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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006   
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Hi, owing to the low usage that my 90 gets I'm increasingly finding the battery is no able to start it up. I have had the battery tested and it is good it just doesn't really get used enough to charge itself and is then left for weeks at a time running the trackstar system. The car has always been a pig to start to the point of everything that could be improved has been so I think it is about as good as it will ever be. What I have been looking into is a dual battery split charge system with one only doing the starting and the other the day to day running of the car kinda like for a winch but not so heavy duty. I can't justify spending more than the cost of a half decent boost pack as otherwise I will get one of those and keep it topped up in the jimny? What are the options for off the shelf solutions? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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14th Apr 2016 6:51am |
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554 |
or solar charger no need for mains power
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12...GwodLqQMrg |
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14th Apr 2016 7:51am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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No mains power unfortunately but it is under an open fronted shed so I will look more at solar. Cheers. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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14th Apr 2016 7:58am |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 806  
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There is another way. Disconnect the battery when the vehicle is parked up, although I guess this will also disable the tracker until the power is restored?
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14th Apr 2016 4:06pm |
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| cobra_mark Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: West Yorks Posts: 213 
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I use a 10W solar panel as my 90 sometimes doesn't get run for a week at a time.
The start up is always crisp.  |
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14th Apr 2016 7:51pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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Having discovered that my multimeter is on the fritz and refuses to read amps I have got another and will test the draw with the car switched off and determin the amount of milliamp I need to feed it, no point giving it 300 if it only needs 45 as it were. Are the maplins solar chargers as good as any or is there no real difference with a cheap one off amazon? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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16th Apr 2016 3:37am |
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| cobra_mark Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: West Yorks Posts: 213
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All my solar panels have come from eBay the most recent is a 20w panel for my Volvo as the electric draw on modern cars is more than the 90 Defender. I wouldn't go much higher otherwise you need greater protection for the vehicle.
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16th Apr 2016 5:41am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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I got my last solar panel from http://www.sunstore.co.uk/ but that was a relatively big one.
If you have somewhere like on the roof of your shed to put it then you could have a permanent mount panel with a quick disconnect or use the towing electrics. Multimeters, almost all of mine are Tenma branded from http://cpc.farnell.com/ - Tenma is the Farnell own brand. It ranges from basic to good but even the cheapest work fine. I'd avoid the non-Tenma branded ones though, they can be a bit pants. A lot of meters come out of the same factory, I've had Uni-T meters the same as RS meters the same as Farnell meters. I've also got a DC clamp ammeter which is good for higher currents like checking the charging circuit is working properly. I've also got an autoranging one which is extremely handy for automotive stuff as you can put it on the 10A range connections but will still range down to milliamp measuring. It means you don't blow the fuse and kill it if you accidentally open a door. |
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16th Apr 2016 9:43am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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Rubbed the new meter over it and it appears to be drawing between 25 and 30 milliamp which is plausible split between the trackstar and the clock. So I think the 2.4 watt one that gives a maximum of 137mA should cope? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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16th Apr 2016 1:17pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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Sort of...
In the winter bargain for 5-10% of rated output by the time you've got nights. I'd be wanting a 5W panel at least. |
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16th Apr 2016 1:43pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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Ok thanks. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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16th Apr 2016 6:47pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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Ok I got myself a 10w one by friendly green giant from the ripon 4x4 spares day yesterday. Seems to work well on the bench, have wired it to a plug and rings so I can demount it easily just need to make up a bracket for the dashboard and it's in business. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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18th Apr 2016 4:44am |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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Been watching this thread with interest.
I dont use the defender that much in the week this time of year. Looking at a 20w one on ebay c/w usb socket as well. Would this be ok or is it a bit too much ? |
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18th Apr 2016 5:02am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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The guy who I got mine from suggested that 10w would be good as much bigger would need a regulator to not cook the battery. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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18th Apr 2016 5:12am |
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