Has anyone tried a 12V Solar Battery Charger?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by worldtravelista, Sep 29, 2009.

  1. worldtravelista

    worldtravelista New Member

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    I am thinking about purchasing one of the Solar powered 12V Battery chargers that you can use off of the cigarette-lighter.

    Toyota is telling me to definitely not use anything after-market (especially before the 100,000 battery warranty is up.)

    Checker Auto Parts is telling me that it should be fine...

    Another friend told me that it could kill the hybrid battery.

    Anyone have success with this product? Does it really help the battery that much?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 worldtravelista, Sep 29, 2009
  2. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I met a girl with a backpack covered in solar cells recently. She told me that it would take ~6 hours to charge her cell phone. A car battery takes considerably more charge and the net effect would likely be very small. However, the liability you would be running in voiding your warranty (which they will likely try to void any chance they get, like most other automakers) is considerable. I would not do it.
     
    #2 a_gray_prius, Sep 29, 2009
  3. Grateful11

    Grateful11 Member

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    I believe those 12V chargers are only designed to charge the normal engine starting battery not the Hybrid battery pack. I think I'd pass and put in a solar window vent fan.
     
    #3 Grateful11, Oct 3, 2009
  4. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    There is one reason to use a solar charger. If you will be leaving the car parked for many weeks or months, outside where the sun can get to the charger, it would keep your 12 volts battery from discharging, which it will do in a few weeks or so. That is why the manual recommends starting the car once every 3 weeks (?). However, you cannot plug it into the cigarette lighter without modifying the car, since the outlets are normally disconnected when the car is off. You can find the modifications on this site, if you should still be interested. It will not help at all with the traction battery.
     
    #4 vertex, Oct 3, 2009
  5. worldtravelista

    worldtravelista New Member

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    Any recommendations on brands of solar window vents? Or where to purchase?

    I was thinking about that too...

    Thx!
     
    #5 worldtravelista, Oct 6, 2009
  6. Stefx

    Stefx Member

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    Your best bet would be to install that solar panel on your house, and use the stored energy to power some of your CFL or neon lighting in your house.
    You'll be able to place that panel in a better orientation for overall sun exposure.
     
    #6 Stefx, Oct 11, 2009
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I had and used a 5W 12v solar panel attached directly to my 12v battery for a while when I was worried about the 12v being depleted (prolonged airport parking on trips mainly). Eventally it got broken and I've never had the 12v die anyway.

    Unless you modify your cigarette lighter power point the panel won't do you any good when the car is shut off since they are not live when the car is off in the Prius (and many other cars for that matter).

    It may extend the idle battery time a bit and may help keep it topped up...which is good for 12v batteries that would otherwise sit unused for extended time periods, but for most people it's pretty unnecessary.

    As stated, there is no practical or useful way to attach a tiny 12v like that to the HV traction battery.
     
    #7 efusco, Oct 11, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  8. Grateful11

    Grateful11 Member

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    #8 Grateful11, Oct 11, 2009
  9. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

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    I had one of those window vents.... useless, but mine had a smaller solar panel than that shown above... (Autocool brand)
    I have a little 2w solar panel I use to hold the charge on a battery booster box. Not sure if it's effective or not (Canadian Tire Eliminator model)
     
    #9 BAllanJ, Oct 11, 2009
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