Any vehicle that sits for an extended period of time is notorious for having a dead battery. This is can really ruin the mood when you want to take your vehicle out for a drive. Now, you can hook up a car battery charger and run the extension cord and wait while constantly observing the battery’s charge status.
What if I told you there is a better way of doing this? This method uses a different power source that is free and renewable. That’s right; I’m talking about the sun. With the best solar car battery charger, you don’t need to worry about power cords or having to sit around in your garage.
A solar-powered car battery charger allows you to harness all that free energy from the sun and convert it into power to keep your battery charged. The best part is you can pick up one of these from any tool or equipment store.
Only the best solar-powered car battery chargers will have features like not to overcharge your car battery, advance monitoring system, and waterproof. And this article contains 7 of them which are the best in the market.
Basically, all you need to do is mount them somewhere where the sun is going to them, hook them up with your car’s battery and forget about it. Once you do that, you will never have to worry about dead batteries.
Top 7 Best Solar Car Battery Charger
If you want to keep your battery healthy and topped up, have a look at our list of top 7 solar car battery chargers.
1. ALLPOWERS Solar Car Battery Charger Maintainer
While solar car battery chargers are useful, they are not always very user-friendly. But you could rely on ALLPOWERS solar car battery charger maintainer AP-18V5W for this.
It is a versatile, easy to use and powerful tool that works great on your automotive, car, boat, tractor batteries, etc. this product comes with a car battery charger, clip line, suction cups, and cigarette lighter plug.
The charger maintains your car battery with effective charging techniques. It works on 18V voltage and 5W power. This device is easygoing as long as you use it before the evening falls, as it works with any level of daylight, even if it is cloudy thanks to the crystalline silicon solar cells and ABS plastic used to make it.
There is also a blocking diode which avoids reverse discharge. There is no hassle in setting it up. You are to connect it to your car’s 12V lighter socket before placing the panel in a suitable space so that it sucks up as much sunlight as possible.
If that seems like too much work for you, you can always connect it straight to the battery with its alligator clips. This maintainer takes care of itself, and you don’t have to spend any of your energy on that.
Highlighted Features
- This product is easy to install
- It can be used for various kinds of vehicles
- It charges even when daylight is low
- It comes with suction cups, a cigarette lighter plug, alligator clips, etc. and features blocking diode
2. ECO-WORTHY Portable Solar Battery Charger
Kudos to you for using a renewable energy source for your car battery. But ECO-WORTHY’s portable solar battery charger lets you do more for the environment with its eco-friendly features while being a badass energy converter.
This solar charger is an effective and high-quality one that works great on your boat as well as a wide range of other vehicles. This 12V 5W ECO-WORTHY charger is cautious with your battery, extending its longevity. Its clips help prevent short circuits, and you can keep the cigarette lighter plugged in the whole day.
There is a blocking diode which ensures no reverse power, yet you should always connect the polarity accurately. It works best when set at the angle of 20-35degrees to the light. In the case of long-sitting vehicles, its solar trickle charging keeps the battery from draining out.
Convenience sells; so, you get it in this charger. It is entirely portable. You won’t have to stay near the shore for it to charge the battery, which makes it perfect for boats and jet-skis.
Also, this is a maintenance-free tool that helps save energy and protect the environment. For enhancing efficiency, you can take off the film attached to the corner of the panel. Even when daylight is scarce, this guy provides energy conversion.
Highlighted Features
- This item helps prevent unnecessary power consumption
- The clips are exclusively designed to avoid short circuits
- It trickle-charges so that batteries aren’t drained dead
- It is excellent for travel
3. BLSOLAR5 Solar Battery Charger and Maintainer
Are you looking for the best ultra-low-profile solar car battery charger? If so, you could get a BLSOLAR5 B00B7GC518. This charger/maintainer is a compact device for your motorbike, car, ATV, boats, etc. It is compatible with a myriad of batteries, such as Gel, MF, AGM, EFB, and WET.
This lightweight charger (featuring flex regulators) offers controlled charging of 6V and 12V batteries as well as battery recovery mode. You will get clamp connectors and a 12V plug connector that you can swap accordingly.
With the ignition shut off, you can use the 12V plug connector to maintain from inside the car or directly connect the clamps to the battery. The 5W solar charger prevents energy reversal and inadvertent back current draining, making it one of the safest chargers.
Whatever the sky’s condition, this guy will continue charging as long as there is any amount of sunlight thanks to its thin-film technology. The panel has amorphous cells, which makes it perfect for being used in coastal-stormy weather and during winter as it indirectly soaks solar energy.
It is waterproof, and IP65 rated so that it can be used outdoors and sustain raindrops. This charger/maintainer lasts long as it utilizes UV inhibitors and color stabilization.
