Don't these units have a protection diode in series with the output?  If
there is a diode, I don't understand how the electronics will get fried if
the engine is started.  Just curious.  //Jack

On 13 Nov 2003, at 12:00, gary hradek wrote:

> Andrew,
>       I have to say that the three vw chargers I got
> off ebay have all been good(about 20 dollars with
> shipping).   The first thing you want to do when you
> get one is to measure the voltage output in the sun.
> Without a load it should be over 17 volts.   After
> plugging it into you vanagon the one thing you do not
> want to do is to start the van with the solar charger
> plugged in as this can fry the elctronics and cause
> the charger to short out your battery.
> A single charger will keep your battery topped off but
> not overcharge.   gary
> --- Date:    Thu, 13 Nov 2003 23:56:16 +1300
> From:    Andrew Grebneff
> <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> Subject: Re: Solar charger NOT to buy
>
> >I have one of the VW units that plug into the
> cigarette
> lighter....tried it
> >out and it killed my battery also.
> >
> >Warren C.
>
> Any charger, including the alternator, can fry a
> battery if it
> overcharges. Sounds like a diode failure or something,
> so failing to
> regulate properly.
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin, New Zealand
> 64 (3) 473-8863
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> Fossil preparator
> Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Thu, 13 Nov 2003 23:56:16 +1300
> From:    Andrew Grebneff
> <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> Subject: Fwd: RE: "Green" solar battery charger
>
> Below are my message to the Australian distributor,
> their reply...
> and at the bottom, my response.
>
> The charge LED flashes fine even in pretty low light,
> but it's only
> indicating that there's voltage present... however
> there's nearly no
> current, and it's current, not voltage, which will
> charge a
> battery... or an electrocution! (a 100mA current of
> 1,000,000V will
> not even be felt).
>
> Images sent to those who requested them; the list will
> strip them
> from its copy. Any of the recipients seen these for
> sale?
>
> >X-Sieve: CMU Sieve 2.2
> >From: "Projecta Australia" <info@projecta.com.au>
> >To: "Andrew Grebneff"
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> >Cc: "Don Tennet" <dont@narva.co.nz>,
> >    "Peter Griffiths" <peterg@griffiths.co.nz>
> >Subject: RE: "Green" solar battery charger
> >Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 09:29:01 +1100
> >X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
> >Importance: Normal
> >X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.60
> (1.212-2003-09-23-exp) on
> >       mailhub4.otago.ac.nz
> >X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-4.9 required=5.0
> tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham
> >       version=2.60
> >X-Spam-Level:
> >X-scanner: scanned by Inflex 1.0.12.7
> >
> >Dear Andrew,
> >
> >A solar panel like a battery chargers output is
> dependent upon the
> battery
> >voltage. This means that when the battery is flat the
> charger's output
> is
> >high and as the battery becomes more charged the
> output decreases. You
> may
> >find that the reason your output is low is because
> the battery voltage
> is
> >high (i.e already fully charged so the charger cant
> put in any more
> power?).
> >The units usually generate approx. 15-17 Volts under
> flourescent
> lights with
> >no load.
> >
> >Your units may still be faulty and if so I would like
> to investigate
> for my
> >own satisfaction. If you wish to return the unit,
> could you please
> send me
> >the details of the place of purchase so I can arrange
> for our NZ agent
> to
> >arrange for the goods to be returned to Australia for
> testing.
> >
> >If I can be of any more assistance in helping fix
> this matter with you
> >please let me know.
> >
> >Best Regards,
> >
> >
> >George Davies
> >Projecta Sales & Marketing Manager
>
>
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