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Old 17th April 2020, 10:14 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Chilterns, almost over HS2!
Posts: 8,377
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There might be another thread more recent/relevant, but I decided to buy a solar "battery maintainer" a couple of weeks ago.

Based on a recommendation on another forum I went for one that "looks" very similar to the Aldi one that started this discussion, but it's branded "AA" (Product code AA4185) and has an OBD connector. No specific output mentioned though there is a larger model advertised as 4.8W; I didn't go for that.

I tested it at over 21V and 0.15A output in good sun (about 3W); same inside the car behind a standard-tint windscreen. It seems to be maintaining the battery at an adequate voltage (I've been monitoring it roughly every other day); I started it today for the first time since purchase and it turned over briskly.

I'm not too worried about the battery running down, other than it doesn't do it any good. Charging it up again and entering radio codes etc. isn't a big issue for a D2 fortunately being rather old-school in that regard. Our much newer Volvo on the other hand with twin batteries, stop-start etc. would probably be a right royal PITA if it went flat.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 17th April 2020 at 10:19 AM.
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