Highlighted Features
- The charger uses thin-film technology that enables it to work in low light and cloudy weather
- It works in GEL, MF, AGM, EFB, and WET batteries
- It is waterproof and UV resistant
- It comes with a 12V plug connector and clamp connectors
4. Sunway Solar Car Trickle Battery Charger
The trickle charging option is excellent for any battery-operated vehicle. If you’re looking for the best solar car battery charger with this feature, Sunway’s B06WP95W51 may be what you need. Effortless to set up and eco-friendly, it operates well in any season and protects your car battery with great maintaining ability.
Sunway’s 12V trickle solar charger is compatible with car, snowmobile, ATV, tractor, truck, boat, RV or marine batteries. But it is specially designed to be used on small vehicles. This charger is pretty strong thanks to the panel having ABS plastic housing and an ultra-clear PV glass cover.
Also, the panel is amorphous, meaning even on cloudy days, it captures and converts energy just fine. Reverse charging is prevented via blocking diode. To ensure that the battery is charging, check if its handy LED indicator is blinking.
Sometimes chargers are damaged by raindrops but not this one. Although unable to withstand submersion, Sunway’s B06WP95W51 can take splashes. Make sure to place the panel directly under the sunlight and clean at least once a month so that it gives a top-notch performance every time.
You can directly connect it to the vehicle with its cigarette lighter adapter; if it does not work with the ignition turned off, you can use the crocodile clips and cable that come with the charger.
Highlighted Features
- There is an LED indicator to show if the battery is charging
- The charger can sustain minor splashing
- Its panel has a cover of ultra-clear PV glass for efficacy
- It has mounting holes for proper placement
5. SUNER POWER Solar Car Battery Charging Kit
Are you one of those people who hate shopping and would instead stock up? Then you might be a fan of long-lasting products. In this case, you might want to check out SUNER POWER’s solar charging kit BC-8W for your car. This product is sturdy and durable that delivers flawless performance in a wide range of batteries.
This eco-friendly charging kit does not present any difficulty for the user. While some chargers require skills for setting up, the SUNER POWER BC-8W is pretty straightforward. There is no need for experience to be able to operate it.
You don’t have to go through any trouble while maintaining the charger. GEL, AGM, SLA, WET, and deep cycle batteries are compatible with it. The charger works on 12V. SUNER POWER’s solar car charger is a fantastic battery maintainer. It has a blocking diode to block reverse discharge.
Your battery will never be harmed or over-charged by this. It trickle-charges so that there is no unnecessary drainage. Like standard solar chargers, it comes with cigarette cables and interchangeable clamps for connection.
The panel is surrounded by an updated ABS frame and topped with heavy-duty solar glass for endurance. 4 suction cups help set up the panel. It can receive a broader range of the spectrum than regular solar car chargers.
Highlighted Features
- This product is eco-friendly
- The kit’s solar panel is sensitive enough to absorb energy in all seasons
- It is built to last
- Its installation needs no prior experience
6. SUAOKI 18W Solar Car Battery Charger
The combination of portability and durability is hard to get in any product. But SUAOKI’s 18W solar car battery charger ensures this and more. This battery charger is one of the best, which is currently available in the market. If you want a powerful device that guarantees great maintenance and charging safety, this one might be the way to go.
Working on 18V and 18W, the charger is stronger than most 4.5W or 7W chargers and supplies up to 1A current. It comes with suction cups, crocodile clips, and a cigarette lighter plug. Idle vehicles could benefit a lot from it. Putting your car aside might be an occasional thing, but that does not stop their battery from draining.
Luckily, with this SUAOKI product, you can prevent this from happening. It uses the daylight to keep enough storage voltage so that your car remains fit. It works on automobiles, tractors, and snowmobiles.
The flexible and long-lasting solar panel has a 22.5% efficiency rate. Reverse discharge is prevented by the built-in blocking diode technology. It only has a weight of 12.5 ounces, which makes it great for travel.
This item is built to cope with an array of probable disturbances; it can withstand splashing thanks to its water resistance and dissipate heat. Hands down, this is a maintainer worth rambling about.
Highlighted Features
- The charger effectively maintains long-sitting vehicles by stopping battery drain
- It is useful is increasing battery life
- It is a heat resistant and water-resistant item
- It is a powerful machine with a 22.5% efficiency
7. POWOXI Solar Car Battery Charger
It can be hard to find a charger that is effective against charge draining. But POWOXI’s solar car charger might be it. This machine is portable and environmentally friendly. You can easily set it up and connect.
Safety, reliability, versatility, and convenience are some of the many reasons why you should consider giving this guy a go. The solar cells work great in any amount of sunlight, as long as there is some.
The solar panel is built using amorphous technology, which means that even when the sky is overcast with clouds, the solar cells capture and convert energy. This high-functioning charger can extend battery life. Also, it prevents discharge inside a lead-acid battery.
Get your car, ATV, boat, bike, etc. charged with this heavy-duty product. The maintainer can endure the weather to a good deal. It is IP65 waterproof and can be used indoors and outdoors. This is an ultra-light product that is great for travel.
