Renewable energy and solar power have become increasingly popular, particularly in the boating arena. It involves the use of the energy from the sun to charge batteries to fuel power equipment and boats. Using solar power is an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels as it reduces your carbon footprint.
In this article, we explore the functions of solar chargers, how they work, and their advantages. We also look at the best solar trickle charger for marine battery use, which can be found in both small boats and larger cruising sailboats.
What Do Solar Battery Trickle Chargers Do and How Do They Work?
Solar charges use sunlight to store energy in a battery that can then be used to power a variety of machines. Trickle chargers are a form of solar panel that is small, portable, and inexpensive. You connect trickle chargers to batteries by clipping them in and then exposing the solar panel to the sunlight, which charges over time.
When the solar panel charges the battery, the energy is directed to the charge controller that regulates and distributes it within the device. The battery stores the energy, which is then used to power devices and equipment.
When your battery is empty, the charge controller transfers the necessary energy to the device. Once the battery is fully charged, the trickle charger goes into float mode, whereby the power level is automatically maintained.
The controller can also boost the speed and provide extra power to help a flat battery charge more quickly. This not only improves the quality of the charge but also prevents your battery from overcharging or losing its connection.
Using a Solar Trickle Charger on a Boat
Whether you have a sailboat, a fishing boat, a trawler, pontoon, or even a kayak – there are many benefits to having a solar panel charger.
Battery chargers for the marine industry can be a very efficient way to keep your boat powered, as well as many devices on board such as GPS, cell phones, VHF radios, fish finders, or other entertainment devices. In addition, solar battery chargers are waterproof and water-resistant and adapt to heavy boating conditions.
Features of Solar Battery Chargers
Solar battery chargers include a controller, solar panel, a pulse width modulation (PWM) device, and self-regulating capabilities, although not all models include all these features.
The solar panel is the part that is exposed to direct sunlight, which collects the sun’s energy.
A charge controller (also called a regulator), directs the energy from the sun that’s captured by the solar panel into the battery. If your panel is over 5 W, then you’ll want to have a charge controller, as it can help store energy for later use.
Some solar battery charger kits won’t have a belt-in controller, so the charger will be self-regulating. Make sure your charging kit has a PWM because this regulates the temperature and protects your battery from overcharging. It’s an important safety feature.
Types of Solar Battery Chargers for Boats
There are different types of boat solar battery chargers aside from trickle models. For instance, boost chargers give a powerful but short spurt of energy to the battery, whereas a float charger works like a trickle one but can prevent overcharging. Lastly, trickle chargers provide a low and steady supply of power to charge your battery. All you need to do is choose the type of battery that best suits your needs.
Applications for Solar Trickle Chargers
Because of their ability to extend battery life, solar trickle chargers can be used in many ways, including powering car batteries, solar-powers, or in camping remote areas that don’t have access to electricity. Motorcycles and snowmobiles can benefit too.
The Best Solar Trickle Charger for Marine Battery and Boat Use
With all the models existing in the market, choosing the perfect solar trickle charger can be overwhelming. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together a list of the 5 best solar trickle chargers for marine battery and boat use.
1. ECO-WORTHY 12 Volt 10 Watt Solar Battery Charger & Maintainer, Solar Panel Trickle Charger
This ECO-WORTHY 12 Volt 10 Watt Solar Car Battery Charger & Maintainer, Solar Panel Trickle Charger, is a portable and versatile power backup kit trickle charger for 12V batteries of boats. It can also be used for motorcycles, snowmobiles, and tractors. The trickle charger is easy to install and maintenance-free and it comes with an alligator clip attachment.
The ECO-WORTHY 12 Volt 10 Watt Solar Battery Charger also includes a built-in blocking diode that prevents reverse discharge, which maintains battery life and extends its usage.
Specifications
- Suitable for 12V batteries
- Solar panel kit comes with a cigarette lighter adapter, an alligator clip adapter with cord to prevent short-circuiting, PVC suckers
- Built-in blocking diode prevents reverse discharge, maintains the battery lifespan, and also extends its lifespan
- Rated Power: 10W
- Temperature range: -40℃ ~ +80℃
- Dimensions: 14.37 x 9.25 inches (365 x 235mm)
- Weight: 1.46 pounds
Pros
- Good customer reviews
- Easy to use
- Weatherproof
- Durable
- Water-resistant
- Value for money
- Good power and energy efficiency
- Compact design
- Built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge
Cons
- Cables are quite short
2. Sunway Solar Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer 12V
The SunWay solar car battery trickle charger and maintainer come with a cigarette lighter plug, a battery clamp, and suction cups. This trickle charger is easy to use, can be easily mounted into a 12-volt cigarette lighter, and works with cars, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, watercrafts, and RVs.
A great feature of this charger is that it works even in overcast and cloudy weather when there’s no bright sunlight. It is covered in clear PV glass, which helps maximize the efficiency of solar cells. It also has a durable ABS plastic housing to protect the charger and make it more durable. It includes a built-in blocking diode that helps prevent reverse changing and a LED blinking charge indicator that shows you when it’s still charging.
