Are Solar Car Battery Chargers Any Good?

Car batteries are one of the major parts that operate the car. Without proper charging, it may cause problems, and worst, it can lead to its death. Standard car chargers are commonly sold in the market but are solar car battery chargers any good?

Solar chargers work in charging car batteries. The downside is the time needed before it can fully charge the battery. The advantage is you can use it anywhere as long as there is sunlight.

Modern technology is continuously rising and solar chargers became a trend. It helps the environment by reducing the use of electricity. In this article, we will discuss solar car battery chargers.

Do Solar Car Battery Chargers Work?

The solar car battery charger works but the amount of power it can provide is limited. Compared to the standard car battery chargers, they cannot fully charge your battery in a fast manner.

The current is that a solar battery charger may not be able to revive a battery. If you are planning to energize a dead battery, you can use this as a substitute.

Solar chargers are good alternatives. There are just several things that it can’t supply due to its innate structure.

How Do Solar Battery Chargers Work?

Solar battery chargers work with solar panels. It aims to transform the energy coming from sunlight into electricity.

Most households nowadays use solar panels for their specific appliances. These types are more reliable compared to the charger type.

The power that a solar charger can provide is almost around 1,500 mA. If you’re planning to combine your extra solar panels with it, it can cause danger if you don’t know how to do it. Better ask for assistance from professionals regarding this kind of technology.

Can Solar Battery Chargers Charge Car Batteries?

The ability of solar chargers to charge car batteries may be limited but yes, they can help in a charging manner. The power of a solar charger depends on the amount of sunlight striking the panels and their build.

Unlike other standard trickle chargers, solar chargers don’t have an automatic off. It means that as long as there is sunlight, the electric flow will continue.

To give a reliable performance of the solar charger, you can increase its electric current flow and gradually decrease it when the battery is about to full. You can do this with the help of high-quality chargers that has set-up controls.

The downside of solar battery chargers is the availability of sunlight. It must have a sufficient supply so that it can convert more amperage to your battery.

Can You Leave a Solar Battery Charger On All the Time?

Generally, you can leave a solar trickle battery charger in all the time. You just need to be more cautious and prevent overcharging.

There are overcharging protection devices that you can use for solar chargers. In this way, the charger will stop charging if the battery is full.

Even though a solar charger only produces minimal power, you must take care of the battery charging. You can also use solar charge applications using smartphones.

Can You Overcharge a Car Battery with a Solar Charger?

A solar battery charger can overcharge a car battery. The power it provides to the battery depends on the voltage of the solar panels and the electricity it can convert.

For solar trickle chargers, it may not overcharge a car battery since it maintains the charging pace.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Car Battery with a Solar Battery Charger?

The charging speed of the solar charger depends on its build. Standard types of solar panels will usually take 4 to 12 hours to completely charge the battery.

Those solar panels that produce high wattage can reach 6 to 8 hours. This estimation is applicable for direct sunlight charging.

Lower light conditions due to weather changes may require 12 to 14 hours. During winter or any weather that reduces sunlight, this may take a long time.

How Much Does a Solar Battery Charger Cost?

The cost range of solar battery chargers is from $30 to $800 depending on the size and usage. You can find the different types of solar chargers online with the specifications.

Some solar chargers sold suggest specific usages. If you’re looking for a car battery, they have it. Same thing with ATVs, boats, and more.

The price that has been provided is not an official price for all the solar chargers. It’s an estimation of the current costs we found in the market.

Pros of Solar Panel Trickle Chargers

Using solar chargers can bring a lot of benefits but keep in mind that there are drawbacks. Solar panels are said to contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions. Here are the pros of solar chargers:

Independent

Solar panels are designed to capture sunlight and transform it into electric current. You don’t need any electric source to charge your batteries. All you need is sufficient sunlight anywhere you are.

Versatile

The usage of solar chargers is not only limited to car batteries. You can also use it for boats, ATVs, etc.

Applicable while driving

You can use solar chargers if you are driving the car. The solar panels just need to be positioned on parts of the car where the sunlight hits. The best example is in the dashboard.

Functional in all seasons

You can use solar chargers even during the winter season. As long as there is a light, you can still use it.

Cons of Solar Panel Trickle Chargers

If there are pros to using solar panel trickle chargers, there are also drawbacks to it. Here are a few disadvantages you might experience when using solar chargers:

Large in size

Common solar panel size is about 1 ft square. It may be difficult if you plan to place it on the dashboard.

Can’t revive a dead battery

Solar trickle chargers can only maintain the current when charging a battery. It can’t revive a dead battery.

Conclusion

Solar car battery chargers are useful not only for personal use but also for the environment. It lessens greenhouse gas emissions since it only depends on sunlight. If you’re planning to use it for regular use, don’t expect you can charge your battery quickly. It will take time depending on the build of your solar charger.