Other cool features such as color stabilization and UV inhibitors protect the panel from UV rays. So, it can take care of itself. One great thing about this guy is that it features a one-way connection; so, no need to memorize the polarity.
Highlighted Features
- The maintainer/ charger includes a blocking diode to prevent back current
- This product is IP65 approved
- It is made using sturdy glass and thin-film technology
- It supports a one-way connector
Choosing A Solar Car Battery Charger | A Definitive Buyer’s Guide
Now that you have seen our list of top 7 car chargers that are solar-powered; Want to know how we have come up with this list in the first place? Well, let me show you.
The first thing we considered was the advantages of using a solar auto battery charger. There are several advantages, such as:
Usability
These simplistic devices are very easy to use. With a regular charger, you had to plug the battery charger into a wall socket, tailor the voltage and amperage output to match the battery and its current condition, and constantly observe the process and take the charger out when the battery is fully charged.
Since a socket can supply a high-level of power, and if you do not set the charger correctly, there is a risk that you might accidentally damage the battery.
However, solar-powered chargers aren’t that powerful, and with advance processors built-in to monitor the whole process, you won’t have to worry about damaging the battery.
Safer Alternative
Don’t get me wrong when I said that a solar-powered battery charger isn’t that powerful. While they are not as powerful as a regular charger, the power is enough for a 12V battery.
Don’t go expecting too much out of them. They are designed to be underpowered because most of these chargers are for trickle charging your car’s battery. You can’t bring a dead battery back to life with a solar-powered charger.
If you want to revive a dead battery, you will need a charger with a power cord. A solar-powered charger is more like a trickle style charger that you mount on your vehicle. It performs as a trickle charger and does a great job at that.
For those of you that want to keep their car’s battery topped up long term, these are the ideal devices for you. They deliver a steady stream of low voltage to offset natural discharge. This will keep your battery well charged, healthy, and will prolong the lifespan of the cells.
Free Energy
Granted, they can be a little bit more expensive than a regular car battery charger that comes with a power cord, but you will end saving more money in the long run. Why? Because you are utilizing free power, aka solar power.
You don’t have to worry about electricity bills either. Also, by keeping the battery topped and healthy all the time, you will be saving time and costly battery replacement.
How to Choose A Good Solar Car Battery Charger?
When it comes to finding a good product, there are some considerations you must take. Here are some to give you a brief idea.
Power
You can find a good solar charger with a power rating from anywhere from 2 to 18 volts. As most car batteries are 12 volts, a good 12V power rating charger will suffice. The higher the power rating, the faster the charger will be able to recharge a battery fully.
This rating will give you a good idea of charge time. You should also keep the overcharge factor in mind as some devices don’t have such feature built into them. If you want a charger that you can plug in and forget about, go for a lower-powered unit.
Cables & Connectors
The connectors are equally as important as the power rating. You don’t want to buy a charger that has a short cable or only has one type of connection cord. For example, a charger that only has a 12V connector is a sign of a lower-grade model.
It would be best if you had different cables for different types of output settings. You should also plan ahead and determine where you want to mount the charger before buying. Measure the distance from the mounting point to the battery and see if the product you are buying has long enough cables.
Efficiency
An efficient solar panel will convert more light energy into battery energy. Since you won’t get sunny weather all the time, you need to make most out of the available sunlight. A highly efficient battery charger will require less time to charge the battery fully.
Size
Solar-powered chargers are usually smaller in size. The only big part is the panel itself. Usually, a larger panel means you can convert more light energy into electrical energy, but you should also consider where you will be mounting the panel.
Since they don’t weigh much, you can pretty much mount them anywhere in your car. However, the panels are wide and tall. So, you will need to choose a good surface where the panels can absorb as much sunlight as possible.
You can fit them inside of your vehicle, or you can choose to fit the outside. As long as the product you’re choosing the weather-proof, you won’t have to worry about rain or snow.
Reverse Charge Blocking Diode
A solar charger will stop supplying charge at night. Of course, you already know that, but having a feature called reverse charge blocking diode will prevent the charger from absorbing any leaked energy from the battery at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How effective is a solar-powered car battery charger?
Ans: These devices are certainly effective if you buy them for the right purpose. However, they aren’t that powerful to revive a dead battery, so don’t get any high hopes.
Q: What size solar battery charger do I need?
Ans: The size will depend on how powerful you need the charger to be. This will also determine how fast the charger can charge a battery. For instance, a large solar panel that can get a lot of sunlight during the day can fully charge a battery within 24 hours.
However, a small solar panel will take several days to charge a battery fully. It really depends on your preference.
Conclusion
Now that you know what there is to know about the best solar car battery charger, go ahead and pick the right model for your car. Just keep in mind the size and the power rating because, at the end of the day, these are what really matters the most.
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