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Solar feeder chargers
#7995211
10/02/20 01:08 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,522
Reloder28
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Does yours keep up with the battery depletion? First time I have tried one & it seems to NOT be working as I thought it would. I put a voltmeter on my feeder & it is losing 1/10 volt per day.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995224
10/02/20 01:21 AM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,224
papa45
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I've never had any problems. Are you sure your battery is good? Will it discharge on it's own if it's not connected to anything?
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995265
10/02/20 02:02 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,522
Reloder28
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Battery is new. Do these chargers have a life expectancy?
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995269
10/02/20 02:08 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
supersixfour
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With 6 volt systems the batteries do run down after extended periods with a working solar panel and fresh battery. I have had no issues with any of my 12 volt systems. They run and run without any issues as long as the panel is providing power and the battery holds a charge.
NRA Life Member
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995280
10/02/20 02:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,951
Sniper John
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gumshoe
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The solar panel might not have a blocking diode built in. Without one it can drain power from the battery at night or over long times of cloud cover or shade. If it's a 12 volt battery, you could have a 6 volt panel hooked up to it. Check the power coming out of the panel. I bought a used feeder last year that had a 12 volt battery that was not keeping up. I found the solar panel on it was a 6 volt. I disconnected the panel until I replace either the battery or the panel to match them up correctly. And to your last question, I don't know about life expectancy, but I do know they can go bad.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995575
10/02/20 02:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
Panhandler
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148 |
Which solar panels are you using? I've had issues with the Academy brand ones, but have boss buck now and they have worked good. I've also had more issues with 6v panels than 12v panels.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995617
10/02/20 02:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,364
Archer Anthony
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could just be defective. I used 6v batteries and solar panels for years with minimal issues. Most of my issues were factory defect right out of the box. I used wildgame innovations panels
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995644
10/02/20 03:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Make sure a squirrel or rat has not chewed on your solar panel wire. Could be in a place that is hard to see and that could be your issue. I have had solar panels that go bad after 10 yrs from constant direct sun. Mine now are turning yellow and not getting the full amount of sun they used to get when they were brand new.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995657
10/02/20 03:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,063
Wilhunt
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The wire on your charger may be reversed they are positive and negative.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7995980
10/02/20 06:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260
Texas Dan
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Does yours keep up with the battery depletion? First time I have tried one & it seems to NOT be working as I thought it would. I put a voltmeter on my feeder & it is losing 1/10 volt per day. With thoughts of checking the simple things first, have you measured the voltage drop over a day with the solar panel not connected to the battery? I've found too the output of solar panels drops significantly without direct sunlight hitting them. Changes in the angle that sunlight hits a panel can also vary its output.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 10/02/20 07:11 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7996025
10/02/20 07:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 786
BassBuster1
Tracker
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Tracker
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One of mine, 3rd year with the same battery and charger, never turned the feeder off, Academy brand. I am impressed, I did not think it would last this long.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7996026
10/02/20 07:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 786
BassBuster1
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Tracker
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Posts: 786 |
Oh and I face the charger South, not sure if that matters.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7996035
10/02/20 07:41 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
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Posts: 39,549 |
Is the battery you are using a rechargeable battery?
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7996041
10/02/20 07:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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Check for good contact or moisture, frayed wires or even crimped wires. replaced the wires and connectors on my when the coons started hanging on them.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7996412
10/03/20 01:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,052
glocker17
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Limiting factor is battery life, my panel is 10+ years old but I'm on my 3rd battery. Should be trouble free for several years, check you output in full sun, not just Voltage but actual mA output.
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7997087
10/03/20 07:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,114
Flashprism
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I use the 6 volt 19.99 panels from Academy, I just had to change my first panel after 8 years. Batteries seem to last 2 or 3 but my panels almost never fail. Really pleased with performance. I have 5 feeders running for 4 months
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: BassBuster1]
#7997602
10/04/20 12:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260
Texas Dan
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Oh and I face the charger South, not sure if that matters. If you've ever played around with a solar panel with a volt meter you know it matters a lot. The angle at which you tilt it can improve performance as well.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 10/04/20 12:06 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Solar feeder chargers
[Re: Reloder28]
#7997946
10/04/20 06:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,309
Stump_jumper
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Posts: 3,309 |
Battery is new. Do these chargers have a life expectancy? Test the voltage output of solar panel. Is a Wildgame battery? Wildgame anything suck. We will not use their batteries. We buy all of ours at Brown's feed in Lampasas.
2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4 2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
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