On 12/17/04 11:00 AM, "Markus Mumper" <mumper@USA.NET> wrote:

> FWIW:
> 
> I purchased two VW solar chargers on E-Bay awhile ago.
> 
> Hooked one up to my Westy's cigarette lighter and the other to my '92 Ford
> T-bird Super Coupe cigarette lighter (loved that car, have sold it since
> though).
> 
> I don't know if solar charger charges the Westy's battery but it certainly
> does not drain it. The T-Bird, however, had its battery drained completely
> dead in less than a week - had to buy a new battery as the old one would not
> accept a charge.
> 
> I don't know if the solar charger was at fault but I expect that the T-Bird
> cigarette lighter socket and solar charger plug did not like working together,
> I would check that both are compatible before trying the charger on another
> car.
> 
> Markus with '87 Westy in Pismo Beach (where it's 72F and sunny today!)
> 
> ------ Original Message ------
> Received: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 01:44:31 AM PST
> From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers
> 
>>> I put one of those small dashboard chargers on my camper down at the
>>> Gulf before Ivan in september, and things were so messed up I didn't
>>> get back until thanksgiving. With no load on the battery it was
>>> completely dead. And I was using one with a diode to prevent
>>> discharging at night. You better check it out!
>>> 
>>> Jim
>>> 
>>> On Dec 16, 2004, at 2:42 PM, Dave Chameides wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Has anyone ever used one of those solar battery chargers on your vanagon?
>>>> I'm going to be having mine sitting for a while and it seemed like a good
>>>> idea but I wanted to check and see if anyone had any feedback on them.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks
>>>> 
>>>> Dave
I have found numerous problems with using cigar lighters in cars that had
any age to them.  Especially if someone actually lit something with them.
When I first got my vanagon I put a small rechargeable light into it and the
next morning had trouble starting with a new battery. (about 20 hours
lapse).  Stuck my meter on to find the drain and it was the light. The draw
was almost 2 amps and it was very warm at the socket.  Moved the light to
another vehicle and checked the draw and it was in the milliamp range.  I
have heard of lots of other people blowing fuses out with trying to put
stuff into their used or old cigar sockets.  I now buy the surface mount
ones and put them where needed and fuse them very low.

����������������������������������������
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
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