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 > Harbor Freight 45 Watt Solar Kit

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fredandkathy

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Posted: 11/10/09 05:54am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I got a coupon for a 45 watt solar kit from Harbor Freight for $150. The kit includes 3 panels, framework, a regulator and some lights. Can this panel be wired to charge both batteries in my motorhome while it is in my garage? I also thought about possibly charging my tractor battery which is 6 volts by coming off the regulator's 6 volt tap. Will this work?

toolman1

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Posted: 11/10/09 07:31am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

fredandkathy wrote:

I got a coupon for a 45 watt solar kit from Harbor Freight Can this panel be wired to charge both batteries in my motorhome while it is in my garage?


If you intend to put the MoHo in the garage, solar won't charge at all!
A 120V trickle charger will be money better spent.


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maddog348

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Posted: 11/10/09 08:17am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Didn't say he was going to put the solar panels in the garage ~~ just the MH





hwybnb

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Posted: 11/10/09 08:26am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

That is two or three times as much power as you need for a maintenance charger. A 15 or 20 amp panel would do the job if the batteries are charged up before putting it away. Aside from that it is my opinion that HF's solar panels are not very good. They use black amorphous cells which are less efficient and have a shorter life than the blue crystal types.

pulsar

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Posted: 11/10/09 09:28am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Moved from Forum Technical Support to Tech Issues.

beemerphile1

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Posted: 11/10/09 09:54am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

hwybnb wrote:

That is two or three times as much power as you need for a maintenance charger. A 15 or 20 amp panel would do the job...


I think hwybnb means watts, not amp.


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hwybnb

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Posted: 11/10/09 09:59am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Quote:

I think hwybnb means watts, not amp.
Yup. Sorry.

2oldman

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Posted: 11/10/09 10:11am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

fredandkathy wrote:

coming off the regulator's 6 volt tap. Will this work?
I had no idea a solar regulator had a 6v tap.

mkirsch

Rochester, NY

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Posted: 11/10/09 12:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The Harbor Freight 45W solar kit has a 3V, 6V, 9V, and 12V output.

stevelv

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Posted: 11/10/09 01:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Those panels are quite large for just 15W - I looked at them the other day when the regular price was $199 but didn't buy due to their physical size.


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