Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Discussing your new helmet, jacket, boots, luggage
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11233
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

My Kawasaki has total loss electrics because the flywheel weighs a ton and I only use it for trackdays and short rides, so I'm thinking I could do with a means of charging the battery without mains electricity to make it last a bit longer, anyone tried a solar battery charger with any success?

The battery on the bike only has to power the ignition btw, so does last a day as it is, but it would be nice to be able to use the leccy starter rather than bumping it.
Honda Owner
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23416
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5450 times
Been thanked: 13085 times

Re: Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by weeksy »

About 12-15 years ago yeah, it did a decent enough job to keep it topped up
User avatar
hilldweller
Posts: 234
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:09 pm
Location: Macclesfield
Has thanked: 73 times
Been thanked: 51 times

Re: Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by hilldweller »

Question:

Do you mean clip on a panel at the track to give it a boost or a panel on a lock-up roof ?

On a roof, is doable in decent weather.
To carry on a bike to a track for a quick boost is not going to work, the panel would be too big.

And always, if the sun isn't shining you're on a loser.
Brian
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11233
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

I mean to use it in the its between sessions, so probably 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off, but it would probably be cheaper to have spare batteries already charged
Honda Owner
User avatar
hilldweller
Posts: 234
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:09 pm
Location: Macclesfield
Has thanked: 73 times
Been thanked: 51 times

Re: Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by hilldweller »

Julian_Boolean wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 9:24 am I mean to use it in the its between sessions, so probably 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off,
Not much hope. You'd need about a 100W panel, the size of a fridge/freezer door and over £100 and then you need a really bright day.

A spare battery is certainly a better solution.
Brian
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11233
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: Solar Powered Battery Chargers

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Another battery is £50, so that's the way to go
Honda Owner