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Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer, Twin Pack | 
| Brand: Sunforce
Category: Automotive Parts and Accessories
List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $34.90
as of 9/7/2010 14:01 CDT details
You Save: $45.09 (56%)
New (4) from $34.90
Seller: Aries Enterprises
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 1099
Color: Solar Cell
Media: Automotive
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 20 x 4 x 7
MPN: 52013
Model: 52013
UPC: 787769520139
EAN: 0787769520122
ASIN: B001OG68Q4
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Charges in all weather conditions | | • | Maintenance free | | • | Plugs directly into cigarette lighter | | • | Easy to install | | • | Includes suction cups for easy mounting |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Charge 12V batteries with the power of the Sun. Solar 12V includes: Solar Battery Maintainer, Wire, 12V DC Plug, Suction Cups, Battery Clamps.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
 Excellent Battery Tender For Vehicles That Aren't Operated Frequently September 4, 2010
alexanderaku
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
solar August 28, 2010
jim
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
for the price this is a vary good and usefull product,it would be nice if the conections worked with the battery tender charger.
 Battery killers August 13, 2010
D. Fiel (Portland area, OR, USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I used these two to try and maintain the engine and coach batteries in my RV. The panels drained both sets of batteries, so that I had to jump start the RV. Perhaps they work for places with lots of sunlight, but not for me. It is because these do not have a charge controller to prevent discharging during the night or other low light conditions. You can see this by the blue LED "charging indicator" flashing all night long. Plus, if you do have lots of sunlight, this device has no overcharging protection, making it easy to cook your batteries.
So, a real system has to include a charge controller, like this:
[...]
 Sunforce 1.8 Watt solar 12V battery Maintainer August 7, 2010
Kenneth Howland (Horseheads, NY)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
These work excellent for maintaining motorcycles, boats, riding lawn mowers or most anything that you don't operate every day.
The only issue I have is that there is a blue led light that blinks 24/7 even when there is NO solar (light) input which tells me that it is drawing power from the battery. The company acknowledged my e-mail request but have not responded to my question regarding if this is normal for this unit. I now have (6) of these. I would think that I am entitled to an answer from Sunforce. My message was acknowledged by [...] but to date they never provided me with an answer to my question so I have to give a poor rating on support !!
Solar Battery Maintainer August 4, 2010
Sharon
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Came in good time and in good condition but UPS got boxes mixed up with my neighbor and I wondered if I would ever get it from him.
This maintainer was simple to install and once put in the window, you can forget it. It is keeping batteries up to full charge that don't get driven much and are in extreme cold and heat. I'm sure they will last for many years, like those I've had before.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
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