>       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

The Green Charger claims that you can leave it plugged into the
lighter socket at all times. I wired mine to an extra socket
connected directly to the battery. I guess it has a diode.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut