Harbor freight 1.5 solar battery maintainer
Is anyone using one for their RV chassis or house battery? (before the comments begin, I just am looking for a small maintainer to keep the chassis battery full during the winter, and between trips)
Forum Discussion
15 Replies
- I would not bother with 1.5 watts. What about the house battery? I recommend 10 watts per battery minimum and a controller.
- If you have shore power and that does the house via converter, but nothing to the engine battery, you have the option to use a maintainer charger on the engine battery instead of relying on solar in the winter.
I have been using one of these for several years now, so I can say they are a reliable product. (Usually on sale for $35) Holds the voltage forever at 13.4v. There are several other brand similar chargers that will do that job.
You can also parallel the engine battery to the house bank with jumpers you can make, or use a Tricklecharge that does that, but in my case I don't like to parallel my flooded type engine battery with my AGM house batts. (Probably would be ok, but I just don't feel right about doing that)
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-intelligent-battery-charger-2a-0111506p.html#srp - I would not waste my money on any solar panel less than 50 watts, you live in Rhode Island which means you don't see a lot of good sunshine in the winter.
- 1.5 watt? That's not small, that's miniscule. You'd be better off disconnecting the battery.
