STUBBORN
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2021
- Messages
- 219
Here is one way how to keep your motorcycle battery trickle charged
when storing your Honda Trail 125 without using a 120 VAC outlet.
1. Obtain a 20 or 30 watt 12 vdc Monocrystal solar panel charging kit.
(The 10 watt panel may be too small.)
(Mono-crystal is much better than Poly-crystalline - but that's another discussion.)
Example:
2. Add the included SAE battery charging cable to your bike's battery. *
Connect the red wire to the (+) terminal.
Connect the black wire to the (-) terminal.
Dangle the SAE connector out from under the seat.
*There's a video on how to install this on this FORUM.
3. I added a 12 foot SAE cable extension cable since my old Ford van is wicked long. (Amazon $12)
The cables I used were all #16 AWG red and #16 AWG black (1,5 mm2 EU).
The cables from the solar panel come covered in a thin black plastic shielding.
Wire length was 40 feet (about 12 M round trip).
(2 feet in the bike + 12 feet in the extension cable + 6 feet in the solar panel
= 20 feet RED + 20 feet BLACK for DC + 2 SAE connectors for measuring and
considering all the various and sundry voltage drops.)
Installation time including:
3 hours
Results:
I set the solar panel to 45 degrees.
Placed it carefully on the dashboard.
(I know. I'm at 43.25 north lat., but there was no screw hole for that!)
Plugged in the SAE cables.
Noticed the MPPT controller changed from blinking green to blinking red?
I checked the instructions and this was supposed to be correct?
Of course, this makes absolutely no sense to me!
One would expect Blinking Green (ready) = the solar panel is working OK
changing to steady yellow (charging) or to steady green for fully charged.
(Any OFF or RED indication is BAD. Either not working, or Night, no sun or reversed polarity.)
I tested the system charging current on a typical NH cloudy day with the bike OFF, wired
connected to the solar panel and the panel sitting on the dash under a dirty windshield.
I measured 12.4 vdc at 1.14 amps (14 watts) at 12:30 EST after required lunch break.
The charging current increased a bit when I turned the Trail's Ignition key to ON.
The panel label says the trickle charge is 0.2 amps at 13.8 vdc floating charge voltage.
I'm still waiting to see that...
Setup
I used an inexpensive (MADE IN CHINA) 2 ft x 1 ft monocrystal solar panel with a
12 volt 30 watt MPPT controller that can charge even when covered in snow.
(Hmmpf, We'll see that soon enough. Won't we, then?)
Labels
10 watt 20 watt 30 watt
I chose the 30 watt model since the solar panel was much larger, hence iy collects more solar energy.
I will never get 30 watts out of this setup but its only a wee small motorcycle battery anyways.
Well, you know, even 0.2 amps trickle charge should be enough.
when storing your Honda Trail 125 without using a 120 VAC outlet.
1. Obtain a 20 or 30 watt 12 vdc Monocrystal solar panel charging kit.
(The 10 watt panel may be too small.)
(Mono-crystal is much better than Poly-crystalline - but that's another discussion.)
Example:
SUNER POWER 12 VDC Waterproof Solar Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer - 30 Watt Solar Panel Built-in Intelligent MPPT Solar Charge Controller + Adjustable Mount Bracket + 3 SAE Connection Cable Kits
Amazon $60 for 10 watt, or $80 for 20 watt, or $90 for 30 watt2. Add the included SAE battery charging cable to your bike's battery. *
Connect the red wire to the (+) terminal.
Connect the black wire to the (-) terminal.
Dangle the SAE connector out from under the seat.
*There's a video on how to install this on this FORUM.
3. I added a 12 foot SAE cable extension cable since my old Ford van is wicked long. (Amazon $12)
OYMSAE 12 Feet SAE to SAE Extension Cable Quick Disconnect Connector 16AWG, for Automotive, Solar Panel Panel SAE Plug (12FT (16AWG))
(The cable's polarity was wrong but so was the SAE cable from the solar panel.)
(A polarity changer comes with the cable.)
The MPPT controller LED turns steady RED if the SAE cable polarity is reversed.
In the USA, RED Wire is usually connected to a battery (+) positive terminal.
In China, AUS, the UK and elsewhere this may be the opposite with black connected to the positive terminal.
I don't know.
Only been in USA.
The cables I used were all #16 AWG red and #16 AWG black (1,5 mm2 EU).
The cables from the solar panel come covered in a thin black plastic shielding.
Wire length was 40 feet (about 12 M round trip).
(2 feet in the bike + 12 feet in the extension cable + 6 feet in the solar panel
= 20 feet RED + 20 feet BLACK for DC + 2 SAE connectors for measuring and
considering all the various and sundry voltage drops.)
Installation time including:
tool and transportation time,
OSHA safety briefing,
setup & tear down time,
breakfast,
dwarf miner union coffee/tea breaks,
lunch break,
mandatory pub visit:
3 hours
Results:
I set the solar panel to 45 degrees.
Placed it carefully on the dashboard.
(I know. I'm at 43.25 north lat., but there was no screw hole for that!)
Plugged in the SAE cables.
Noticed the MPPT controller changed from blinking green to blinking red?
I checked the instructions and this was supposed to be correct?
Of course, this makes absolutely no sense to me!
One would expect Blinking Green (ready) = the solar panel is working OK
changing to steady yellow (charging) or to steady green for fully charged.
(Any OFF or RED indication is BAD. Either not working, or Night, no sun or reversed polarity.)
I tested the system charging current on a typical NH cloudy day with the bike OFF, wired
connected to the solar panel and the panel sitting on the dash under a dirty windshield.
I measured 12.4 vdc at 1.14 amps (14 watts) at 12:30 EST after required lunch break.
The charging current increased a bit when I turned the Trail's Ignition key to ON.
The panel label says the trickle charge is 0.2 amps at 13.8 vdc floating charge voltage.
I'm still waiting to see that...
Setup
I used an inexpensive (MADE IN CHINA) 2 ft x 1 ft monocrystal solar panel with a
12 volt 30 watt MPPT controller that can charge even when covered in snow.
(Hmmpf, We'll see that soon enough. Won't we, then?)
Labels
10 watt 20 watt 30 watt
I chose the 30 watt model since the solar panel was much larger, hence iy collects more solar energy.
I will never get 30 watts out of this setup but its only a wee small motorcycle battery anyways.
Well, you know, even 0.2 amps trickle charge should be enough.