Solar power trickle charger into cigaret lighter? 997.2 C4S

Hi all, During this lockdown period... I havent taken the car out for some time and dont imagine I will in the next couple of weeks.... I was thinking of getting a solar powered trickle charger.. any advice welcome!

I charge my 996 via the lighter socket. Not sure if the 997 socket is live with ignition off though, easy enough to test with a tyre compressor or whatever.

I've got the AA solar charge in mine as I'm hardly using it currently I may have some parasitic drag somewhere so results may differ but it only seems to slow down the dying of my battery But does ensure it has enough juice to pop the bonnet atleast And that's on a brand new Bosch s5 battery too :roll: I Need to get out in it more when this is over

Sounds very like the issue I just resolved on my own... http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=138333 The AA solar trickle charger comes with the option of an OBDII socket, rather than cigarette lighter, which maybe looks a little tidier, etc Note: you need to unplug it each time before you crank the car over

The AA 2.4 watts version is a waste of time, you need about 10 of them to keep a full charge in a battery, as Lee says, worth using so you can open the bonnet but you wont start a car with one after 2 weeks. In the depths of winter it wont even register.

Thanks all! So.. the AA one is one to avoid. was thinking of getting the TP 10W as it boasts having a circuit that protects the battery.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-solar-M...s=p_76:419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sr=8-29 there is the option of 20W but it starts getting a bit big..

You need at least 20 watt to properly maintain a battery indefinitely, 10 watts will probably be ok for a 3-4 week leave at this time of year

I hadn't left mine for long enough to notice until all this kicked off..... Last week i had to jump the car and let it run for about half an hour. It's all good now though.

I have ordered the 20W TP charger... lets see how it works! hopefully the sun keeps shining and it even charges the battery to full...? too optimistic?

How did this work out? I bought a 5W panel for inside the windscreen, and it is about useful as chocolate teapot... delays drain on a fully charged battery, but that's all.

Honestly, I dont know how well its working! I have just plugged it in and left it. I was told that if the car sits for a prolonged period it sits using less of the battery than if you were repeatedly opening the door and 'waking up' the car. So... as such I have just left it. Is there a simple way to check the charge of the battery? I guess by buying a charge meter?

Good question. I have an Antigravity battery tracker device that has bluetooth. I have it attached to the battery, so I can check voltage without "waking up" the car. The Gunson 5W panel is nicely made, but no match (from inside the windscreen) for the drain on my 996 - probably due to an old tracker somewhere...

An old tracker system on mine would flatten the battery within 7 days - totally flatten. If you email tracker they will tell you where it is located so you can remove it.

good call thanks, dont think I have a tracker but may look at getting a Antigravity battery tracker. cheers

May look at one of those battery trackers too Never heard of them before :thumb: Although I wander how much it will drain the battery itself (assuming it does run off the car battery)