Solar for Tow Vehicle question
I have a buddy that wants to get a solar battery tender setup for his truck. It often sits parked for weeks at a time between camping trips. He asked me and I showed him what is available but I had n...
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Hard to suggest the wattage without knowing the battery drain due to radio and other devices connected. With battery disconnected 2W is enough to stop self-discharge. With radio on standby... who knows? Maybe 10W, maybe 20W. Shouldn't need more than 20W.
Having said this, I would not leave anything connected on any vehicle left unattended for a week, this includes solar charger. Instead, I would either install a cut-off switch and disconnect the battery - or just do nothing if it's only a week. When fully charged and disconnected, truck battery can be left for at least 4-6 weeks.
Small charger under windshield may fail when it's hot - plastic casing just melts down, or fail due to corrosion or cr-appy Chinese quality, and you have a truck full of gas.
Bigger charger outside would have panels in aluminum frames and normally would include a controller which can fail, or connections would fail, and there is a higher current than in small chargers so there is more fire risk - not from the panel and controller but from a spark on temporary clamps on battery or cig lighter.
Having said this, I would not leave anything connected on any vehicle left unattended for a week, this includes solar charger. Instead, I would either install a cut-off switch and disconnect the battery - or just do nothing if it's only a week. When fully charged and disconnected, truck battery can be left for at least 4-6 weeks.
Small charger under windshield may fail when it's hot - plastic casing just melts down, or fail due to corrosion or cr-appy Chinese quality, and you have a truck full of gas.
Bigger charger outside would have panels in aluminum frames and normally would include a controller which can fail, or connections would fail, and there is a higher current than in small chargers so there is more fire risk - not from the panel and controller but from a spark on temporary clamps on battery or cig lighter.
