Solar battery trickle charger

[BigBill]

Does anyone use one? I just purchased one for my Jeep tractor that sits all summer. I figure with the high cost of new batteries the solar charger may save $$ in the long run. Maybe solar chargers on the tractors I don’t run that much. Any thoughts?

One more thought with battery boxes. My buddy worked for the bus company. He would rebuild the battery boxes and apply a heavy coat of tar inside them. I been thinking of using a steel battery box with a plastic battery box inside it. Going to need a breather hose to vent the battery, I guess they originally had this hose? Any thoughts?

[Glen]

Hi,
Below is a listing at TM Tractor for a new battery box for a Cub, if you need the pics. This shows what they originally looked like.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/el/5721fp.htm

[ShawnAgne]

Big Bill, if you have a rural king in your area you'll find their battery prices are quite reasonable. Where I got my wifes car battery a month and a half ago. Also regarding the battery box what is the thinking behind the plastic box? Not criticizing just curious. As glen showed that is what the original box looked like and basically every Farmall tractor had a metal box for the batter in it.

[inairam]

I use the solar battery trickle charger purchased and have assembled them using parts I picked out.

It does help with infrequently used equipment.

If you are having a battery problem it does not replace putting a battery on charge overnight.

[ScottyD'sdad]

Big Bill, if you have a rural king in your area you'll find their battery prices are quite reasonable. Where I got my wifes car battery a month and a half ago. Also regarding the battery box what is the thinking behind the plastic box? Not criticizing just curious. As glen showed that is what the original box looked like and basically every Farmall tractor had a metal box for the batter in it.

No Rural King stores in New England. If there were, Tractor Supply would be gone!

Ed

[lowgearfarm]

I have two independent 12 volt solar panels for battery trickle charging - one on the backup home generator and one on a 10 year old motorcycle gel battery that starts the wood splitter. Both units sit idle for months, but have ALWAYS started when needed, with zero maintenance. I'm very pleased with their performance. My '49 Cub is 6 volts and haven't seen any 6V panels advertised, so I use an AC powered trickle charger for the Cub.
A word of caution on setting up the panels: The first panel I bought I just kinda set it up facing more or less South. After a while, a gust of wind blew it over. I set it up again. It got blown over again. After this happened 3 or 4 times it finally got blown onto a rock and shattered the panel [I'm a slow learner]. I finally took the time to build a robust frame for the replacement panel.

[BigBill]

The battery acid can eat the steel battery box and leak on the final extentions, tranny, flooring. Put the plastic box inside the steel box.

[Redcub]

Solar Charger;
A buddy of mine introduced me to his 12V solar unit made by Battery Tender.
http://www.batterytender.com/
He puts it in the rear window of his car with the nose of the car pointed North. Works great.
Many other companies out there make them also.

Duracell makes a small 6 volt /12 volt battery charger the uses 120 household AC power. I have one for the Cub. Still in the box so far
There was a really good thread here about the true difference between a "trickle charger" and a "maintainer". ( Thinking it was Mr. Jim Becker that made that post ).


Battery Box comment; I just ordered a new battery box and it should be here in a week. You and I both have the same idea. I intend to buy a can of the asphalt undercoating spray from an auto parts store, and ruff up the surface with a little Scotch Bright. That should make it last well until my Cub hits the 100 year mark for sure. TM Tractor should have the hardware, cable grommets, cables, and the rubber bumpers that go on the inside of the lid. Don't forgot the decal for the box.

[Jim Becker]

. . .
There was a really good thread here about the true difference between a "trickle charger" and a "maintainer". ( Thinking it was Mr. Jim Becker that made that post ).
. . .

Maybe this thread?
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=80936

[BigBill]

Schumacher makes good quality battery chargers, I have their charger/ jumper setup for over 30 years now still works. I been talking with them about a slide in power supply to replace the battery. For having multiple tractors it would be great. No word yet.

[Slim140]

Schumacher makes good quality battery chargers, I have their charger/ jumper setup for over 30 years now still works. I been talking with them about a slide in power supply to replace the battery. For having multiple tractors it would be great. No word yet.

Isn’t a battery a slide in power supply?

[john2189]

Question. Could two or three batteries be hooked up parallel to one maintainer?

[Eugene]

Question. Could two or three batteries be hooked up parallel to one maintainer?

You could, but I doubt that a single maintainer would "maintain" them.

I put the tractor batteries on the basement work bench. Fully charge up each battery. Then with one maintainer, put the maintainer on one battery for several days, then move it to the next battery.

[john2189]

Was just wondering. I’ve never used one before. I have charged batteries that way many times. Didn’t know if a maintainer would have enough power to work that way.
John

[BigBill]

You need diodes between the batteries so if a battery goes bad it won’t kill the others.