Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer

by Sunforce

Product Features

• Charges 12-volt batteries and creates 1.8 watts of energy
• Works with automobile, motorcycle, tractor, boat batteries and more
• Made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells
• For indoor use--solar panel is not waterproof
• Built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge

Product Details

USA Sun and Wind Map [150kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 19 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0006JO0KG
• Item model number: 50012
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,311 in Automotive (See Top 100 in Automotive)
  • #7 in Automotive > RV Parts & Accessories > Power & Electrical > Solar Panels
  • #23 in Automotive > Tools & Equipment > Jump Starters, Battery Chargers & Portable Power > Battery Chargers

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer gives you another reason to love the sun--it can help keep your vehicle's battery charged. It provides up to 1.8 watts or 125mA of power to prevent the natural voltage drain of batteries over time. It includes both a lighter socket adapter and alligator clips to give you flexible connection options.

The Sunforce 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer is compact and easy to install

Convenient Power That Helps Keep Your Batteries Charged

The Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer lets you harness the power of the sun, the most powerful and plentiful source of energy available to us. Unlike nuclear and fossil fuels, solar power is clean and pollution-free, and the equipment requires very little maintenance to operate.

This battery maintainer is designed to stave off the natural voltage drain that 12-Volt batteries undergo over time. It can also maintain the charge of a 12-Volt battery while it is providing energy to small electronics like cell phone chargers. The Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer is constructed with durable ABS plastic and features amorphous solar cells. This unit also includes suction cups for easy in-car installation. Since it is designed for use inside of a vehicle, it is not weatherproof and should be kept dry. This battery maintainer is an ideal choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles, and more.

Sunforce Solar Panels are effective in areas of both high and lower sun exposure, making them ideal for use in the United States. View larger

About Amorphous Solar Power

Solar panels convert sunlight into an electric current, they do not store power. Amorphous solar panels are created by spraying silicon onto glass in very thin layers, and are commonly known as thin film solar panels. This process allows them to be better at generating electricity in all lighting conditions, including cloudy or shady environments. They have a maximum operating temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit, requiring virtually no maintenance. They can even withstand impacts from one-inch hailstones at 50 miles per hour.

Amorphous solar cells work in all daylight conditions--even on cloudy days. Please note that this amorphous solar panel needs to be inside the dash of a vehicle or by a window indoors as it is not waterproof.

Amorphous Silicon key points:

• Lightweight, portable, and shade tolerant
• For entry to solar or hands on solar
• Best for smaller output needs, temporary set ups, and areas that do not receive predictable sun conditions

Product Description

The Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer is the perfect solution for charging the batteries of motorcycles, automobiles, snowmobiles, tractors and more. Made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells, this unit charges in all daylight conditions, even on cloudy days. Constructed with a built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge, this solar panel is easy to install and completely maintenance-free. Just plug this solar charger into your vehicle's 12-volt lighter socket and position the panel to pick up the most daylight possible. Or, if you prefer, use the included alligator clips to connect it directly to the battery, so you can keep your lighter socket open for cell phone chargers or other accessories. Regardless of how you hook up the battery maintainer, you will always be able to start your vehicle. With a maximum temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit, the solar panel provides 1.8 Watts or 125 mA of power to prevent the natural voltage drain of batteries over time. The complete kit includes a 1.8W solar battery maintainer, suction cups for easy mounting onto windshields, 7.5ft Wire, alligator battery clamps and a 12-volt DC Plug.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works, but be careful., February 17, 2008

By 

Brian Freeman (North Chili, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Misc.)

Product works well but you need to check the output at the end of the cigarette lighter plug with voltmeter. I couldn't figure out why there was no power at the cig plug. After some investigating I realized there was a fuse inside the cig plug that was blown. Even though the blue light is flashing you'll still have no power at the plug. I slid the chrome ring off the plug and it opened up exposing a blown fuse. Hope this helps.

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sunforce Solar Battery Maintainer, July 29, 2007

By 

Howard W. Nunez - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Misc.)

I installed this battery maintainer on the dashboard of my motor home and plugged it into the cigarette lighter while the motor home was in long term storage. Since the rig faces the morning sun, the maintainer did an excellent job of keeping the battery up to charge. I am well pleased with this Sunforce Solar battery Maintainer and would recommend it to anyone in need of such a unit.

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sunforce 1.8 watt solar battery charger, October 10, 2007

By 

Paul D. von Fischer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Misc.)

I purchased this solar charger for a camping trip I had planned. Out in the high deserts of Arizona, I wanting protection that my truck battery will be charged. I have a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder with a WalMart battery. We did use the truck battery too much while camping and that next morning the battery would not turn over the truck motor. Hooked up the Sunforce 1.8W solar charger and by day end the truck started right up. LIFE SAVER!!! I would recomend the product HIGHLY!!!