Solar Trickle Chargers are small, low-current solar panels used for maintaining storage batteries for your vehicle or boat. Why will you need to maintain them?

All batteries lose charge over a period of time because of self-discharge. By using a trickle-charger, you can replace those lost power. This helps to extend the lifespan of your batteries and ensures you have a smooth start every time you turn the ignition. There is no fear your vehicle or boat won’t move after storing away for a long time.

Since we only need a small current to maintain the batteries, solar panels will be the ideal candidate. As long as there is sunshine, you can be sure your batteries can be maintained in top condition.

But not all solar panels can be used for this purpose. You have to make sure the trickle is large enough for your battery size.

First, you’ll need to find out how big your batteries are. This information is usually written at the side of the battery. If no information is available, try looking up the model on the Internet. Most of the time you’ll find what you want.

If your battery is rated at 100Ah and you estimate that it’ll lose 30% of its power every month, you can work out the power loss per day. (This is about 1% every day.)

Next, find out the sun hours you receive at your location. With this figure, you can divide the energy loss per day by the sun hours per day to determine how much current your solar energy panels need to generate.

If you’re lost, solar trickle chargers will usually have specifications that show you what battery size its suitable for. Have fun!

Continue Reading:

1. Solar Energy Panels – What You Need To Know Before Purchasing
2. Solar Energy Panels For Big “Toys”
3. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 2

Once you’re hooked, your mind keeps thinking about what else you can use solar energy for. Some hobbyists attach solar panels to their homemade cars and race in it. Others build more practical stuff like solar powered trickle chargers for their boat and car batteries.

The possibilities are limitless. Here are 10 small-project ideas to get you on the road to addiction:

1. Garage lights with light-dependant diode (LDR) sensor.

As you drive into your garage, the lights turn on automatically. This lighting system doesn’t need maintenance and draws no power from the mains.

During the day, a 12-volt solar panel charges the batteries. At night, as the device senses your car’s headlight, it powers up the super-bright LEDs and maintains it for another 5 minutes.

2. Solar powered reading lamp

Reading lamps do not need a lot of power. A row of white LEDS will do a good job of providing you with ample illumination for your reading pleasure.

You can place the reading lamp near your window during the day. At night, when you want to use it, the batteries are fully charged, ready to be used.

LEDs take up very little power. Therefore two AA rechargeable batteries rated at 1.5 volts each are sufficient to power them.

3. Solar ventilator

Solar Ventilator

There will surely be places in your living space that lacks ventilation. Why not install a small ventilator fan and attach a solar panel to it?

The air draft, though slow, can help prevent mildew and mould.

4. Solar powered gate opener

Many electric gate openers run on 12-volt supply. This is perfect for a small solar power project.

When you house the batteries and circuit, remember to keep it in a weatherproof container. Otherwise dew and precipitation may destroy them.

5. Attic Vent Fan

Attic Vent

During summer, your attic can trap a lot of hot air. It can get stuffy and uncomfortable if you need to be there, even for a while.

Installing an attic vent fan is a good idea. Running it using solar energy makes it an ingenious one.

6. Solar hot tub

Solar Hot Tub

Nothing can be more rejuvenating than soaking yourself in a hot tub (also known as Jacuzzi) during winter after a hard day’s work.

You can cycle water through solar collectors and heat it up to your desired temperature.

Even though there may be less sunlight during winter, you have the whole day to get the water heated up. To retain the heat, you can insulate your hot tub and use a wooden cover.

7. Solar cooker

Solar Cooking

Want to have a barbecue? Solar energy can help you cook your favorite food without using charcoal, butane or propane.

A concave reflector can help you concentrate sunlight onto a particular spot (like a magnifying glass). There, you can get anything cooking.

8. A greenhouse

This is common, isn’t it? Yet nobody takes the effort to do it. With a greenhouse, you can have a warm environment for your plants to flourish in and for you to enjoy a cup of coffee every morning before you go to work.

9. Solar pool covers

Solar pool covers help to heat up your pool using solar energy. They are pretty affordable, so you can always buy them. Or you can roll up your sleeves and put on your thinking cap to make one of your own.

10. Solar cup warmer

This project requires 2 metallic surfaces – one as solar collector and the other as cup warmer. You can use a heat pipe to transfer the energy from the solar collector to the heating plate.

That’s all for now. Let’s get busy designing our next pet project.

Continue Reading:

1. 7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office
2. Before You Install Solar Panels, Plug All Your Air Leakages
3. Creating An Energy Efficient House – A Primer On Why You Should Do It and How