Solar Trickle Battery Charger

birdy_z4 · Post by **birdy_z4** » Wed May 26, 2021 3:26 pm

Has anyone used a solar trickle battery charger to boost the Z4 battery

I was wondering having got the fuse box out to fit my dashcam and tracker, whether to connect to the charging points in the engine compartment and feed a connection through to the dashboard to enable charging rather than in a socket.

Something like

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Aut ... 8323&psc=1

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Wed May 26, 2021 6:04 pm

I stick a solar charger on wifey's 2.5i if we leave it more than a few days.
To be honest I don't think they have the capacity to put charge back into a battery, but are good enough at keeping it at the level it is when they get connected.

mcbutler · Post by **mcbutler** » Wed May 26, 2021 10:42 pm

If you have a garage, car port just buy a proper solar panel around 100w and mppt charge controller then simply connect to your charging terminals under the bonnet.
You can run the cables along the inside edge of the headlamp, close the bonnet and lock the car.

ProfCJJ · Post by **ProfCJJ** » Thu May 27, 2021 12:51 am

mcbutler wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 10:42 pm If you have a garage, car port just buy a proper solar panel around 100w and mppt charge controller then simply connect to your charging terminals under the bonnet.
You can run the cables along the inside edge of the headlamp, close the bonnet and lock the car.

Any recommendations for kit to do this please? I’d like to try but not sure what to choose from what is out there!

Cheers

mcbutler · Post by **mcbutler** » Thu May 27, 2021 6:34 am

ProfCJJ wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 12:51 am
mcbutler wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 10:42 pm If you have a garage, car port just buy a proper solar panel around 100w and mppt charge controller then simply connect to your charging terminals under the bonnet.
You can run the cables along the inside edge of the headlamp, close the bonnet and lock the car.
Any recommendations for kit to do this please? I’d like to try but not sure what to choose from what is out there!

Cheers

I use a company near me in Plymouth called batteries and solar. Check their website for kits and call them for advice. It is an incredibly easy thing to do. Panel comes with mounting brackets and around 2 - 3m of cable. You just connect the panel to the moot controller and the controller straight to your battery. .

birdy_z4 · Post by **birdy_z4** » Thu May 27, 2021 12:32 pm

Thanks the 100w are quite expensive so considering a 20watt

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TY3HGF7/ ... AndDetails

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/POWOXI-20W-Sol ... s9dHJ1ZQ==

mcbutler · Post by **mcbutler** » Thu May 27, 2021 10:26 pm

birdy_z4 wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 12:32 pm Thanks the 100w are quite expensive so considering a 20watt

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TY3HGF7/ ... AndDetails

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/POWOXI-20W-Sol ... s9dHJ1ZQ==

high quality and a lot more powerful https://www.batteriesandsolar.co.uk/sho ... series-4a/

ProfCJJ · Post by **ProfCJJ** » Fri May 28, 2021 1:29 am

mcbutler wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 6:34 am
ProfCJJ wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 12:51 am
mcbutler wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 10:42 pm If you have a garage, car port just buy a proper solar panel around 100w and mppt charge controller then simply connect to your charging terminals under the bonnet.
You can run the cables along the inside edge of the headlamp, close the bonnet and lock the car.
Any recommendations for kit to do this please? I’d like to try but not sure what to choose from what is out there!

Cheers
I use a company near me in Plymouth called batteries and solar. Check their website for kits and call them for advice. It is an incredibly easy thing to do. Panel comes with mounting brackets and around 2 - 3m of cable. You just connect the panel to the moot controller and the controller straight to your battery. .

Thanks, much appreciated. Taking a look.

Skiing · Post by **Skiing** » Fri May 28, 2021 1:57 am

I bought this came in about two weeks.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3272419 ... 4c4dRSn30H

fits to inside of windscreen and the cigarette lighter socket.

Roddy · Post by **Roddy** » Fri May 28, 2021 6:56 am

Skiing wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 1:57 am I bought this came in about two weeks.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3272419 ... 4c4dRSn30H

fits to inside of windscreen and the cigarette lighter socket.

Isn't the socket disconnected when ignition is off? Mine is.....

Jembo · Post by **Jembo** » Fri May 28, 2021 8:56 am

The cheap ALDI variety has worked really well over the last 3 summers - over the last winter from October to April, you could tell on startup it could have been better

I suggest either a total battery disconnect (with subsequent clock & window reset), or find a home with power in the garage for a Ctek

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Fri May 28, 2021 10:00 am

Roddy wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 6:56 am
Skiing wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 1:57 am I bought this came in about two weeks.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3272419 ... 4c4dRSn30H

fits to inside of windscreen and the cigarette lighter socket.
Isn't the socket disconnected when ignition is off? Mine is.....

Uk e85 lighter socket remains live, e89 shuts them down.
Rob

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com