A portable solar car battery charger uses solar energy as the source of power. There are many advantages of solar power over conventional power sources like fuel because solar energy is clean. This means that it does not pollute the environment.
What’s more, solar energy is free once the installation costs have been met. To convert sun rays into useful power, one needs a solar panel. This principle is no different when it comes to solar car battery chargers.
Top Picks
How Does Solar Car Battery Charger Work?
The portable solar car battery charger uses the sun as its source of power. Usually, the charger has a solar panel that is portable, and you can place it on the dashboard or the roof of your car. Regardless of where you place it, make sure there is enough exposure to sunlight. The solar panel converts the sun rays to DC which charges the car’s battery. The charger comes with alligator clips which you clip to the terminals of your battery. You can also charge your battery through the cigarette lighter port in your car.
Related: Most Affordable Solar power bank for charging your Techs
There are usually two types of solar car chargers that are on the market. The first solar charger has a regulator which controls the charge that goes into the battery. The advantage of the regulated solar charger is that it prevents overcharging of the battery. The regulated battery chargers are used to ensure that your car battery does not drain when you leave the car for long periods of time. The second type of solar charger does not have a regulator.
Features of The Solar Car Battery Charger
1. Prevent Overcharge or Discharge of Your Battery
Any solar car charger worth its salt should come with a mechanism to prevent your battery from overcharging or discharging. Some have a regulator that prevents overcharging. For other brands, you have to set the current that you want to flow into your battery.
2. Ample sized wires and connectors
You might find yourself in a situation where you need to move the solar panel of your charger a long distance. A charger that comes with long wires and connectors is very ideal for such situations. The long wires will enable you to place the panels in the optimum position.
3. High Powered chargers
There are solar power panels that have a high resolution and can convert the light to power even in an overcast sky. Ideally, all solar panels can do so, but their power output is greatly reduced. You should buy solar battery chargers that are designed to work in low-light situations.
Benefits of The Solar Car Battery Charger
One of the greatest advantages of the solar car battery charger is its portability. You practically move with it wherever you go and can charge your car battery on the move. Another advantage is that the charger does not require an external source of energy, unlike the electric charger. This makes it cheaper since you do not incur additional electricity costs.
With proper usage and maintenance, the charger is guaranteed to give you service for a long period. Since you can use the cigarette port to charge your battery, you need not worry about fixing the alligator clips to the battery terminals- just plug the charger in ad off you go!
Why Solar Car Battery Charger is the Best Option
Most solar-powered chargers charge slowly which is a good thing right? Yes right. You see, when a battery charges too fast, a lot of heat is generated which reduces the shelf life of the battery. In extreme cases, rapid high voltage charging may cause the battery to explode.
As earlier mentioned, the solar chargers use the sun which is readily available, and you will not need any specialized equipment to charge your battery. This makes charging your battery very easy and convenient. The case is different with an electric charger as you would have to look for a power source to do the charging. Let’s have a look at the 10 best solar car battery chargers.
1. ACOPOWER: Solar Panel Charging Kit
- Multi-Purpose: Compatible with most solar generator and mobile device on the market, suitable for many kinds of power station, smartphones and tablets, GPS, digital cameras, etc.
- High Conversion Efficiency and Easy Installation : 120W monocrystalline photovoltaic kit was made of 3pcs 40W solar panels. Easy Installation With Pre-Drilled Hole. Each Solar Panel Comes With 12AWG Cable with Solar Male/Female Quick Connectors. Made from durable cloth, zipper and PET material. high temperature resistant. It can be hung on your RV or tent. ideal for outdoor activities such as camping, climbing, hiking, picnic.
- Feature: Equipped with 1*USB ports, 1*QC3.0 USB port (18W max), 1*DC ports and 1*60W Type-C Power Delivery. Compared with other solar panels and USB QC 3.0 (18W) ports，4X faster speedy for smartphones, tablets, laptops, lamps, power banks, MacBook Pro, ipad, switch etc. So whenever you are on the go, only a few moments of solar recharging will give you ample power in your devices.
- Kit Include: 120W Solar Panel, Anderson to DC cable, DC to DC cable, battery clamps, 10-in-1 connector for different connection ports
- Outdoor Durability: Weather-resistant, water-resistant, industrial-strength PET polymer laminated; 12 month worry-free warranty
2. Sunway: Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger
- [Simple and Very Easy to Use]---The solar battery charger panel mounts easily to the windshield or dash and conveniently plugs into your car's 12 volt cigarette lighter! Suction cup available with the solar charger. { If you need a Quick Connection16feet Extension Cable SAE Connectors with Ring Terminal Adapters for this Sunway solar charger, please search the ASIN:B073158Q24.
- [Solar Panel Power up to 1.8W]--This trickle charger will NOT overcharge your battery! Keep your 12 Volt batteries topped up with this solar battery maintainer ,which helps to manage battery drain in all seasons. The amorphous solar panel works well even in cloudy days.
- [Stronger and Durable]-This solar powered battery charger is Covered with ultra clear PV glass which is more efficient, and also with Durable ABS plastic housing which makes this solar panels charger more stronger.
