give it a try atleast

[midlifekrisiz]

picked up one of these solar chargers today ....see how good it works.


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/scan.jpg

[2LZ]

Swear by them here in the PRK! :D
My father-in-law has a small unit he keeps his RV up with in storage times ansd also, I have a cousing who travels and does trade shows. He's got the 3 panel unit from harbor Freight, has it hooked up to a power inverter and his dual battery set up and runs dang near everything off of it without taxing his batteries!
After the initial purchase, it's free electricity! :D

[midlifekrisiz]

well i am happy so far....just had one of our maintainers here at work bring me over a multi meter and this thing puts out 14 volts and the battery is charging ....happy camper here. :D

[FastDoc]

Guys who leave old beater cars at the airport for basic ground transportation use them and they seem to work well. Not sure what brand but they are likely all similar.

[katoranger]

I have heard of people using them to charge batteries for computers and other equipment at remote locations.

[FastDoc]

Just don't hook it up backwards or it will drain your battery and send the energy back to the sun, accelerate global warming, and cook us all for sure. :wink:

[katoranger]

We took the little peg perego tractor out tonight. It has a 12volt battery.

Solar charger = endless riding. :lol:

[SpudRider]

Are you going to attach the solar charger to one of your powersport vehicles, MidLife? If so, please do post a photograph of the installation. :)

Spud :)

[Jim]

Just don't hook it up backwards or it will drain your battery and send the energy back to the sun, accelerate global warming, and cook us all for sure. :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[SpudRider]

Just don't hook it up backwards or it will drain your battery and send the energy back to the sun, accelerate global warming, and cook us all for sure. :wink:
8O

Spud :lol:

[midlifekrisiz]

Are you going to attach the solar charger to one of your powersport vehicles, MidLife? If so, please do post a photograph of the installation. :)

Spud :)


lol noooo but i figured that this could be a good "green" way to keep the batteries (gona get two more) charged rather than hooking up battery tenders to the atv's ...that and we can take them with us when we go for a weekend and don't need an outlet to charge them up if needed.

[davidsonsgccc]

i wish i had thought about that on the gator truck my 5yr old rides. she tries to keep up with big brothers and just cant compete with ride time of the atv's gas engines. i already have a car battery in the back of it. it lasts longer than the original and is easier to charge.

oops i think i did a thread highjack.

[katoranger]

I am thinking that it would give additional ride time on the little vehicles.

The sun charging while riding and/or sitting out in the yard.

[SpudRider]

I am thinking that it would give additional ride time on the little vehicles.

The sun charging while riding and/or sitting out in the yard.
That makes good sense to me, Allen. :) I'm sure the little guys would enjoy the looks of the solar charger, as well as the added ride time. ;)

Spud :)

[midlifekrisiz]

I am thinking that it would give additional ride time on the little vehicles.

The sun charging while riding and/or sitting out in the yard.
That makes good sense to me, Allen. :) I'm sure the little guys would enjoy the looks of the solar charger, as well as the added ride time. ;)

Spud :)

i duno about attaching it to the ride permently.....do not think it is ment for that....but as a trickle charger seems to be good so far.
there is a cord with wire ends on it that you can attach permently to the battery with a plug on it that is pluged into the panel when needed.

[midlifekrisiz]

an add on to this thread instead of starting another.


went to wally world and spent $130 on a couple of (hopefully) investments


1500 lbs $69 but need to fab a mount for it......weld&grind?????

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads082.jpg


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads084.jpg

and air pump and slime $29 .... need to get alligator ends for the air pump

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads083.jpg

hoping that these will do us for a little wile

[SpudRider]

That's a nice winch! I also like the air pump. :D

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

What makes you think I know how to weld and grind? :lol: Ok, I'll work for beer.

My buddy at Fountain Tire says to get rid of the slime. He installed tubes for TurboT, Jim and me. No more bead leaks. Cheap too.

[midlifekrisiz]

the slime is for "just in case" for out on the dusty trail.

kinda weird that the winch doesn't come with mounting brackets :?

I hope that it isn't to heavy for the front of her atv. :lol:

[katoranger]

Slime is okay for disposable wheels and tires. It makes a real mess if you need to take the tire of the wheel later. Also will eventually corrode the rim.

That said, I still use it. Just not on things I care about.

I have one of the winches for my cub tractor. Haven't installed it yet. Its not that heavy, but be sure that you battery is up to the task.

[midlifekrisiz]

brand new batt so we should be ok with the winch

[midlifekrisiz]

well my curiosity paid off.....went for a coffee this morning and decided to drop in on a friends shop.:( he isn't there anymore....so i turn around and see another shop open with a bunch of fabricating machines. I ask the guy if he has any scrap metal....turns out he has tons.
told him what i needed and he gives me a piece of alluminium plate FOR FREE!

guess who is mounting a winch today?

[SpudRider]

well my curiosity paid off.....went for a coffee this morning and decided to drop in on a friends shop.:( he isn't there anymore....so i turn around and see another shop open with a bunch of fabricating machines. I ask the guy if he has any scrap metal....turns out he has tons.
told him what i needed and he gives me a piece of alluminium plate FOR FREE!

guess who is mounting a winch today?
It's good to hear some people are still generous, and don't worship the "almighty dollar." :D

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

Good score! The winch is heavy enough, so it's nice to save some weight with aluminum.

[midlifekrisiz]

here we go!!!


plate & winch mounted and working (extra holes were there when i was given the piece)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads085.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads086.jpg

double nutted and red lock tite

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads088.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads089.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads090.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads091.jpg


did a load test with the quad running and using the winch and was still generating a very strong charge so now to go out and test it either monday or next weekend.

now need to find a small rollers for the front
:D

[SpudRider]

That looks good and solid, MidLife. :) The gentlemen gave you a nice, big, thick piece of aluminum! ;)

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

Princess is likely the cheapest source for a roller fairlead.

[midlifekrisiz]

Princess is likely the cheapest source for a roller fairlead.


ya we checked it out last night online...$40.00 for the fairlead and $10 for a water proof jacket for the winch as well.

[Weldangrind]

I've seen the fairleads go for half of that when on sale. I've never noticed the jacket; good idea. :idea:

[midlifekrisiz]

today's project wile the wife is off to a dress fitting for her daughters wedding.

take an old piece of 45'd checker plate (that i have been hanging onto for a wile) and turn it into a bracket to hold a gas can on her front rack.

pics to come later :)

[midlifekrisiz]

couldn't locate my dremell to clean up the edges but that can be another project.

got it all bolted in place


took this

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads093.jpg

into this

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads094.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads095.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads096.jpg

one ratchet strap and this should work fine.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/teamaerostar/quad%20fun/quads099.jpg

and I did get to test the winch today....took it out to the back yard , tied a rope around a tree, fed out some line, put the quad in reverse with the brake on and winched.......it dragged me and the bike accross the back yard all the way to the tree....mind you that seems to be quite taxing on the battery but the quad was charging and is now on a charger so it should be good to go.

[katoranger]

Most likely you won't be winching with the brake on and in reverse either.

[midlifekrisiz]

Most likely you won't be winching with the brake on and in reverse either.


lol no your right but was the best way to test it in the back yard :wink:

[Weldangrind]

Was that with or without a snatch block?

[midlifekrisiz]

Was that with or without a snatch block?


no snatch block just a rope around the tree and the winch hooked to the rope

[Weldangrind]

Then those are excellent results. A snatch block will double your pulling power.