I got these for my rv as well as my jeep that sits for weeks on end. The solar panels came packaged ok. No loose parts or missing parts. You receive both a cigarette lighter plug as well as alligator clips. Both adaptors attach easily to the solar panel. One of my complaints are the suction cups used to attach to the windshield. They don't suck! Meaning, they constantly fall of the windshield. You do get 4 suction cups in the packaging. I had to play with the cups to find the 2 that worked the "best".
Doing a little testing on my amp draw of my jeep. I found that is pulls .088 amps with no key and all accessories off. Sticking a panel to my windshield resulted in a reduction of my amp draw to .017 amps. This is better, but not quite what I was wanting. Remembering that all windshields come with a UV filter in them, I pulled the solar panel into the direct sunlight and found the vehicle was now charging .023 amps. This is more like it, however, reading the directions, these panels are not weather proof, meaning, waterproof.
Installing the second panel along with the first behind the windshield resulted in a charging of .017 amps. So, it seems I need to install both panels to keep my battery maintained while in "storage". Remember to check that your cigarette lighter is a constant power on (there is power with the key in the off position). If not you will need to install a aftermarket plug for the panels to work.
I keep several antique vehicles, two pickups, and two new cars I drive almost daily. So, I was looking for a solution to maintain the battery on my 2007 Siverado pickup with only 5,500 miles accumulated on it after almost four years. As you can see, it's not driven much and it still looks brand new for all intents and purposes. The standard alarm system and electronics place a constant drain on its battery and I was having to jump start every time the truck hadn't been started within a month I also knew that wasn't doing my battery any good.
Local and other stores wanted $15 to $20 more for just one of these solar maintainers than priced at Amazon.com. I was surprised to find this offer of two, for what amounted to the price of one, and quickly purchased them at the savings offered. I also have a pristeen 1981 GMC Sierra with only 22,000 miles on its clock. So, this two pack gave me one to use with it as well although the Sierra doesn't drain its battery quickly at all while sitting idle.
Now, this is two complete blister packed SunForce 50012 Solar Maintainers I received for a 50013 "Twin Pack" labeled product ordered from Amazon.com complete with spring loaded Alligator battery clamps and a "cigarette lighter" adapter. A generous amount of wiring is included (8 feet from the factory panel connection) with a standard connection to adapt either the provided "cigarette" or Alligator clamp type connectors. The wiring also looks well insulated and of a durable gauge to support long life in standard use of the product. The overall look of the product is sturdy but not unbreakable. So, it's not something to bang around with rough treatment. Stow it with some care when not in use.
I noticed a blue LED began flashing on the panel in normal room lighting as I removed the packaging. I walked outside and watched that LED immediately go brighter and remain solid blue. I connected the provided "cigarette" adapter and checked the power output. Using a new Amprobe ACD-14 Plus, I measured the output and found it exceeded the factory rating of 125 milliamperes @ 15 volts. The instructions say the voltage will read 16 volts to 25 volts in full sun, and the sun was already low in the sky as I made my measurement so I imagine it will hit 25 volts in full sun. With that thought in mind, do not turn on any electrical device using 12 volts with this connected. The excess voltage could cause damage.
I connected the unit to my Silverado's cigarette lighter connection, but the Silverado has a short style lighter and too much of the adaptor plug was hanging out for my liking. I then moved it into the deeper accessory plug on my Siverado, and it fit well inside it. Since power is always on at these Silverado connections, either would work for charging purposes. The unit lay easily in the dash depression on passenger side of my pickup and looked good there. As I connected it, I had immediately noticed the blue LED began flashing upon connection and went solid when I removed the connection a sure sign it was charging my Silverado's battery when connected. I'm sure the battery was ready for a charge as it had been two weeks since it was last driven.
The instructions say to disconnect the panel before starting and operating the vehicle for safety reasons, and that is simple enough without further details (see above voltage details). I wouldn't want it connected while driving anyway, and its thin small design stores easily under the passenger seat with its attached cable (roughly 14"x5"x1/2"). Sunforce also states on the packaging the unit has built in overcharge and discharge protection (no other electronics needed for use), and it is waranteed against all defects for one year with a five year total limited warranty.
The warranty will be voided if used outside and weathered, but the instructions say it can be weatherproofed against moisture by sealing the edges of the glass frame and around the plugs with a clear silicone caulking. Four small suction cups are also supplied, but only two can be used at a time. Personally, I don't trust the reliability of any suction cup on any device even if it is feather light. I don't need them, but they are included.
In my use, I'm looking forward to a long service life from this product that it appears I will get. At this low price, even a few years of reliable use (and not having to jump start my pickups) will easily pay for it. Now, only time will tell if one of these supplying up to 1.8 watts delivers enough power to prevent the electrical drain from my Silverado's security system on its battery. I know one can keep the battery pumped up on the older Sierra.
If this doesn't work for my Silverado, there is another larger and more powerful solar panel sold by Amazon that will for about $80 (6.5 watt Sunforce 22005 12-Volt MotoMaster Eliminator Folding Solar Panel). It rolls out on its nylon cloth of a size to roughly cover a dash, is made to handle abuse, and it is also fully weatherproof if needed outdoors. Indeed, one of these 1.8 watt SunForce 12 volt Battery Maintainers will also work very well in one of my antique vehicles instead of my removing their batteries if the 1.8 watts turns out not to be sufficient for my Silverado.
