"Albert T Cone" wrote in message
...
Carl Gibbs wrote:

"Albert T Cone" wrote in message
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Putting it behind glass (e.g. inside the car) also removes the UV, which is
a good thing from a skin health point of view, but is also the region of
the spectrum containing the high energy photons from which a god fraction
of the energy you net comes from.

It'd be mounted outside so no problem there
Fair enough, but then you have to worry about the thing being properly
weather-sealed. Also (and this probably isn't really a concern for you) you
get UV-degradation of the silicon in the panel, giving a gradual degradation
of performance over several years; this is one of the main reasons that
photelectric cells basically never pay for themselves.

Furthermore, as Steve F mentioned, the silicon panel itself, in the absence
of light, will actually drain the battery slightly (the better ones have
the diodes to prevent this); if the weather is against you, then it is
quite definitely possible for the nighttime drain to exceed the daytime
charge, and leave you worse of than you are without it!

If I were you, I'd fit a battery isolator switch somewhere inconspicuous.

Entrance to the car is via electronic solenoid though. Plus I wouldn't be
able to switch the alarm on which means invalidated insurance.
Ah, forgot about the funky door button thing. How do you get in with a
flattery? An external 12V jack? You could always fit a builders van style
hasp and padlock to the door...

I need to think about this a bit more I think. And check what the actual
current drain is.
Aye, good plan. I might also look at getting a deep cycle battery, possibly
someting like the optima things that Burgerman used to flog. It'll still
discharge, of course, but it won't lose capacity as quickly as a result, and
the v.low internal resistance means that it'll still start the car even when
damn near empty. I don't think they're cheap, mind.

2 Odysseys will fit where a normal battery would go. Put in a 4x4 dual battery
isolator and you're golden. One is out of the circuit with the car off and is
only used for cranking.

Fraser