Solar Marine Battery Charger

 
Solar marine lights and beacons are now becoming very popular because of the vast benefits that they can provide in the long term. They come with a battery which needs to be charged with solar power during the day and the chargers used are usually 12volts.
 

Solar Marine Trickle Battery Chargers

Trickle chargers are amongst the best bet for boats as they prevent a complete electric drain which can sometimes happen when the boat has been out and about for several days. They are waterproof and they create an optimal level of charge which they maintain at all times charging all day if they have to. They are good for electronic devices as well as important communication devices such as sonar ones.
 

Features Of Solar Chargers

• They can help power any number of devices such as gear depending on their volts capacity.

• The charge control unit is what directly powers the battery and it also looks after certain functions such as preventing overheating and maintaining a certain level of charge at all times.

• Solar chargers are also sometimes connected to a inverter or convertor if there is a voltage difference.

Before you invest in a solar marine battery charger do some research on your particular model of battery and its power needs so there is a direct match. Usually chargers are universal unless the battery is a gel cell version. Most good quality chargers stop charging once the battery has reached the full level and this keeps the battery from overheating and blowing off and this can positively impact the longevity of the device.
If you are looking at regular usage such as powering stoves and fans, phone charging, internet and all then a 100volt battery and charger is perfect. This is however a pretty basic assumption and it is recommended to keep a charger which can give you 10 to 20% more than your estimated total power needs just to be safe.
 

Charge Controllers

Most solar kits come with a charge controller but you really only need one if your power output is regularly exceeding 100amp per hour. It is a necessity if you have more than two panels attached on your boat anyway. These charge regulators can come in handy if the boat spends a lot of time in the dock where it cannot be supervised all the time or if you can’t be bothered to check the charger every now and then to see how it is functioning.
 

Tips for Superb Charging

• Try to position the panels in the direction of the sun and invest in rotating photovoltaic panels which follow the descending of the sun as it happens hence maximizing power generation as they go along. When you are at the sea of course this can be hard to do manually.

• Keep your panels away from the shadows of anything like a shade or a chair. Shadows block the rays and can affect efficiency.

• Ventilation is very important, if you can cool down the panels a bit you can improve output by 10% in some cases.