sarabande
Well-Known Member
ECB - please please don't use crocodile clips.
Idiots guide to 12 volt solar trickle charging
- Thread starter eastcoastbernie
- Start date
eastcoastbernie
Well-Known Member
Now I am very confused. I got the message that the cigar lighter was out of the question and that the croc clips were the way to go. ??? What am I missing here?
VicS
Well-Known Member
IMHO an ordinary cigar lighter style socket and accessory plug is a worse choice than croc clips.
The ordinary cigar lighter type sockets do not hold the plug in securely, and they rely on a fairly weak spring in the centre pin to maintain the connection.
The Marinco plugs and sockets are the answer.
FWIW with no engine starting loads to worry about my main battery connections are made with croc clips, and have been for over 30 years
sarabande
Well-Known Member
one of the usual places for problems (overheating, circuit failure, etc) is the screw which fastens the cable to the croc clip.
Also, croc clips tend to be all-metal, so make it very easy to short with other cables. tools, etc.
And croc clips tend to be too small for battery terminals, and need forcing on to make the connection. They sometimes spring off when vibration is present.
You need to terminate the panel or controller cables in a ring terminal (and then onto the screwed post of the battery clamp terminal.
However small the power output you may be getting from a small panel of say 15 - 20 watts, there is a danger of sparks if the connections are not properly made.
Also, croc clips tend to be all-metal, so make it very easy to short with other cables. tools, etc.
And croc clips tend to be too small for battery terminals, and need forcing on to make the connection. They sometimes spring off when vibration is present.
You need to terminate the panel or controller cables in a ring terminal (and then onto the screwed post of the battery clamp terminal.
However small the power output you may be getting from a small panel of say 15 - 20 watts, there is a danger of sparks if the connections are not properly made.
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VicS
Well-Known Member
These are some clips I have ( on boat and on battery charger)
They fit nicely onto battery posts ... but no good if there is already a standard camp on there.
I could do with some more if you have any idea where I can get them.
They fit nicely onto battery posts ... but no good if there is already a standard camp on there.
I could do with some more if you have any idea where I can get them.
viago
Well-Known Member
i used a 20 watt panel wired directly to this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/dual-16a-solar-charge-regulator-266145
then direct to batteries.
use crimp terminals. then forget.
probably over-kill but better safe than sorry.
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Wansworth
Well-Known Member
PBO please take note....an article for idiots to conect solar panels to batts for winter charging......thanks