The issue of using the obvious benefits of solar energy to charge motorcycle batteries is one that has advantage and opportunity, but also frustration and difficulty in equal measure.
Solar chargers are a great concept, but even in good sunlight they deliver low power, slowly.
Not knowing how the charging is going and the status of the battery at any given time in the process, is one of the biggest issues when using a solar panel to charge. However, TecMate say that their OptiMate Solar controllers provide that information at a glance – battery status, and even if there is sufficient sun to charge the battery.
The OptiMate Solar controller is light and small enough to be located at the battery, hanging directly off the fitted battery lead, instantly allowing you access to full information at a glance - such as if there is sufficient sunlight (and therefore solar power) to charge the battery at all, and if there is sufficient power for a charge, is it charging or maintaining the battery? Best of all, it will tell you if and when the battery is ready to deliver.
Unhappy owners of standard 12V solar panels can add an OptiMate Solar charger kit and instantly improve their ability to work with the solar charging process. There is a choice of two options - the TecMate TM520 Solar charger kit works on 12V batteries, and the TM521 Solar charger kit will convert a standard 12V solar panel into a 6V battery charger.
Both kits are delivered with high quality cable accessories, including the O-1 weatherproof battery lead and O-4 OptiMate battery clips that connect directly to the OptiMate charge controller, as well as a polarity converter for other brands of solar panel.
If you don't have a solar panel, but would like to use solar power if the experience can be made user-friendly and reliable, then the TM-524 OptiMate Solar charge kit includes a high quality 6W solar panel that comes with 3m/10ft output lead that ends in the OptiMate charge controller. An SAE in-line connection allows the cable to be extended in case you plan to mount the panel further away.
TECMATE
www.tecmate.com