!8: New Sunforce Solar Charging Kit: December 2011

!±8± Solar Battery Trickle Charger Review

A solar battery trickle charger will make you sing, "Here comes the Sun!" with even more gusto - Because it will be charging your vehicle's battery.

When you get your solar battery trickle charger you'll want to get the most out of it so set the panel in such a way that it gets the maximum exposure to the sun. Then plug the 5-watt trickle charger into your vehicle's 12-volt lighter socket and your battery will begin charging.

There are also alligator clips included that can be attached directly to the battery for situations where there isn't a lighter socket or you want to keep the socket free for charging a cell phone or other device.

This piece of equipment has numerous applications; all terrain vehicles (ATV), boats, tractors, electric fences, telemetry, recreational vehicles (RV), and more. It will even work on cloudy days. It's great when a clean and silent charging of electric or electronic devices would be beneficial, say outdoors, where you don't want to disturb the natural environment.

The most popular model today is the Sunforce 50022. It is of hardy construction with amorphous solar cells, and made of durable ABS plastic. It weighs in at a mere 4 pounds and measures 14 x 0.75 x 13 inches making it easily portable and simple to set up. With a temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit it is an all season, all climate solution to your battery charging needs. With up to 5-Watts or 350mA of power to prevent the natural voltage drain of batteries over time it will keep your batteries fresh for use when you need them. And it has flexible connection options in that it includes both alligator clips and a lighter socket adapter.

The Sunforce model is compact and easy to install and it lets you harness the power of the sun, the most powerful and plentiful source of energy available to us. Unlike nuclear and fossil fuels, solar power is clean and pollution-free, and the equipment requires very little maintenance to operate.

This trickle charger is designed to stave off the natural voltage drain that 12-Volt batteries undergo over time. It can also maintain the charge of a 12-Volt battery while it is providing energy to small electronics like cell phone chargers or small pumps and motors. The Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger is constructed with durable ABS plastic and features amorphous solar cells and an ultra-bright blue LED charging indicator. Four mounting holes are pre-cut in the frame for easy permanent installation. It is weatherproof and remains effective even on cloudy days. The built-in overcharge/discharge protection prevents overcharging and reverse-current drain. This trickle charger is an ideal choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, tractors, boats and more.

Sunforce amorphous solar panels require virtually no maintenance and are weatherproof and suitable for outdoor use. It is safe to leave connected for extended periods without damage to electrical components.

For moving vehicles the solar trickle charger can and should be permanently mounted to prevent damage to the solar panels, batteries and other equipment. Otherwise it is easily removed and stored.

Solar cells convert sunlight into an electric current; they do not actually store power. The Sunforce 50022 is designed to maintain an existing battery charge, and not to fully recharge a battery.