Solar panels from Harbor Freight
 

Anyone ever tried using one of the smaller solar panels to keep a GT battery charged over the winter? HF makes a 7 watt that should be usable during my NEPA winters w/o a charge controller. (max output is 18V, but that would be a bright, sunny July day)

I have a five amp panel on a marine battery that keeps it fully charged even in the short, gray northern BC winter days. I know that five amp panels don't need a controller. I just searched Amazon for the best reviewed panel and bought that.

Hey Ambush, 5 amps? or 5 watts?

This one?


https://www.amazon.com/Paladin-Maint...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Oops, yes, five watt. The one I bought in the end was a Noma and I ended up buying at a local store. But yes it was one of the suction cup mount ones similar to the one you linked, just more rectangular. I wired it directly to the battery and its been running a feeder system for the last three months and the battery always says 100% even way below freezing.

7 watts will be fine. However, just a quick note, a 7 watt panel will only put out 7 watts during noon on June 21st with the panel aimed exactly at the sun. Still, they will do fine. I have several small panels for multiple mower batts.

They'll work fine.

Remember, Chinese marketing is better than Chinese manufacturing.