Battery Tender 021-1162 Solar Panel Charger Controller

I've used it for 7 months now to charge alternately a 32AHr, 26AHR and 8Ahr deep cycle AGM batteries and it has done a great job. I have a 30 watt monocrystalline solar panel wired directly to it and connect it directly to my batteries using various quick disconnect connectors. I monitor the state of discharge (with a multimeter)and never let my batteries fall below 75% of rated capacity (as recommended by battery manufacturers for best practice and long life of battery.) The Battery Tender as described is a 3 stage charge controller and will put the most voltage out when the battery needs it and cuts back as it approaches full charge down to a trickle level. All the batteries quickly recharge even on partial sun days. Takes 3-6 hours of sun on the biggest battery less on the others. Keeping them topped off is easier (better for it), faster to recharge, and simple to rotate each bettery for its day or shared day of charging.

I've monitored its output to the various batteries and it does its job as described at manufacturers website.

Charge light lets you know when it is working and indicates what stage its at by color or flashing. Again just as described.

I use 12 volt DC LED lights and and connected to my inverter some AC CFL lights and charge all my phones and run my laptop a few hours EVERYDAY! If you have the right expectation of what wattage you planned to use and think about the set-up you can make a nice daily use (or emergency use) system with these components.

I am very pleased with the product to used for a small solar systems using a 45 watt panel or less. I plan to buy a few more and connect up lights, radios, in other rooms all over the house. My way of going green.

I also charge my AA, AAA rechargeable batteries with a DC connectable battery charger off my 32AHr battery too!

Saves me a lot of money on batteries and I use more battery operated devices now and the family enjoys the whole system. Use the Battery Tender only to charge batteries and do not try to run other things from it. That is not what is was designed for.

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1 YEAR LATER: Now Feb 2013 AND THIS PRODUCT IS STILL SERVING ME WELL AND AS DESCRIBED. GREAT FOR SMALL TARGET INSTALATIONS!

I would rate this higher, but the charger I received sounded like a screw or electrical component fell off inside of the sealed charger body and is rattling around inside. I am hoping that it does not lead to a short circuit. I needed it for a project so I installed it and it appears to be working OK so far. Otherwise, I like the simplicity of this product. Easy to wire into my solar powered fountain project...

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This works as advertized. I have used it for about a month on my lawn tractor that was in a shed for the winter, It took about a week(After the modifications below) for it to fully charge the battery because it and discharged some over the winter, I have several complaints\suggestions.

1) It has input and output terminal on opposite ends with screws to attach the wires

There is no shielding or covers over these blocks, which leave them open to shorting

if they touch any thing metal.

2) It does not come with any wires like other Battery Tender products. Most panels have a two wire

modular plug which you would need to cut to use with this charger. To solve this I purchased a

"Trailer Wiring Kit 2 Pole Flat Set" from one of the major Auto repair\parts

national chains and cut it in half. I soldered ring connectors from a wiring Kit rather

than crimping them. After attaching the wires, I covered the exposed terminals screws with

electrical tape to prevent an accidental short circuit.

3) I originally had four 1.5 W panels, which did not charge the battery. After I added a

added a 7.5 W panel for a total of 10.5w (one 7.5w and two 1.5 w panels, it worked fine.

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1 APR 13 updated review-This controller does not work with 6v batteries; I made the same mistake and when I thought it said 5v to 45v (volt) and it is 5w to 45w (watt) as another reviewer stated. The charge light illuminates but it does not charge, it only appeared to. No damage was done to my battery as my solar panel output is max 9v. My search for a 6v controller continues.

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I use this device in conjunction with my solar battery charger to maintain my motor cycle battery during longer periods of storage. Works great and prevents overcharging.

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