Specifications
- 15 volts
- 4 watts
- Charge time: 8 – 10 hours
- Weight: 1.39 pounds
- Size: 13.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
- Built-in blocking diode prevents reverse discharge, maintains the battery lifespan, and also extends its lifespan
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Easy to use
- Covered with ultra-clear PV glass
- Durable ABS plastic housing
- Built-in diode
- LED charge indicator
- Affordable price
- The amorphous solar panel works even if the weather is overcast or dull
- Portable design
Cons
- More expensive than some cheaper alternatives
- Not water resistant
3. SUNER POWER 12V Solar Battery Charger & Maintainer
This portable 2.4 Watt trickle charger solar panel is suitable for cars, motorbikes, boats, Res, trailers, and power sports. You can purchase it in a variety of different sizes – from 2.4 Watts up to 14 Watts.
This power maintainer has an amorphous solar cell that works well in cloudy weather, even when there’s no bright sunlight. It has a boil-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge and is covered with strong glass and a durable ABS frame to ensure durability.
Using and installing this device is easy, and there’s also an extended 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support. The solar kit includes 4 suction cups, so you can mount it easily on a surface like a dashboard and 2 interchangeable clamps and cigarette connector cables.
Specifications
- Volts: 12 V
- Watts: 2.4 Watts
- Weight: 2.83 pounds
- Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 0.7 inches
- Built-in blocking diode prevents reverse discharge, maintains the battery lifespan, and also extends its lifespan
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Easy to use
- Sturdy glass cover
- Durable ABS plastic housing
- Integrated blocking diode
- Affordable price
- The amorphous solar panel works even if the weather is overcast or dull
- Portable design
- 12-month warranty
- Lifetime technical support
Cons
- Not water resistant
4. POWOXI 1.8W 12V Solar Battery Charger Maintainer
The POWOXI portable solar panel trickle charging kit is very versatile – it is suitable for a car, boat, RV, trailer, snowmobile, or motorcycle. It has an amorphous solar panel to charge in cloudy conditions and a built-in barrier diode that prevents reverse discharge. It’s easy to use and maintenance-free, plus it has the added benefit of being weather resistant. To ensure greater durability, it has heavy-duty plastic housing.
This solar charging kit has a CE/ROHS certification and a free 12-month warranty. It uses SAE connectors and heavy gauge wiring which provides up to 1.8 watts of power. It also has a useful indicator light to show when it’s charging.
Specifications
- Volts: 12 V
- Watts: 1.8 Watts
- Dimensions: 14.8 X 5.2 X 3 in
- Weight: 2.8 lbs
Pros
- Weather-resistant
- Amorphous solar panel for charging in all weather conditions
- CE/ROHS certification
- 12-month warranty
- Lightweight design
- Easy to use
- Heavy-duty plastic housing
- Built-in diode
- Affordable price
- Portable design
Cons
- Not waterproof
5. Topsolar 20 Watt 12 Volt Solar Trickle Charger
This Topsolar 20 Watt, 12V solar panel battery charger and maintainer is portable and lightweight and used for charging cars, boats, RVs, trucks, and motorcycles. It’s also suitable for wet batteries, EFB batteries, SLA batteries, deep cycle batteries, and AGM batteries.
It comes with a cigarette lighter plug and alligator clips, a heavy-duty DC plus with an extension cord and is easy to use. An indicator light shows when it’s charging or if you’ve connected it incorrectly.
It’s lightweight, portable, and durable – being made of waterproof materials. It has a safety built-in circuit to prevent overcharging and reverse charging. This solar panel kit comes with a 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support.
Specifications
- Volts: 14.4 volts
- Watts: 20 watts
- Weight: 1.04 pounds
- Size: 14.17 x 13.19 (in)
Pros
- Waterproof
- 12-month warranty
- Lifetime technical support
- Lightweight design
- Easy to use
- Portable design
- Indicator light
- Safety circuit to prevent overcharging/reverse charging
Cons
- More expensive than other solar panel kits
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Solar Trickle Charger
Hopefully, this article has provided valuable information on the best solar trickle charger for marine battery use. Since choosing the right trickle charger can be confusing and time-consuming, it’s best to know what use you will make of it.
Below are several criteria to help make an informed decision about which model to buy. The final choice will depend on your exact battery power requirements.
- Power and wattage – you will need at least 12 volts to charge a boat battery.
- Purchase price: look for value and a price that suits your budget.
- Design: look for a portable, durable design, and preferably waterproof one.
- Warranty: check for any warranty or after-sales support.
- Materials: certain rechargeable battery kits are made from more durable materials than others – plastic and aluminum are more weather resistant.
- Power source: check that the power source is compatible with the intended use.
Final Thoughts on Portable Marine Battery Solar Chargers
Using a solar-powered charger is eco-friendly and cheap, but you must choose the right one for your boat. The information provided in this buying guide should help you understand how solar charger kits work and what to look for when buying them. Portability, durability, quality, efficiency, design, price, and warranties are all important things to consider when choosing the best solar trickle charger for marine battery use.