Sunforce 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger

We all rely on batteries for all sorts of vehicles or appliances.

People have boats, mobile homes, lawn tractors, log splitters, backup generators, off-road motor cycles, jet-skis and many other items that require a fully-charged battery to get going.

The problem is that, if you don't use them regularly, the battery gradually discharges. Most of these vehicles or appliances are used in many different places, some of them away from mains power.

How do you keep your batteries continuously charged?

Fortunately the sun is everywhere, even if it is behind some clouds.

With a 12 volt solar battery charger, like the Sunforce 5 Watt Battery Trickle Charger, all you need is sunlight (even overcast) and you will have complete battery peace of mind.

A solar battery trickle charger is really quite a simple device. It needs to be robust, easy to install and use, and it should do the job. The Sunforce 5 Watt does exactly this.

Specifically:

1. It is easy to install because it has 4 holes in the frame to ensure that it won't rattle or shake loose when travelling.

2. The wire supplied with it is long enough to reach the battery or cigarette lighter plug easily.

3. It has a 12V DC cigarette lighter plug for easy connection if your vehicle or boat has a socket.

4. It is supplied with stainless steel screws to prevent rust in outdoor or marine installations.

5. It is provided with battery clamps for quick connection/disconnection.

There is nothing worse than launching your boat and drifting whilst struggling to start the motor.

Often boats are stored through the winter and, when the first warmer weather arrives, you want to be able to get going at a moment's notice. There are two things you need - fresh fuel (fuel only lasts 3 months before it goes off) and a fully charged deep-cycle battery.

The great thing about the Sunforce 5 Watt is that it keeps your boat battery charged through the winter. All it needs is 2 or 3 hours of sunlight per day (users say that even overcast weather has sufficient light).

Because all the components are plastic and the mounting screws are stainless steel, the Sunforce 5 Watt is ideal for marine applications. One user reported that he even got it soaked with no ill effects.

No longer will you have to worry about that sinking feeling when you turn the boat key and the motor will not turn over.

I live by a lake. The other day someone knocked on my door and asked me whether I had a battery jump starter. He had been camping by the lake and used his headlights during the night.

With a Sunforce Battery Trickle Charger, all he would have needed was a few hours the following morning to restore enough charge to start his vehicle.

More commonly, though, people use the Sunforce 5 Watt to keep seldom-used vehicles' batteries fully charged. One user lives permanently in a campsite and runs a laptop, TV, cellphone and a light on his battery. The Sunforce 5 Watt keeps the battery continuously charged.

Please remember that, with the windows shut, the temperature in side a car can reach extremely high levels. It is advisable to locate the charger where it receives good light but is shielded from temperature extremes.

If your reason for investing in a 12v solar battery charger is to maintain the charge in your battery, there is no need to spend more than necessary.

5 watts is plenty of power to keep a mobile home, boat, RV or car battery charged up. In good light the Sunforce 5 Watt generates well over the rated voltage and it is capable of maintaining the charge in 2 deep-cycle batteries through the winter.

If your budget is a little more than the price of the Sunforce 5 Watt, I would combine it with a charge controller and/or a charging system monitor.

The charge controller will protect your batteries from overcharging and discharging. It is essential in systems generating 15 watts or more, and a good idea for smaller systems like the 5 watt.

A charging system monitor will tell you exactly what the state of charge is in your batteries.