This is for an SL though ... small plastic rear window, and the 'parcel shelf' houses the hood and the roll bar!
This is for an SL though ... small plastic rear window, and the 'parcel shelf' houses the hood and the roll bar!
I don't think anyone said solar chargers don't work. Some are quite effective, but they're not cheap and while they'd be reasonably unobtrusive on a large vehicle like your Spinter they'd be pretty hard to site in an SL.
IanA2
MB Enthusiast
Thanks for all the response folks. I think the overall view is that the solar jobs are not too handy. I think the mains option looks the best but my problem is that my garage is full of stuff 
as I'm in the middle of a two year refurb of the house, new kitchen bathrooms etc etc and etc
. Currently the car sits in a secure compound so leaving it open witha solar trickler would be ok if, 1. it worked, and 2. leaving the ignition on didn't drain more than than it charged (if I've understood what people have said) Cost it not really an issue.
as I'm in the middle of a two year refurb of the house, new kitchen bathrooms etc etc and etc . Currently the car sits in a secure compound so leaving it open witha solar trickler would be ok if, 1. it worked, and 2. leaving the ignition on didn't drain more than than it charged (if I've understood what people have said) Cost it not really an issue.
OK in that case I would simply sit a weatherproof solar charger next to the car (or even on the bootlid), connected directly to the battery in the same way that my AccuMate mains charger is. I've got a short flylead permanently attached to the battery terminals, ending in a 2-pin socket (with rubber cover) that is tucked away in a corner of the boot. The charger lead has a matching 2-pin plug. The bootlid obviously doesn't quite shut with the lead going under it, so make sure you flip the switch to turn the boot light off (or the bulb will pull more power from the battery than the charger is putting back in!). This switch resets when you close the boot, so you have to remember to do this each time you put it on charge.
If you don't want to mess about making leads yourself you can buy the AccuMate ones separately:
http://www.accumate.co.uk/cg020001.htm
They are pretty cheap e.g. the fused one to go onto the battery is only £3.53 (or £4.70 for the one with the rubber cover). I had to open the eyelets out slightly to fit the bolts on the battery clamps on my SL (they are obviously bigger diameter than normal!).
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I understand where your coming from. Our panel rest oin the dash and is stowed away when not being used. For it to work on a car it sounds like it would need some form of modifications. The only plus side would be the vehicle is completely secure. If this panel can maintain the battery we have, then I'm quite positive it will easily keep a car battery topped up.
Folks that come to the GTG all have the option of seeing the numerous gadgets on the 'stretched limo' although the heavy duty battery with all its wiring are very nicely concealed.
I think our auxillary battery would lower the front end of R2D2's car John
television
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Interesting things Solar chargers. Back in the 80,s I had to do a special project for some blind school children in Nigeria
GEC as it was then donated some special solar panels about 12" x 18" that would give 3 amps in full sun and 85ma in clouds and rain. These things worked very well re charging the batteries for the recording equipment that I made.
There are some good ones out there
GEC as it was then donated some special solar panels about 12" x 18" that would give 3 amps in full sun and 85ma in clouds and rain. These things worked very well re charging the batteries for the recording equipment that I made.
There are some good ones out there
IanA2
MB Enthusiast
Thanks Bill,
I've checked the Maplin £49.99 offer and that, with the leads you suggest, looks the business. Job done
