Solar 12 volt battery chargers are perfect if you have a boat, RV, or other vehicle that uses 12 volt batteries. If you’re in the market for a new 12 Volt solar charger here are our top picks.
Many of today’s best 12 volt solar battery chargers have come a long way in recent years and their price has fallen too, making them extremely worthwhile investments.
In this article, we have compared some of the top 12V solar systems on the market and answered some of the most commonly asked questions about this type of solar charger.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Tender 12V | Best Overall |  |
| ECO-Worthy 12 Volts 5 Watts Solar Trickle Charger | Budget Pick |  |
| POWOXI 7.5W-Solar-Battery-Trickle-Charger-Maintainer -12V Portable Waterproof Solar Panel Trickle Charging Kit | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Battery Tender 12V
Pros:
- Extends the life of your battery
- Easy to use
- Can power your lights
- Durable
- 5 year warranty
- 100% waterproof
- Has multiple uses
Cons:
- Takes up some space
- Only charges a parked vehicle
- Needs direct sunlight to be efficient
The design of this solar charger and mounted panel can easily be mounted on top of any vehicle. The stand is designed to tilt in all directions, ensuring that energy is absorbed efficiently. This solar charger has a 5 year warranty with no maintenance required. The panel collects 10-20% more energy than similar chargers. It can also be used indoors or outdoors.
The solar panel is only 6 watt, so it will take more than a day to fully charge a 12V battery. However, it is an excellent option for giving your battery a boost if it is almost drained.
This is the charger I have in my car, and it has worked flawlessly for a couple of years now, and it is easily my best car accessory for energy efficient living.
2. SUNER POWER 12V Solar Car Battery Charger & Maintainer
Pros:
- Effective Sunlight to Battery Charging Design
- Extends Battery Life
- Portable
- Budget Friendly
If you want to keep your vehicle battery running for as long as possible, then you need good quality solar battery chargers.
This model for example, comes with a high efficiency, 6W polycrystalline solar panel and provides backup power via the DC output. These solar charging car battery maintainers offer pure sine wave output to your vehicle. 12 Volt auto batteries are always considered batteries of preference for your vehicle since they are very easy to operate.
Moreover, they can be charged at a faster rate. The suner power solar battery maintainer comes with a 25-cm cable that works with various types of cars, electrical items, marine vehicles, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.
3. ECO-Worthy 12 Volts 5 Watts Solar Trickle Charger
Pros:
- Safe, tested for moisture, dust, and vibration
- It can be set up by anyone
- Decent price
- Lasts well, even in cold weather and rainy days
Cons:
- Plastic construction
- Won’t charge your phone if you’re out in the sun for multiple days
- Plug and play
Boasting the ability to charge a 12-volt car or boat battery, the ECO-Worthy‒s built-in blocking diode protects the battery from reverse charging, allowing the battery to discharge. If there’s a shortage of sunlight for charging the ECO-Worthy 12 volts solar trickle charger, you can use a cigarette lighter adaptor to use it as a car charger. The new addition here is the separate fuse-protected USB output port that can be used to charge phones, digital cameras, GPS receivers, and other USB devices.
The 12-volt solar charger is great for keeping the battery in a car or boat charged up. Most of them are easy to install, providing up to 5 watts of power. Simply attach the clamp-like attachments to your battery and aim the solar panel at the sun for charging. You can track the progress on the LCD display.
4. SOLPERK 10W Solar Panel，12V Solar Panel Charger Kit+8A Controller，Suitable
Pros:
- The beautiful blue panel with an iPad-like interface
- Three separate USB charging ports
- The easy grip handle
- The easy to use design
- The reliable manufacturer and team
- The inexpensive average cost
- The 12-month warranty
Cons:
- The panel can go dirty easily in some weather conditions
- The controller is usually larger than the panel
We recommend this panel as the best solar battery charger for boats. It can handle the load of your boat’s battery while also charging up in a short amount of time.
We recommend this panel as the best solar battery charger for snowmobiles. It can charge up your snowmobile’s battery in a short amount of time.
In comparison to other solar car battery charger, this solar panel is better equipped to capture the sun on a regular basis. The product can also offer cheap charging solutions in the future. Aside from being the best solar battery charger, it is also the best solar battery maintainer for auto.
5. Sunway Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer 12V Solar Panel Power Battery Charger
Pros:
- Has a long battery life
- Easy to use design
- Turns on with battery voltage
Cons:
- Cannot be plugged into a 12volt plug
- Does not come with a battery clamp
- Does not perform well on cloudy days
Designed to be connected to a battery when it is not in use, this solar panel can charge a 12volt battery in two to four days. Capable of producing around one amp of current, this solar charger is made from durable plastic material with a long 5 year warranty.
6. POWOXI 7.5W-Solar-Battery-Trickle-Charger-Maintainer -12V Portable Waterproof Solar Panel Trickle Charging Kit
Solar Panels power .5A microprocessor controlled, smart regulation circuit.
Safe to use.
Automatically shuts off.
7. MOOLSUN 12 Volt 12v Solar Battery Charger
Pros:
- One of the Most Powerful Solar Battery Charger
- Attractive Price
- Universal Usage
Lights, Home, Lawn and Garden, lawnmower, RV and Motorhome.
This solar panel charger is designed to be used as a stand alone solar panel, or can be mounted to the roof of most vehicles. For lightweight vehicle, roof mounted solar should work fine. Installation challenges arise when installing solar on a big truck or aircraft. Several vehicles have been succeed in using solar panel to charge 12 volt, including trucks, vehicles and aircrafts.