To further allay any fears concerning this product, the rated panel current, of the 125 milliamperes supplied, is insufficient to overcharge any automotive battery and a diode prevents battery discharge through the panel. One or both of these panels will aid in the prevention of battery sulfation and the resulting power loss it creates. These panels are NOT battery "chargers" and will not recharge/repair a heavily discharged/sulfated or otherwise damaged battery (internal shorts or dead cells). This product will overcome parasitic electrical system losses that would eventually drain a battery over time, such as while a vehicle is sitting idle provided those parasitic losses are not too great. Hence the name "Battery Maintainer".
*Also note a discharged automotive battery, that is still undamaged and not totally drained, can "rebuild" its power levels after some time sitting idle with all electrical loads removed. This "re-bound" is normal in good batteries, and this product can aid in that "re-bound" by working against sulfation.
***UPDATE*** December 1st, 2010
It has now been four months since I placed my two battery maintainers in use. My 2007 Silverado just sat unused for two months without being started, and its battery was fully charged when I started it. That never happened before I used this solar panel from Sunforce my battery would have been discharged enough, in only one month of disuse, to require a jump start. After TWO MONTHS of not using this truck, my battery was FULLY CHARGED and placed no recharge drain on the engine's electrical system when I started the engine!
I then decided to check my 1981 GMC Sierra, as it had just sat idle for 3 months. Normally, starting it after this length of time would have caused a squalling alternator belt as the battery recharged after starting the engine in it. This time there was no noise, and the truck's electrical guage showed only a normal draw as if the truck had been driven daily! Moments later, I turned on the headlights and the heater fan to "high". Even that didn't make the alternator belt so much as whimper.
I am now very pleased with the performance of these two Sunforce solar battery maintainers. It looks like my days of having to drag out the battery cables for jump starts are finished at least until I actually have a bad battery, and that may not be for a very long time now. Too bad these things aren't built into new cars.
***UPDATE*** December 2011
It has now been well over a year since I started using the Sunforce battery maintainers. Both are still performing as they did when new, as I checked them with an Amprobe digital meter. Both were still showing 18 volts output in sunshine and were close to the advertised ampere output.
But, while the maintainers have kept my battery voltages up over extended periods of a month or so of not running my vehicles, they don't fully protect from the naturally occuring problem of battery sulfation. Getting a 12 volt battery reading does little for starting an engine when sulfation has reduced the factory fresh (rated) available ampere charge below that needed for starting an engine the Sunforce product here only aids a little in sulfation prevention by keeping battery voltage up.
While these maintainers did work well for vehicles I drove once a month or so, the batteries still sulfated. The end result one of "maintained" batteries was recently unable to start the vehicle it sat in. A look under the vent caps told the story of why when the battery was initially reading 12.5 volts yet couldn't start the engine unless "jumped" from another vehicle and no, there were no parasitic voltages in the electrical system. The plates had all turned light gray with sulfation the normal alternating light and dark gray plate coloration just wasn't there. Fortunately, the battery wasn't as yet swollen.
I also own a BatteryMINDer 12248 charger/desulfator, so I put it on the battery. It immediately showed the battery was heavily sulfated with its yellow indicator glowing steady. Even though I had earlier charged the battery at 30 amps for 30 minutes and it still could not start the vehicle. After two days on the BatteryMINDer 12248, the battery recovered enough to start the vehicle again. But, I installed another battery and will let the BatteryMINDer fully desulfate this one before re-installing it.
What this points out is these Sunforce panels are not good for a long term (storage type) maintenance cycle on lead acid batteries without some type of regular interim battery desulfation. For this reason, some may be expecting a bit too much from these Sunforce panels. For those folks, the best solution will be using a BatteryMINDer solution for a day or two each month or so or just using a BatteryMINDer like the 12151 I use on a few of my stored vehicles. Whichever BatteryMINDer solution, rest assured the BatteryMINDer de-sulfation process will restore a sulfated and dead battery back to operation unless the battery has other defects. I've even used a BatteryMINDer to fully restore a 13 year old battery that had sat dead for the last five years in my garage. After a few weeks on the 12248 BatteryMINDer, that battery unbelievably returned to like new performance.
So, the Sunforce has its place but you might also want to invest in a BatteryMinder for periodic de-sulfation of any lead acid battery.
Buy Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Pack of 2) Now
Gave my husband this because he was always complaining his battery was going dead. He has a van that he doesn't drive all the time but the couple of times he really needed to have it start in a pinch and it was always dead! Since I got him this solar charger there's a lot less cursing and frustration and it starts every time! It has made my life easier and he said it was one of the best gifts I got him ! I would definately recommend it!!
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I have a Ford 150 Pickup that I don't drive very often and I was having problems keeping the battery charged. I am now using this product and it works great. I live in the Pacific North West and it works well even with our cloudy and rainy days. I think this item is priced a bit high here but it works great.
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Amazon's product #52013 is confusing. This item is NOT the Sunforce 50013, it is two of Sunforce 50012. Though the description lists boat and PWC application, the 50012 is not meant to be around water, while the 50013 is completely waterproof.
According to the user manual, the panels can be waterproofed by tracing a bead of clear silicone around the glass frame. I've done this and installed the panel. We'll see how this works.
After several years of using Amazon this is my first eperience with this sort of confused product identification. The website makes it difficult to complain directly to Amazon, so buyers should beware.
In summary, if you have marine application in mind, make sure you order Sunforce #50013. It costs the same, although you only get one in the package.
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I do alot of boondocking (dry camping) and haven't installed solar panels yet. I've outfitted the coach with 2 6volt deep cycle batteries and this charger. We use the batteries most of the day and night for 2 tv's, pump, lights etc. This charger gets the batteries back to full power very quick using the generator. Before I installed this charger the generator seemed to be running all the time. This is the cats meow!
