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Solar panel for long term parking

SolidWrecks

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If I put a small 20 watt solar panel on my maverick hybrid, would that allow me to park for months without worries?
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Decayed

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I have one that plugs into the 12v outlet in my old mazda. When last winter was at it's coldest, the battery was starting to labor a bit. Once I started leaving that thing plugged in all the time it always started fine. It's getting sold to buy the mav when it comes in and I don't want to dump any more money into it.
 

14mustangNJ

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I have a battery tender solar trickle charger, it works well for a vehicle that sits a lot but still moves at least once a month from my experience. I had a Jeep Wrangler that would sit 1-3 weeks at a time and the battery stayed charged because of that solar charger.

Would I count on it for something sitting months at a time? Probably not
 
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SolidWrecks

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I don't want to deep cycle the starting battery if I can help it. Those are some cool options. I wonder if the 12v is on a relay.
 

JASmith

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Months without moving vehicles usually isn't good for them though in general. Fuel gets old, lubrication settles, things start to rust, whereas moving around a bit does the opposite and cleans up those rotors and everything. Also, any reason it has to be solar? Trickle chargers on AC power are a dime a dozen, and then ideally you can park it out of the elements and harmful UV rays.
 

Rivers90

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I don't want to deep cycle the starting battery if I can help it. Those are some cool options. I wonder if the 12v is on a relay.
The 12v is on a relay so you would need to wire it to the battery.
Get a name brand battery charger controller. The off brand ones don't really work from my experience.
 
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Rivers90

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Months without moving vehicles usually isn't good for them though in general. Fuel gets old, lubrication settles, things start to rust, whereas moving around a bit does the opposite and cleans up those rotors and everything. Also, any reason it has to be solar? Trickle chargers on AC power are a dime a dozen, and then ideally you can park it out of the elements and harmful UV rays.
I use a wall powered battery minder for a vehicle that will end up sitting all winter. The "Battery Minder" works great. I have used them on cars and motorcycles.
 

Espeer

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I have a battery tender solar trickle charger, it works well for a vehicle that sits a lot but still moves at least once a month from my experience. I had a Jeep Wrangler that would sit 1-3 weeks at a time and the battery stayed charged because of that solar charger.

Would I count on it for something sitting months at a time? Probably not
?

If your vehicle can't sit for 1-3 weeks without needing a charger, something is wrong.

Any solar charger should put out enough wattage to more than compensate for electrical leakage.

Tldr: your post makes no sense.
 

Captain Pork chop

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?

If your vehicle can't sit for 1-3 weeks without needing a charger, something is wrong.

Any solar charger should put out enough wattage to more than compensate for electrical leakage.

Tldr: your post makes no sense.
Ford has updates sent to the vehicle which drains the battery. So if it is going to sit. It does make sense.
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