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The Solar Charger From Sunsei

Sunsei produces a wide range of devices that use solar panels to convert solar energy into electricity, which can then be used in order to recharge batteries or power small electrical devices. The type of solar charger you want to get depends on what you are trying to power with your solar charging device. Following is a brief description of the different solar chargers and what they can be used for.

The Sunsei Solar Charger 135 (see Sunsei Portable Solar Charger) is mainly useful as a “trickle charger” (also called “float charger”). Trickle charging is “charging a battery at the same rate as a battery self-discharges”.

All batteries self discharge, as a natural course of events, even when not in use. This is why, when you leave a vehicle standing unused for a long period of time, you can come back to it and find its battery flat.

To prevent a battery from self-discharging, you can attach a trickle charging device to the battery of your vehicle. This will prevent it from running flat or losing charge.

The Sunsei Solar Charger 135 was made specifically as a trickle charger, for vehicles such boats, cars, ATVs, etc.

“Trickle Charging” is not the same thing as actually charging a battery.

A battery does not need a lot of charge in order to remain fully charged. So you don’t need a large quantity of energy to maintain it at its optimum level.

The Sunsei Solar charger will work just as well inside, as it will outside, as long as the solar cells are exposed to sunlight. It is perfectly workable, for example, to leave it behind the windshield of your car. The solar charger compensates for the natural power drain in your batteries, as well as the battery drain caused by electrical systems in your car (which are always operating, regardless of whether your engine is running or not).

The Sunsei charger can be left outdoors. If this is done for an extended period of time, however, it is best to put a bead of silicone around the solar plate connector, so as to prevent moisture from getting into the connections.

The Sunsei solar charger will not overcharge your battery. Nor will it drain your battery if left it is left connected overnight. This is because the charger has a built-in safeguard which only allows electricity to flow from the device to the battery (and not in the opposite direction).

Most cars can be recharged directly, through a cigarette lighter socket. Be sure to check your owners manual, as some cars can’t. If this case, the battery clamps which are included with the solar charger can be used.

The Sunsei Solar Charger can remain connected to the cigarette lighter socket when the vehicle is started, or when the vehicle is in use.

The Sunsei Solar Charger 400 is similar to the Sunsei 135 Charger, except that it is a larger, more powerful version. It is capable of charging just about any type of 12v battery.

Examples of batteries that can be charged with this version are:

* Heavy-duty (stationary type) batteries
* Deep cycle (traction type) batteries
* Lead-acid automotive batteries
* Gel-cell batteries
* … And many more.

This solar panel can be installed directly to a flat surface, using screws.

Sunsei also produces a SolarGrip, which can be used to mount the panel. The benefit of using a Solargrip is that it allows one to rotate the solar panel 360 degrees, in order to position the panel for maximum efficiency. This solar panel is suitable for outdoor use, is weather-proof and capable of operating in temperatures of up to 180ºF, and it will still produce energy even when covered with up to three inches of snow.

The Sunsei solar charger 1200 can recharge fully dead batteries. It provides 1.2 amps per hour, when in full sunlight. The time it takes to charge a battery will depend on the battery you are recharging, weather conditions, latitude, atmosphere, etc. A full flat 30AH battery, for example, will recharge in roughly 25 hours.

You can use more than one panel at a time, to increase the charging rate of the battery.

As with the other Sunsei chargers, you can charge just about any type of 12v battery with this solar charger. But, because of the power of the 1200 series, it is important that you use a charge controller in conjunction with the solar panel. This protects your battery from the damage that can be caused by overcharging.

The Sunsei Solar Charger 4000, 6000, and 8000 include the same features as the above-mentioned solar panels. They are, however a lot more powerful, and can therefore be used for more demanding tasks.

In order to provide additional energy output, more than one of these panels can be used simultaneously. Special panel-to-panel connecters are available, specifically for this purpose.

You are able to recharge just about any 12-volt battery with these panels. You can also recharge banks of heavy-duty batteries. It is recommended to use deep-cycle marine batteries if you intend to run appliances on a regular basis, as these types of batteries are designed to withstand frequent charge/discharge cycles.

When charging multiple batteries it is best that all batteries are of similar type and capacity. Do not use these panels without a charge controller! Failure to use a charge controller can cause overcharge and damage the batteries.

It is also possible to run 110 volt or 220 volt appliances with these panels. In order to do this, you will need to install an inverter to change the 12 volt DC output of the panels into 110/220 volt AC respectively.

Find more information on Solar Battery Chargers