- [For Any Rechargeable 12Volt Battery]--This solar battery trickle charger is the eco-friendly way to maintain the charge of any car, truck, marine , motorcycles , tractors, ATVs, snowmobiles, boat and personal water crafts or RV 12 volt battery!
- [Prevent Reverse Charging]-- With build in blocking diode to prevent reverse charging. And with Blinking LED charge indicator when charging. And the solar charger maintainer Includes cigarette lighter adapter and battery alligator terminal clamps.
3. MOOLSUN: 10W Solar Car Battery Charger
- High Efficiency and Portable: The solar panel is 10W output, the size is 15.59*6.97*0.19inch and weight is only 0.86Lbs. The solar panel voltage is 18V, with reverse diode protection. So it is simple and safe to use.
- Ultra-Portable and Comfortable: The Solar Panel Is With PET laminated and PVC Fabric, Ultra Light, Easy To Take Anywhere;
- Environment Friendly: Save Energy, Make Good Use of Unlimited Sunshine Anywhere,Best Power Resolution for All Kinds of Batteries In Remote Area For motorcycles, automobiles, snowmobiles, tractors, etc;
- Waterproof Advantage and Anti Discharge:Scratchproof Surface, Waterproof Function(some rain or water drop ok, not completely waterproof);
- Perfect Accessories:2 X Suction Cups,1 x Crocodile Clip Cale,1 x Cigarette Lighter Plug,Instruction Manual,18 - Months Warranty.
4. SUNAPEX: 20W Portable Solar Battery Charger & Maintainer
- [More efficient]: 22% high conversion rate crystalline silicon material + 95% high transmittance ETFE material, greatly improving the charging efficiency of solar chargers. The honeycomb structure increases the power generation by 10%, which can achieve the most ideal charging effect in a limited space.
- [Built-in intelligent controller]: The charging algorithm is upgraded, and the charging efficiency is increased by 10%-20%. It is automatically charged during the day and turned off at night without consuming battery power. Provides multiple protections such as overcharge protection, over discharge protection, short circuit protection, overload protection, reverse polarity protection, etc.
- [Easier to monitor]: The solar panel junction box has three-color LED indicators, which help visually monitor the working status. Solid blue-Receiving sunlight, output normal; Solid Red-Connected to battery, charging; Solid green-Battery is full; No lights on-Short circuit occurred.
- [More robust and durable]: In order to reduce the internal chipping of solar panels and reduce the conversion rate. We added a layer of PCB to make the panel more robust. Using waterproof and heat-resistant ETFE instead of PET can extend the service life by 5 times. The attached wire has been upgraded and thickened to be more durable.
- [Lightweight and portable]: The thickness is only 1/3 of the rigid panel; the weight is light, about the weight of a mobile phone, and it is easy to carry. Comes with a 3-piece SAE cable kit, plug and play, widely used in 12V batteries and DC charging equipment, such as cars, RVs, ships, ATVs, etc. (Support 12 months warranty + lifetime technical support)
5. ECO-WORTHY: 10 Watt Solar Car Battery Charger & Maintainer
- 10W 12V Solar Car Battery Charger is the perfect trickle charger/maintainer for 12V batteries of cars, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, tractors etc
- Please note that the protective plastic film on the panel surface is supposed to peel off. The cigarette plug option only works if it has constant power when the key is out of the ignition. When you start the car, please remove the solar panel from the car battery
- Charging 12V rechargeable batteries in emergency, suitable for vehicles in outdoor work or travel or camping training. Easy to install and completely maintenance-free
- Comes with the cigarette lighter adapter, 1 pair of battery clips and 4pcs PVC suckers. Unique design-high quality clips to prevent short circuit
- Environmental protection and energy saving, built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge, not only maintains the battery lifetime but also extends its usage life
6. ALLPOWERS: 60W Charging solar Kits for Car/Boat Batteries
- ☀️3-in-1: ALLPOWERS portable solar panel 60W has 2 USB ports(5V/2.4A per port) for charging your 5V devices( like smart phones) , and 1 DC output(18V/5A) for charging your laptop, portable generator or 12V car battery; No additional battery needed for charging external devices, 100% green energy.
- ☀️High Efficiency: ALLPOWERS portable solar panel 60W uses solar cells which is made from US, up to 23.5% efficiency, and the waterproof surface treatment effectively protects solar charger. ALLPOWERS foldable solar panel 60W is compatible with most solar generators in the market.
- ☀️Slim and Powerful: 60W portable solar charger is only 2.93 lb, 1/3 lighter than the same power of solar silicon. The total power increased by 1/3 in compare with the same foldable solar panel size. Unfolded Size: 36.8*20.07*0.2in, Folded Size: 12.4*7.08*1.96in.
- ☀️Simple Style: eyeholes enable easy attach portable solar panel to backpack while traveling; Portable and frame design in folded fit for outdoor, indoor, travel, camping, and RV use, no space occupy.
- ☀️Package Contents: ALLPOWERS 60W Foldable Solar Charger, 5 laptop connectors, DC 5.5x2.1mm to 5.5x2.5mm cable, 1.5m Alligator clip cable, USB cables, carabiners, instruction manual, 18 months warranty and friendly customer service.
