with this panel, can i just "wire it" straight to my boat battery and be ok? does it have overcharge protection built into the panel ? and how long would it take to charge a 12v deep cycle marine battery if it was low? with this panel, can i just "wire it" straight to my boat battery and be ok? does it have overcharge protection built into the panel ? and how long would it take to charge a 12v deep... » Read More with this panel, can i just "wire it" straight to my boat battery and be ok? does it have overcharge protection built into the panel ? and how long would it take to charge a 12v deep cycle marine battery if it was low? « Show Less
1316169
No you will need a charge controller such as this one Docooler Solar Charge Controller Solar Panel Battery Regulator Safe Protection (10A) There is a overcharge protection circuit within the charge controller. How long it will take depends on how low it is and how much sun is available.
1316170
The panel came with a power regulator to prevent an overcharge but not built in. At 35 watts it is only charging at about 3 amps so it takes several days to charge my 230 amp hour deep cycle RV battery. I use it to keep the batteries topped off in the RV lot and it extends the length of time between charges. You can direct connect the panel but it can damage your battery if you leave it connected to long.
1316171
no, a charge controller must be between solar collector and the battery. The charge time depends on solar intensity, and duration.
1316172
Buy a Solar charge controller 10 watts to the battery after you hook it up via the instructions that come with it. Cost for controller was eleven bucks. No chance of overcharging your battery. The thing ,35 watt panel, charges my battery in about 6hrs.
1942312
Got it hook up in my R.V.to three 100 ah battery's ea.(Deep cycle AGM)CAN RUN EVERYTHING,T.V. MICOWAVE,ELEC HEATER,COFFEE POT ECT.( I CHANGE THE CABLES FROM BATTERY TO INVERTER USE 00awg) Napa auto parts! Cables that come with unit are 28" long.and 1/0awg.(States in manual w/unit more then 28" inches.but less than 6'feet.use 00awg. Page#11 item#21(specs.)also Marine Use.mount above water line inside boat or cabin!(DO NOT GET WET OR DAMP).IAM Very happy with mind.my motorhome can be hook up to shoreline,Ran on my generator or solar. 4. 100watt panels keeps my batts.charged.Would recommend ! Money well spent. Got it hook up in my R.V.to three 100 ah battery's ea.(Deep cycle AGM)CAN RUN EVERYTHING,T.V. MICOWAVE,ELEC HEATER,COFFEE POT ECT.( I CHANGE THE CABLES FROM BATTERY TO INVERTER USE 00awg) Napa auto parts! Cables that come with unit are 28" long.and 1/0awg.(States in manual w/unit more then 28" inches.but less than 6'feet.use 00awg. Page#11 item#21(specs.)also Marine Use.mount above water line inside boat or cabin!(DO NOT GET WET OR DAMP).IAM Very happy with mind.my motorhome can be hook up to shoreline,Ran on my generator or solar. 4. 100watt panels keeps my batts.charged.Would... » Read More Got it hook up in my R.V.to three 100 ah battery's ea.(Deep cycle AGM)CAN RUN EVERYTHING,T.V. MICOWAVE,ELEC HEATER,COFFEE POT ECT.( I CHANGE THE CABLES FROM BATTERY TO INVERTER USE 00awg) Napa auto parts! Cables that come with unit are 28" long.and 1/0awg.(States in manual w/unit more then 28" inches.but less than 6'feet.use 00awg. Page#11 item#21(specs.)also Marine Use.mount above water line inside boat or cabin!(DO NOT GET WET OR DAMP).IAM Very happy with mind.my motorhome can be hook up to shoreline,Ran on my generator or solar. 4. 100watt panels keeps my batts.charged.Would recommend ! Money well spent. « Show Less
1263634
I added a second battery, it is simple and adds needed security when out on your boat if one battery goes low, also I used old car battery cables from the salvage yard, much cheaper, just get your lengths measured first....
1508345
I use mine this past weekend. I had the panel charging a 12V marine battery through a solar controller and had a 12v fan running in my trailer at the same time. Seemed to work just fine.
1901493
Not sure about retaining the warranty but I have been using two, 12 watt solar panels to maintain the charge on my batteries. I have four D31M batteries on my boat and each panel is connected to a solar panel controller which can regulate two batteries. They are always at peak voltage and have been for 18 months now. If you install the control regulators then you cannot over charge and they will not back flow at night.
403732
Be sure you put a 'charge controller' (regulator) between the panel and the battery. If you don't, you will overcharge the battery daytime, and fry the panel at night (because the battery will back up into the panel and fry it).
