Solar battery chargers

[GTA23109a]

Does anyone have any experience with solar car battery chargers?? I bought a 5w solar panel with a cigarette lighter adapter from Northern Tool. It's supposed to be a 12v "car charger" but I set it outsied and hooked my multimeter up to it and it makes almost 24 volts! Now I'm not an electrician, but common sense tells me that if I hook up a 24v panel to my truck's 12v system, that going to be no bueno. Has anyone ever messed with these things before??

 

[hondarider552]

eco friendly are you??

 

[JD Dave]

I just bought one to try a few days ago. A friend of mine put one in all of his equipment for the winter when they aren't being used and he said they worked very well. I bought one because they were $14. I'll try and check the volts on mine tomorrow.

 

[GTA23109a]

eco friendly are you??

LOL, not quite. Sometimes my truck sits for a few days or even a week without being driven. The batteries act like they need a little help, so I figured a solar panel on the dash would be easier than running an extension cord and a charger out across the lawn!