SOLAR POWERED BATTERY CHARGER

[Darrentrose]

JUST BOUGHT A SOLAR POWERED CAR BATTERY CHARGER FOR MY BONGO WHICH YOU PLUG INTO CIGARETTE LIGHTER BUT NOTICED CIGARETTE LIGHTER ONLY WORKS WITH IGNITION ON. DOES THIS MEAN IT WONT BE CHARGING WIT THE IGNITION OFF. OR DO I NEED TO PLUG IT INTO THE 12V SOCKET AT THE REAR? CAN ANYBODY HELP PLEASE?

DARREN

[mr and mrs pips]

Hi

Both our front and rear Cig lighters only work when the ignition is on.

Someone maybe able to advise on re-wiring the lighters for you.


regards

Mr P

[roosteruk]

Don't shout Darren !!! ( CAPS )
I would buy a clip on power socket adapter, connect it direct to the battery, then plug in your solar panel.

[bigdaddycain]

I don't think it will work till the ciggy sockets are wired to work with ignition off darren,mine are re-routed to work without the ignition, through my leisure battery. Plenty of info on here if you do a search... A solar panel is probably ok to keep the battery topped up as it depletes its charge with alarm/immobiliser armed.

[bighairypict]

correct me if I'm wrong (or preferably confirm that I am correct) - I would assume that if the cigarette lighters are rewired to work off the leisure battery when switched on the charger would charge the leisure battery. What would be needed is a rewire to work off the main battery but bypassing the ignition circuit.

[dandywarhol]

The first bit of your question is correct BHP but I don't understand the second bit........why would you want to use a solar panel to trickle charge the main battery?

[bighairypict]

I thought BDC might want to use it for the main battery, Mr W. See his comment about using it to keep the battery topped up as it depletes its charge with alarm/immobiliser armed. I used to find with my previous van that if it was left a couple of weeks the battery would be flat and the alarm was the only thing that was on. A small solar panel should have been enough to keep it from going totally flat.

I don't think I would use a solar panel for the leisure battery. The leisure battery should not have a drain on it except when the van is in use and mine would recharge from driving to where I stop or from a mains hookup.

[dandywarhol]

OK......gotcha