18-watt Solar charger 50% off at Camping World

[concretebox]

18-watt Solar charger 50% off at Camping World, $56.75.


But is it worth it? I've seen most people in this site say 140w-240w or 480w is recommended. I was thinking for a little more than $50 it might be a good backup to charge the car-starting battery in case my house battery runs out and my generator stops working while I'm stranded in the mountains/desert.

Thoughts?

 

[Lucky mike]

thats what it is for......its designed to keep the chassis battery conditioned during storage...not so much recharge it.....it helps replace the parasitic load that normally would draw the battery down...

it wont help you if your using your chassis battery for a draw other than normal operation..(unless you want to sit for 30 days)

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I gave away a couple of those that came with the RV we had. They were worthless to me.

Look what you could have for 150 bucks that will do you some good and you can add to it....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Watt-So...692?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f298e4e6c

 

[SternWake]

That panel is huge for a measly 18 watts.

If you ran your engine starting battery flat and tried to recharge it with that panel. Perhaps in 2 or 3 days of good sun and hourly sun tracking of the panel, it might allow the engine to start.

Spend your money elsewhere where it can do some good.

No serious solar setup should be less than 60 watts. Anything less is in Joke territory for anything other than keeping a nearly fully charged battery, near fully charged.

 

[highdesertranger]

it's 50 bucks off. you still pay over 100 bucks for 18 watts. pass this one up. I have recharged my truck battery(left air compressor clutch engaged) with my portable 50 watt panel but I left it connector for a day and half. fired right up, I am glad I didn't have to rely on my 12 watt battery maintainer that is hooked up 24/7. I have even jumped my truck with my quad(ran the gold wheel to long off main batt). the quad has a measly alternator but I hook it up with jumper cables and let the quad idle for about a hour. fired right up. morel of the story is you are going to have to leave that panel connected for awhile with no drains on your battery to recharge a dead battery. highdesertranger