The charger can be used 12v house solar panel, 12v car solar panel, 12V poly solar panel, 12V solar panel charge controller, 12V solar battery charger, 12v solar charge controller.
8. ECO-WORTHY 10W 12V Portable Waterproof PV Polycrystalline Solar Panel System kit
Pros:
- Biggest Output
- Long Lifespan
- Easy Installation
Cons:
- Heavy
- No Panel Anti-Fade
This is the biggest output solar power battery charger for your battery charging needs, but one drawback is the weight. However, it is pretty easy to install.
It can be very useful for hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking, and a variety of outdoor activities.
It can be folded up and carried easily, and the energy saved from this product can do wonders for your battery life.
9. TP-solar 10 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Car Battery Charger 10W 12V Portable Solar Trickle Battery Maintainer
Pros:
- You can run this charger for close to 24 hours after only charging it up during the day
- It has a built-in LED indicator to let you know when the battery is fully charged
Some of the benefits of the TP-solar 10 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Car Battery Charger 10W 12V Portable Solar Trickle Battery Maintainer with Cigarette Lighter Plug & Alligator Clip for Car Boat Motorcycle Tractor Trailer Marine Rv Auto Battery include:
The solar charger can also be powered by your home’s power connection. The LCD indicator will let you know when the battery is charged and the solar panel will receive the most charge during the day when the sun is high. You can connect it to the cigarette lighter or to the solar connector depending on how you are charging it. The best point to take advantage of the sunlight is when it’s hitting your solar panel straight on.
10. SUAOKI 12V Solar Car Battery Charger
12 Volt – 18 Watt Portable Solar Battery Charger –solar charger has built-in features that prevent reverse polarity, short circuit, and over-voltage. It also comes with a safety fuse.
Polarity Protection – the power of solar and the battery are connected in parallel, so there is no need to worry about connecting the red wire to the positive, and black to the negative.
Over-Charge Protection – The solar power harnesses are connected to the battery, so there is no need to worry about whether the battery is full, invert, or short circuit. And the cable connected to the solar panel has to be connected to the main fuse outside the battery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are solar powered battery chargers any good?
As a homeowner with solar power, you might wonder why I would even bother using a solar charger for my batteries. Well, you see, I have a solar inverter that charges the batteries with AC power from the grid. It's the same power I use to charge my phone and my laptop. But when the sun goes down, my power source is gone.
But, if I had a solar battery charger, I could keep the batteries freshly charged up and ready to give me power when I needed it. Not only would I be able to power my TV, refrigerator, and lights, but I could also power my well pump and generator during blackouts.
With electricity coming from the energy grid, it's really easy to forget about electricity coming from the sun. But I now realize what a valuable resources the sun is. I can make my own electric from it if I wish, saving a lot more money and having a lot more power than I ever imagined.
What is the best solar battery charger?
The best solar battery charger is a unit that will give you decent amperage and allow you to charge multiple batteries in one go. Most quality solar chargers can do this, but some are more versatile.
If you want to figure out how much power it will take to charge a battery, then two steps must be taken. First, determine how many Amp Hours (AH) the battery has (the number of amp hours is found on the battery itself).
Next, multiply the Amp Hours by the Amps for a rough charge. For example, a battery with a 240 Amp Hour capacity requires 8 Amps of current to fill it.
These steps are important to take because many of the inexpensive solar chargers on the market only deliver 1 Amp of power. That would take 480 hours to charge the battery.
What is the best 12 volt battery charger?
If you're looking for a 12-volt charging device for the golf cart batteries that power your golf cart (or ATV, boat, etc.), then you've come to the right place. In this article, we will look at how to choose a quality 12-volt battery charger for maximum safety and effectiveness.
The first step is to understand the technology behind 12-volt battery charging. These types of batteries are the single most utilized source of electricity for small vehicles that are powered by electric motors.
Lead-acid batteries are used primarily in vehicles such as golf carts, John Deere utility vehicles, and personal watercraft. A 12-volt battery is used when the vehicle being powered requires less than 740 CCA (cold cranking amps). The exception to that is large trucks that require greater amps.
Can you overcharge a battery with solar panel?
The short answer is yes. And if you were to leave the panel attached, the battery would eventually be ruined. However, if you do just a little research, you will discover that expert's specifications recommend never overcharging a battery with a solar panel.
This means that they take into account the amount of light and heat that the battery can withstand and over a period of time of direct charging, before the battery reaches the set voltage.
Most experts suggest keeping a full charge on the cell by allowing the battery to flatten out just a bit before applying a charge again.
This should prevent the issue of overcharging from occurring. This practice also allows the battery to last considerably longer as well.
Conclusion
Choosing the best 12 volt solar battery chargers for your vehicle by 2022 goes beyond just performance considerations. The installation location and design of the charger, as well as your personal preferences and needs should all be taken into account. Use this guide to read up on the features that make up a good 12V solar charger, and then pick out the best one for yourself.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Tender 12V | Best Overall | |
| ECO-Worthy 12 Volts 5 Watts Solar Trickle Charger | Budget Pick | |
| POWOXI 7.5W-Solar-Battery-Trickle-Charger-Maintainer -12V Portable Waterproof Solar Panel Trickle Charging Kit | Upgrade Pick | |