"JJ" wrote in message news
Has anyone used or heard of anything positive regarding those new solar
powered battery chargers? I would like to put a second battery in my boat
but don`t want the hassle of taking it out to charge.

jj



You will need about a 50 watt panel for each standard sized 12v battery.
You will also need a charge controller.

Photovoltaics are the way to go in my opinion. I have four 55 watt panels
atop my bimini on my yacht and four deep cycle batteries and a charge
controller. I run refrigeration, laptops, lights, fans, anchor light, charge
cell phones, run all boat electronics and running lights and haven't had
to use my little Yamaha portable generator for over three years.

The sun supplies all my power needs. There is no noise to bother other boaters
and no moving parts to wear out. Initial cost is a little steep but the panels
are guaranteed for ten to twelve years. Unless you break them, they work
almost for a lifetime. And the best thing of all is can holler, "**** you
oil baron assholes!"

CN