1069076
No because the input amperage output is so low it cannot over charge a car battery. It also has a diode to prevent reverse flow when it is not charging. A dead panel should not drain a battery any faster than the battery would drain on its own without the panel hooked up. If it is dead it is dead. Now if only the reverse diode was dead than maybe it would drain it at night. So far my panel has worked great.
243759
I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant to recharge the battery just maintenance. I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant... » Read More I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant to recharge the battery just maintenance. « Show Less
933678
honestly i havent set mine up yet but my plan is to hook it up to an inverter then plug a charger into the inverter. but sadly i havent had time to mess with it yet. the inverter will protect your battery from overload though i do know that. it changes the current from direct to alternating so it will become just like a wall socket when there is adequate sunshine. but honestly solar has a ton of ways to hook it up and it all depends on what you want to use it for. youtube has a million different explainations of how it can be used for different things and thats just one source. if you can respond im curious what you plan to use it for? honestly i havent set mine up yet but my plan is to hook it up to an inverter then plug a charger into the inverter. but sadly i havent had time to mess with it yet. the inverter will protect your battery from overload though i do know that. it changes the current from direct to alternating so it will become just like a wall socket when there is adequate sunshine. but honestly solar has a ton of ways to hook it up and it all depends on what you want to use it for. youtube has a million different explainations of how it can be used for different things and thats just one source. if you can... » Read More honestly i havent set mine up yet but my plan is to hook it up to an inverter then plug a charger into the inverter. but sadly i havent had time to mess with it yet. the inverter will protect your battery from overload though i do know that. it changes the current from direct to alternating so it will become just like a wall socket when there is adequate sunshine. but honestly solar has a ton of ways to hook it up and it all depends on what you want to use it for. youtube has a million different explainations of how it can be used for different things and thats just one source. if you can respond im curious what you plan to use it for? « Show Less
2132772
I wouldn't use it for that purpose exactly. The electrical draw of the motor would exceed the capacity of the panel to recharge while in use. However, you could use the panel to charge the battery when not in active use on the boat.
1248021
This is a very nice solar panel that is mounted on a somewhat flexible metal sheet. I produces about 16v dc at the contacts in Florida sun (rated at 12v for a 12v battery), but I use a solar controller so it won't overcharge my battery. I have it hooked to a 12v trolling motor deep cycle battery on a small boat. I have not had to externally charge the battery since attaching the solar panel, and that gives me a few hours per week of power.
567197
If you know nothing about this, maybe you shouldn't own a boat! The short answer is NO, you wire it in with your boat battery.
1007114
I am not an auto-mechanic. I purchased this charger to charge a 12V Marine-grade battery. The battery was completely "dead" but was only a year old. There is a deep cycle-recondition selection. I chose that and it took a full 3 hrs to go through the cycle. It charged the battery, which is now going on 5 years old and STILL re-charging on only the standard charge. I hope that helps answer your question.
1509015
You can charge a marine battery if you take it out of the boat and charge on shore. DO NOT charge a battery in a boat with anything but a marine rated battery charger. Anything from VERY rapid corrosion of your outdrive to your boat exploding could result. People that don't understand marine technical issues shouldn't attempt to answer questions like this.
1015109
I used a continuous duty silonoid so the entire panel only has power if the key is on. I also ran a separate wire straight from the battery with fuse for the radio memory and Then I added a battery disconnect for when the boat is in storage. You need large wire to supply power and that's why you would want the silonoid so it can handle the amprage draw. Remember to put a fuse right at the battery too.
1296115
Yes, you can hook this up to two or more batteries. Just make sure to hook them up in parallel. + to+, - to-. This is a great starter kit, you can start with just this panel and one battery, then add more as you go. (If you are like me you will want more!) It would take about a day and a half to charge two car batteries when fully drained. My 122 amp hour marine battery will charge in a day. If you want a backup power setup more batteries per panel is better, but if you plan on a high daily usage you will want more panels per battery so it can recharge the batteries during the day.
2149457
Yep, you should be able to hook them up to two 12 volt batteries permanently as the wires are set that way. I didn't have room to mount the charger in the boat so I bought some battery clamps for the end of the wires that hook to the batteries and charge them that way. When the batteries are fully charged, I pull the clamps, unplug the charger, and store the charger away. I like this better as I can see when the batteries are fully charged and not have the charger continuing to trickle charge the battery. Although, they say that is ok. So far, this charge works great!!