Charging vehicle battery with solar panel

[Alshymer]

Hi
I have purchased a small solar panel which plugs into a cigar lighter point and is supposed to charge the battery.
It doesn’t seem to be making any difference to the vehicle battery and I am wondering if it is not possible on the later Fiats? Maybe the cigar point only works one way?
Anyone know?
Kind regards and thanks for any replies.
Alshymer

 

[caledonia]

It won’t charge a flat battery will maintain charge in a charged battery.

 

[harrow]

Hi
I have purchased a small solar panel which plugs into a cigar lighter point and is supposed to charge the battery.
It doesn’t seem to be making any difference to the vehicle battery and I am wondering if it is not possible on the later Fiats? Maybe the cigar point only works one way?
Anyone know?
Kind regards and thanks for any replies.
Alshymer

I have tried one on a big a battery and a small motorbike battery and even in strong sunlight in the UK the output is far too small. Useless.

 

[mistericeman]

Not all cigarette lighters are powered up with the ignition off....

 

[Moped]

I looked into this as our MH is in a storage facility and hook up is not available. We do have a solar panel but it charges the leisure battery only. The panel fitter quoted an extra £400 to fit an electronic gizmo that automatically switches between leisure and vehicle if one or other batteries drops below the 90% charged figure. We declined the offer.

The lighter socket has to be live with the ignition turned off. Very few vehicles actually have this feature. Something to do with potentially frying the EMU.

The only solution really is to connect a solar panel directly to the battery with leads, feed the leads into the cab, and place the panel and its control unit on top of the dash, making sure the vehicle is parked in such a way that the panel faces for the most part south. The glass will reduce performance of the panel but it will still charge.

 

[mistericeman]

I looked into this as our MH is in a storage facility and hook up is not available. We do have a solar panel but it charges the leisure battery only. The panel fitter quoted an extra £400 to fit an electronic gizmo that automatically switches between leisure and vehicle if one or other batteries drops below the 90% charged figure. We declined the offer.

The lighter socket is one way only. Very few vehicles actually have 2 way sockets. Something to do with potentially frying the EMU.

The only solution really is to connect a solar panel directly to the battery with leads, feed the leads into the cab, and place the panel and its control unit on top of the dash, making sure the vehicle is parked in such a way that the panel faces for the most part south. The glass will reduce performance of the panel but it will still charge.

Our durite VSR automatically puts excess charge from the solar/leisure batteries into the starter £40 ....(obvs no use IF you have a smart alternator) BUT i fitted it primarily to charge the leisure batteries whilst driving .

 

[Jeff G]

I fitted one of these.Easy 3 wire install ,once the l/battery is charged it tops up the cab battery if needed

VICTRON CYRIX 12/24-120A BATTERY COMBINER - Sunstore Solar

Tech help from Curtis if needed

 

[clarkpeacock]

I have fitted one of these

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2255329654

Works a treat, easy to fit and inexpensive

Tech details here
CSB2 -CBE

 

[witzend]

Here,s a way of getting charge to your engine battery lot cheaper than some options
Clive`s

 

[vindiboy]

I looked into this as our MH is in a storage facility and hook up is not available. We do have a solar panel but it charges the leisure battery only. The panel fitter quoted an extra £400 to fit an electronic gizmo that automatically switches between leisure and vehicle if one or other batteries drops below the 90% charged figure. We declined the offer.

The lighter socket has to be live with the ignition turned off. Very few vehicles actually have this feature. Something to do with potentially frying the EMU.

The only solution really is to connect a solar panel directly to the battery with leads, feed the leads into the cab, and place the panel and its control unit on top of the dash, making sure the vehicle is parked in such a way that the panel faces for the most part south. The glass will reduce performance of the panel but it will still charge.

How would you prevent overcharging in the event the vehicle is left unattended for long periods [ without fitting a regulator] ?

 

[trevskoda]

Those we solar panels that plug into cigy are cr-p,bin it and do the job right.:wave:

 

[Wooie1958]

Hi
I have purchased a small solar panel which plugs into a cigar lighter point and is supposed to charge the battery.
It doesn’t seem to be making any difference to the vehicle battery and I am wondering if it is not possible on the later Fiats? Maybe the cigar point only works one way?
Anyone know?
Kind regards and thanks for any replies.
Alshymer

You`ll find that the majority of cigar lighter sockets are only live when the ignition is switched on.

Try an OBD lead connected to the solar panel instead, the OBD socket is always live.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CPJ2X08/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[antiqueman]

lost

you`ll find that the majority of cigar lighter sockets are only live when the ignition is switched on.

Try an obd lead connected to the solar panel instead, the obd socket is always live.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/b01cpj2x08/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=utf8&psc=1

obd ?

 

[ricc]

ive got a couple of rarely run old tractors , both have a small folding solar panel connected to the battery, they keep the batteries topped up. they came from maplins , about a square foot.

most modern vehicles the cigar sockets are dead without the ignition on.... but if you can get at the back of it its easy enough to run a fused feed direct from the battery or even fit an extra socket.

 

[GeoffL]

How would you prevent overcharging in the event the vehicle is left unattended for long periods [ without fitting a regulator] ?

FWIW, this is the reason why we upgraded our controller to a Victron MPPT, which has a float mode that provides a very low current just enough to keep the battery conditioned. We leave our van unattended with the solar connected for a couple of months at a time while we're in Australia and the previous controller would have fried the battery.

FWIW2, I have a small solar panel (about 18" x 6") that I use in my other vehicle (a 2001 Citroen Dispatch). The solar panel sits on the dash and plugs into the cigar lighter socket, which is permanently live. This provides just enough to keep the battery topped up from Spring to Autumn but rarely produces enough in the depths of Winter.

 

[Wooie1958]

obd ?

On Board Diagnostics.

 

[trevskoda]

Fit a solar panel to roof 100w up to about 200w and use this as it has a take of at one amp for engine battery,the big charge goes to service batts.
A fuse box will be required,fuse positive in from panel to regulator so if you remove a battery you can pull the fuse to stop damage to regulator.

 

[jugonought]

Hi
I have purchased a small solar panel which plugs into a cigar lighter point and is supposed to charge the battery.
It doesn’t seem to be making any difference to the vehicle battery and I am wondering if it is not possible on the later Fiats? Maybe the cigar point only works one way?
Anyone know?
Kind regards and thanks for any replies.
Alshymer

What output panel?
Output from panel may be insufficient to overcome battery internal resistance.
Is the cigar lighter socket ignition controlled?
If so, panel will not charge battery unless ignition is switched on.
Not a good idea to leave ignition on for long periods without engine running.