How to I set up storing solar energy in a spare car battery?

Posted in Green Q&A | 6 comments

My girlfriend and I have just bought a camper van, and we would like to hook up some roll up solar panels to a spare car battery so we can store energy in it to use with small electrical appliances.

I have no idea about how this could be done, if it is even possible. I would be very grateful for any help on how I might achieve this.

Thanks
Martin.
Thanks for all your replies!

The plan is to use the other battery to run small electrical appliances, phone charger, music etc, not to charge the actual car battery. I should have made that clearer to start with, I apologise. But your replies are still all helpful!

I was thinking of using the roll up solar panels that are available, does anyone know where I could buy a kit online that would contain the right battery and other components that are necessary?

Thanks for all your help!

Martin.

what kind of solar panel would i need to charge i car battery?

Posted in Green Q&A | 1 comment

i am looking to build a small solar generator to power a few lights and so forth, i have a deep cycle gel car battery, but what watt and volt solar panel would i need to charge it in an efficient amount of time? also, is it possible to hook up 2 small solar panels to one battery to charge it or would that not work? like would 2 5 watts be as good as a 10 watt?
thanks!