7. Topsolar: 10 Watt Solar Panel Battery Charger
- 【Light, Simple, Durable】 Lightweight and easy to carry. It weighs only 0.48 pounds and measures 13.39*7.48 inches. Made of waterproof and durable material, the panel is waterproof all over, designed for long-term use.
- 【Excellent circuit protection】 Excellent safety circuit is built in the junction box, which can not only prevent the battery from overcharging and reverse charging but also protect and prompt the reverse connection of the circuit (when the red light is on).
- 【Plug & Play】 Heavy-duty 2.1mm x 5.5mm DC plug with an extension cord. The accessories are complete, the installation is convenient, and no professional knowledge is required. There is no need for additional maintenance of the kit, no electricity bills, as long as it faces the sun, the charger will generate electricity to trickle charge the battery.
- 【Applicable to all rechargeable 12v batteries】 As a solar battery charger and maintainer, it can safely maintain 12v batteries, such as wet batteries, gel batteries, SLA batteries, EFB batteries, AGM batteries and deep cycle batteries, etc., also suitable for Any car, motorcycle, truck, boat, tractor, RV, snowmobile, truck, etc.
- 【12-months warranty】 The solar panels you buy are of excellent quality, and come with a 12-month free warranty and lifetime technical support. You can contact us for any quality issues within 12 months (Note: Before measure the voltage, you need to activate the product by connecting to the load).
8. POWOXI: 7.5W Solar Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer
- 【Anti-reverse charging】: The solar car battery trickle charge is applied to the built-in blocking diode structure to prevent the reverse discharging. The red indicating light on under bright sunlight.
- 【Ultra-high conversion rate】: The 12v solar rechargeable battery adopts the mono-crystalline silicon solar cell to provide 20% high photoelectric conversion rate, convert luminous energy into electric energy and store it in the battery.
- 【Easy to use】: The outdoor solar battery maintainer is easy to install, convenient to be inserted in the 12v cigar lighter and can be connected to the battery with the alligator clip directly.
- 【Stronger and more durable】: The solar car charger is applied with the highly transparent and lowly iron tempered glass of high strength, strong impact resistance and wind and snow resistance
- 【12-month warranty】: The quality of your premium solar battery charger is guaranteed by CE/ROHS certifications and comes with a free 12-month warranty! If you have any questions, please contact us. Your suggestion can help us improve!
9. Suner Power: Solar Car Battery Charger and Maintainer
- [Charge Anywhere] The solar charger converts light energy from sun into 12 volt DC electricity and transported to rechargeable batteries. The charger will generate electricity current to trickle charge battery as long as there is sufficient sunlight available. US Patent Pending! Voted "Best Battery Maintainer in 2021" by CNET
- [Charger & Maintainer] The product is a solar powered battery charger and maintainer, safely charges and maintains Wet, Gel, SLA, AGM and Deep Cycle batteries, etc. Also, perfect for any cars, motorcycle, boat, marine, tractor, RV, Powersports, snowmobile, truck, etc.
- [Reverse Protection] The solar charger will not damage or over charge your battery, similarly, built-in blocking diode prevents reverse discharge, make sure no drain of your battery.
- [Durable & Strong] Covered with premium strong solar glass which could stand high loads, as well as durable upgraded ABS frame, well built for years!
- [Low Maintenance]The kit is really easy to install even for those who have no professional knowledge, plug and play. There is no additional maintenance to the kit, no electricity cost, totally environment friendly! Extended 12 months warranty + Lifetime technical support
10. Topsolar: 20W Solar Panel Car Battery
- 【Light, Simple, Durable】 Lightweight and easy to carry. It weighs only 1.04 pounds and measures 14.17 x 13.19 inches. Made of waterproof and durable material, the panel is waterproof all over, designed for long-term use.
- 【Excellent circuit protection】 Excellent safety circuit is built in the junction box, which can not only prevent the battery from overcharging and reverse charging but also protect and prompt the reverse connection of the circuit (when the red light is on).
- 【Plug & Play】 Heavy-duty 2.1mm x 5.5mm DC plug with an extension cord. The accessories are complete, the installation is convenient, and no professional knowledge is required. There is no need for additional maintenance of the kit, no electricity bills, as long as it faces the sun, the charger will generate electricity to trickle charge the battery.
- 【Applicable to all rechargeable 12v batteries】 As a solar battery charger and maintainer, it can safely maintain 12v batteries, such as wet batteries, gel batteries, SLA batteries, EFB batteries, AGM batteries and deep cycle batteries, etc., also suitable for Any car, motorcycle, truck, boat, tractor, RV, snowmobile, truck, etc.
- 【12-months warranty】 The solar panels you buy are of excellent quality, and come with a 12-month free warranty and lifetime technical support. You can contact us for any quality issues within 12 months (Note: Before measure the voltage, you need to activate the product by connecting to the load).
Conclusion
The portable solar car battery charger is not only effective, but they are also efficient. With the ease of portability and use, it makes sense to grab one for yourself. With a solar car battery charger, you no longer have to worry about your car not starting due to a low battery.
