed" into an inverter - usually there is a battery in-between. Solar will have a ramp up and ramp down period where it will produce enough voltage, but won't have anywhere near the required amps for your inverter, so you'd need an inverter that's designed to handle those ramp up / ramp down conditions.


If I was doing what you want to do, I'd be looking for a solar charge controller, a battery, and make sure the controller is what provides power to the inverter. It MUST have a "low voltage" disconnect function. Relatively frequently, you'll go days where the sky is overcast and no power is available.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Probably work fine. I used to have a flatbed that only got used occasionally. Battery was dead every time I went to use it. Put a solar charger on the dashboard plugged into the cigarette lighter and no more problem. Started up every time.

I have the same setup for a truck I hardly use. Battery is always full when I need it.

 

[mikedodge]

I've got a couple individual solar panel chargers. They're cheap and work.
If the batteries are good you should be able to disconnect them and leave them for several months with no problems.

 

[Bretny]

How long will they be sitting?

 

[captain14]

Subbing to this thread since I’m retiring in 4 months and won’t be driving everyday.

I’d rather have a solar charger setup rather than running extension cords to the truck.

 

[chinboys]

No need for an inverter (battery DC at some input voltage to AC (120v) to convert via a battery charger (smart or not) to 12v DC to trickle charge a DC battery not being used or has a parasite draw on it.
But need a solar charge controller that doesn't cook the battery when a solar panel of ? wattage is used.
There are plenty of 100-watt panels out there that are more than sufficient to maintain a single or two 12v batteries.
With adequate sunlight and a charge controller, this setup will work.

 

[dcg9381]

But need a solar charge controller that doesn't cook the battery when a solar panel of ? wattage is used.
There are plenty of 100-watt panels out there that are more than sufficient to maintain a single or two 12v batteries.

This. You NEED a charge controller or you'll cook batteries. DC (solar) controller is fine.
For batteries that are just sitting, it's very likely that 10 watts is more than enough to maintain them, but 20-40 is probably what I'd use.