https://electronics.woot.com/offe...maintainer
MONOCRYSTALLINE TECHNOLOGY: Utilizing monocrystalline solar panels, the SA1589 converts sunlight into power to maintain the charge of your vehicle's 12V lead-acid battery
TRICKLE CHARGE: The unit delivers a trickle charge to 12V batteries to ensure your battery stays healthy and fully charged
PORTABLE: Foldable, compact, and lightweight, the SA1589 gives you power wherever you are and features grommets for easy mounting
WEATHER RESISTANT: Water-resistant mesh fabric ensures that you can safely use the SA1589 in most weather conditions
CONNECT IN SECONDS: Hook up the included heavy-duty battery clamps in seconds with the quick-connect socket
CHARGE MOBILE DEVICES: Simply place the unit panel-side up in an area exposed to daylight to charge USB devices and 12V batteries
IDEAL FOR STORED VEHICLES: The SA1589 is ideal to maintain battery charge in stored vehicles or those that are out of use for an extended period
24 Comments
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just wondering cuz I've always wanted one but hadn't seen one offered here b4 by a reputable brand, and was about to pull the trigger but had concerns.
some of the bad reviews issues say the cable is short. (Amazon...@$40, current $35 with coupon) And some say it's a very slow charger,...well no crap, it's a TRICKLE/MAINTAINER charger. TRICKLE! u nitwits. It's not supposed to charge anything fast.
just wondering cuz I've always wanted one but hadn't seen one offered here b4 by a reputable brand, and was about to pull the trigger but had concerns.
some of the bad reviews issues say the cable is short. (Amazon...@$40, current $35 with coupon) And some say it's a very slow charger,...well no crap, it's a TRICKLE/MAINTAINER charger. TRICKLE! u nitwits. It's not supposed to charge anything fast.
Otherwise, just trickling during the day only is a huge con.
Otherwise, just trickling during the day only is a huge con.
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Depends on what type of solar cells are used in the panel. I've been using one like this (different brand) for years and it works great even inside the vehicle. Doesn't need a regulator because the solar panel output is so small. Vehicle sometimes sits for months before being run.
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That said, I would avoid this product! None of the listings say whether it has a blocking diode built in, which would be required to prevent the panel from actually draining power from your car if it's left connected when there's no sunlight on it. Slickdealers laughed last time I mentioned this but it's true - solar panels connected directly to a battery will discharge that battery at night. I would bet that this Schumacher SA1589 doesn't include such a diode because 1) the manual includes the warning below and 2) the similar Schumacher SP-600 Foldable Camo Solar Charger - 6-Watt, has no such diode and similarly warns to use only with the SPC-7A controller (which is in its own right both overkill for this panel, and a steaming pile of garbage).
*I say an additional, intermediate battery would be worse because it would not only be an added failure point (lithium batteries don't handle extreme temps well and have shorter lifespans than photovoltaic components) but the circuitry required on either side of the added battery would waste more of the power produced by the panel, so the total amount of power pushed into your car's battery would be cut by 30% or more. The car battery doesn't care when you trickle charge it, just how much in total.
**It wouldn't charge all day. You could expect measurable charging for up to 6 hours at your latitude, but almost no one has the patience to consistently orient their car and the panel in the optimal direction so real world outputs are far less than that. Keep in mind that the 5W is a theoretical maximum when the panel's pointed directly at the sun on a clear day, and without a windshield in front of it.
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