Dougal
Well-Known Member
Is it OK to plug a small 80watt solar panel into a cigarette lighter socket? It would only be until the wiring is installed correctly in about 3 weeks. And only plugged in while aboard.
Solar Charging Question?
- Thread starter Dougal
- Start date
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
You really should wire an 80w panel through a controller.
RichardS
N/A
The current will be less than 10A so will be fine for a cigarette lighter socket, although you could check what fuse the cigarette lighter socket is using, and providing it is only used whilst you are on onboard and therefore, presumably, using power, it will be fine, although I would keep an eye on the battery voltage if you don't have a fridge. However, as Paul says, unless you have a very large battery bank, and even then I would advise caution, you will need a proper controller.
Richard
William_H
Well-Known Member
The danger is (assuming socket wiring is OK for the 4amps you will get) is of over charging the battery. That becomes a function of battery size, it's charge state and time the panel is charging. Probably OK but just be aware. It will push in 4 amps regardless of battery state. (until battery has boiled dry) ol'will
temptress
Well-Known Member
80x will nominally give you 6.6 amps at 12 volts... It will work on you lighter socket but not a good idea imo. Get a charge controller amx wire that in.
To get some power while you are onboard then you will probably be ok assuming the wiring and fuses from the socket to the batteries are all correctly sized and protected.
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noelex
Well-Known Member
The most the 80w panel can deliver without a charge controller will be around 4.5A (not 6.6A). Cigarette sockets are usually rated at 10A (some rare models are 15 or 20A). But these ratings are optimistic. However, a maximum of 4.5A should be safe. It is worth checking the socket is not getting hot. With a little bit of corrosion on the contacts even around 4.5A can be marginal for these poorly designed sockets.
The next issue is without a charge controller there is a danger of overcharging your batteries, and even reaching voltages that can damage equipment. So you will need to monitor the voltage and unplug the panel when the voltages become high. If you have flooded batteries disconnect (or turn on some loads) when the voltage reaches about 14.6v if you have Gel batteries 14.4v.
This type of manual solar regulation was quite common in the early days of solar when charge controllers were expensive, but it does require some diligence.
The next issue is without a charge controller there is a danger of overcharging your batteries, and even reaching voltages that can damage equipment. So you will need to monitor the voltage and unplug the panel when the voltages become high. If you have flooded batteries disconnect (or turn on some loads) when the voltage reaches about 14.6v if you have Gel batteries 14.4v.
This type of manual solar regulation was quite common in the early days of solar when charge controllers were expensive, but it does require some diligence.
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