Solar Battery Maintainer?

[Ironhorse]

Anyone using a solar powered battery maintainer? I have an 8N Ford tractor (converted to 12v) sitting in a shed with no electrical and it is to far from the shop to run an extension cord for a 110v. charger. Thinking about using a solar charger but have no experience with them. Are they worth a darn? Local Nothern Tool store has a 2 pack 12 volt battery maintainers on sale for $24.99 after using $5.00 coupon. Just want to keep the battery hot so don't have to pull the battery always to charge it to run the tractor.

[truckster]

We used them on our tracked vehicles in the Army when they were stored for long periods. I'd say we had about a 75% success rate, but I think the technology is better now.

[Ironhorse]

truckster, how long ago was that? I was in the 3rd Armored Div. (Spearhead)in Germany and we had LOTS of tanks and APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers) back then in late '60s. Can almost still smell the diesel on a cold winter night when we had our practice move out alerts. Guess their all antiques by now I'm sure. Not sure what that makes me,

Think I will look into these a bit more and give them a try. Gotta' be better than having to pull the battery and charge it when I want to use the tractor.

[franken]

I'd test a bit and not keep a battery on a maintainer continually. Maybe 2 weeks on and 2-4 weeks off.

[Joe Pass]

I use the Deltron battery solar maintainer on my car trailer with duel deep cycle batteries...It has the built in circuitry regulator so it won't overcharge the batteries like some of the lesser priced ones. After several years its never failed and the batteries are always topped off like I had plugged it in to the wall charger. I eventually stopped plugging in the trailer because I didn't need to. This unit is spendy $ but I got it as a gift and grown like/trust it

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

truckster, how long ago was that? I was in the 3rd Armored Div. (Spearhead)in Germany and we had LOTS of tanks and APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers) back then in late '60s. Can almost still smell the diesel on a cold winter night when we had our practice move out alerts. Guess their all antiques by now I'm sure. Not sure what that makes me,

Think I will look into these a bit more and give them a try. Gotta' be better than having to pull the battery and charge it when I want to use the tractor.

That was back in the 90s (M109 and M577). I retired last year after 25 years.