Solar Panel Trickle Chargers on New RAV4

[BigR1ch]

Morning all,

As we are now in lock down and the chances of my RAV4 doing anything more than 5 miles a week is remote, was wondering if anyone had used a Solar Battery Trickle Charge device.

After some advice around do they work on the RAV4 and where should they be connected to (internal power socket or to jump start points)?

thanks in advance

Stay Safe 

[Stivino]

I had one of those, it was as much good as a concrete parachute. Don't waste your money on it.

[roadster-rav]

Re; solar panel

I bought one of these on eBay from specialist called modelwholesale  (UK company). Its only the 5 watt model but this is as big as safely usable without having a proper regulator, and it works well. It should work behind the windscreen if you park facing south but you would need to find a permanent live connection inside the car for convenience. The one I bought is pretty robustly constructed with decent wiring so if circumstances allow you to use it outside the car there is enough wiring to fix the crocodile clips to the jump start point under the bonnet.

[BigR1ch]

Thanks for the comments.guys.

 

[Grumpy stumpy]

I have this one eBay number 223959419170 I used to use it every time I left my Lexus RX400h at the airport as the small Battery was useless, worked a treat and connected to the OB2 port inside the car which was easier .  

[BigR1ch]

3 hours ago, Grumpy stumpy said:

I have this one eBay number 223959419170 I used to use it every time I left my Lexus RX400h at the airport as the small battery was useless, worked a treat and connected to the OB2 port inside the car which was easier .  

Thanks Phil. will look at this

[Dippy]

I have used the Ring 6w panel for years on my garaged Porsche (Toyota is used daily), but I’m in Portugal. Still Ring says they work on cloudy days. 

[unclepoo]

I fitted a 15w solar panel to my daughters yaris as she was away at uni. It works a treat at keeping the Battery topped up. You wont need a controller if you buy a low wattage panel..20w is fine. just check the length and width of the panel and the space you want to fit it.

[roadster-rav]

14 hours ago, unclepoo said:

I fitted a 15w solar panel to my daughters yaris as she was away at uni. It works a treat at keeping the battery topped up. You wont need a controller if you buy a low wattage panel..20w is fine. just check the length and width of the panel and the space you want to fit it.

I can't agree about the rating. In bright sunlight this could go up to 2 amps and well above the 15 volts which is the maximum this small Battery should ever see. A regulator is a must if you want to go this high on power unless you are prepared for a reduced Battery life or can ensure that the panel is never in direct sunlight. Of course if you monitor the voltage and disconnect when the Battery is charged thats a different matter.

[Spiker64]

I was thinking of getting a solar trickle charger for my cars whilst on lockdown. A 2007 petrol rav and a 2010 hilux invincible. Roadster-rav you said previously about not going higher than 5w as that's as big as you can safely go. My local Halfords does a 6w or a 2.4w. Do I go for the 2.4w as its below 5w and have it charge slowly or is the 6w safe? On the info with them it says the 2.4 is ok for up to 100ah and the 6w is good for 200ah. I could be wrong but I am sure the batteries I have are under 100ah. That would make the smaller one ok but it says it not for trucks? Or do I not bother with either and trust my luck with the plenty of 5w on fleabay. Halfords 6w is also more than double the price of most of flea bays especially if you add the extra oebd connector. 

Any help and advice my help to clear up some confusion, as quite a few of us wont be using our vehicles nearly as much as we would normally do during lockdown.

Thanks

[unclepoo]

A 5w or 6w panel wont provide enough current to keep a Battery in good condition. The watt and voltage rating is a theoretical best output. Trust me, I`ve tried these small 5w panels with the suction cups to stick the panel to a window. But the output is tiny. They are a waste of money

Look for a 15w or 20w...If you feel the need, buy one with a controller. Plenty come with the panel and controller as a package.

But like I said...I fitted a 15w straight to a yaris 1.0l petrol Battery, and it keeps the Battery charged, without any over charging, or other problems.

[Bowruss]

Most advice above is about solar and is really useful.

