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Subject:Re: Solar Panel "Battery Saver"
From:Larry Alofs
Date:Sat, 26 May 2001 17:48:49 -0500

Chris Stann wrote:

> How about installing a light-activated switch? Light - on, no light - off.
>
> Chris.
>

You would need one designed to operate on 12 VDC rather than 120 VAC.

Larry A.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Jay L Snyder
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 10:09 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Solar Panel "Battery Saver"
>
> I bought one of those battery saver solar panels that puts out 1/4 amp in
> full sunlight.  I put it in my car that was sitting outside for several
> weeks without being started.  The battery was "not saved".  It was quite
> near death when I went to start the car.  Is there some reverse current
> leakage when the sun goes down?  Does it need to be un-plugged at night?
> If so, this is a real pain.  I saw an add for a similar, but larger panel,
> that had some kind of circuitry to prevent reverse flow.  I was planning on
> using this for my '85 Westy, but not if I have to disconnect every night
> and re-connect the next morning.
>                                                         Jay