I too have a 2020 RAV4 and for all the obvious reasons, it's not getting the normal runs.  I also have 2016 Prius which is also cooling its heels.

I keep both in garage with safe mains power and I have a Cteck trickle charger I bought a while back for an earlier conventional car.

I've not used the Ctek on either hybrid because I'm a bit worried about connecting electrical devices to these complex hybrid engine systems.

What do people think?  Ok to connect them up on rota to keep both cars invoke Battery condition?

Many thanks.  Look after yourselves and your loved ones.

Russ

Hmm. Must update my profile to show the new Rav. Now done.

 

[Buff69]

I read on here somewhere NOT to use a trickle charger i think they were told by a Toyota dealer.   Stay safe all

[Bowruss]

Thanks Buff69.  Beginning to be glad I asked about this.

But how do Toyota advise we get round this healthy Battery situation?

Russ

Btw meant to say in good condition not invoke but you all knew that!

[Bowruss]

Just got sent a link to a Toyota Owners Club posting  on this.

https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/news/articles/will-my-toyota-hybrid-be-okay-if-i-don’t-drive-it-for-a-long-time-r124/

Would not have thought to do this myself.  Presumably it's ok ??????

Russ

[Grumpy stumpy]

I had a Lexus RX400H which I didn’t use much , hybrid, and had it plugged into a trickle charger for years with no problem, I also have a 2003 MR2 roadster with 13k on clock which I’ve had for several years and only drive when very dry that too has a trickle charger again with no problems. As my post above I use to use a solar charger for the RX when I went away on holiday and left at airport that was made by AA which used to work very well.

[ZimmerPhrame]

sit in the car and let it run until engine is warm, then let it run for another 10 minutes(but i think the toyota blog says 60 minutes)....turn the aircon on aswell, as the oil in the gas will keep the aircon lubricated, and stop the seals drying out... if your solar trickle charger goes faulty and shorts your 12v Battery, it could cause irreprable damage to it( for every good quality safe solar charger there might be, there are a number of cheap and nasty ones aswell...), and in extreme cases, cause it to go bang. a plug in trickle charger from a reputable supplier would be better

[Krishna Raj Regmi]

Hello 

Could you please let me know how much the solar charger costs and how long it works for RAV4, 2020? Is changing the Battery, not an alternative - the better option? Please suggest which one would be best. I don't want to keep encountering these sorts of troubles repeatedly.

K

[philip42h]

55 minutes ago, Krishna Raj Regmi said:

Hello 

Could you please let me know how much the solar charger costs and how long it works for RAV4, 2020? Is changing the battery, not an alternative - the better option? Please suggest which one would be best. I don't want to keep encountering these sorts of troubles repeatedly.

K

Look on Amazon (or elsewhere) for the price of a solar charger (£20 - £40). You need one that supports charging via the OBD port. A solar charger should last as long as a RAV4 will ... 😉

Which option is better / best depends on which problem you are trying to address?

I've never had an issue with my auxiliary Battery (or anything else on my RAV4) so I don't have a problem to solve. My usage while low seems sufficient to keep the auxiliary Battery well charged. I carry a jump start pack as an insurance against a possible problem but have never yet needed it to get into Ready mode.

If I regularly parked outside and left the car for extended periods I would get a solar charger. That would be a good option for someone who left the car in (open air) long stay car parks at the airport for weeks at a time, or for somebody who parks in the street but rarely uses the car. (My car is normally garaged so a solar charger would be a waste of time and money. If I were to leave the car standing in the garage for an extended period I'd hook it up to a mains powered trickle charger.)

The auxiliary Battery is a consumable - as and when I need to change it, I will look for one with a slightly higher capacity. But all a higher capacity battery will do is marginally extend the 'safe' standing time. The car has a 45Ah battery and should stand for 2-4 weeks without problems (assuming that the battery is in good condition and fully charged when you leave it). Fitting a 54Ah battery should extend the safe standing time by 20% - so maybe up to 2.5-5 weeks. If that resolves the issues you are having that might be a good option.

Exactly what problems are you experiencing?