Installing a pulsetech solargizer on my KJ

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:34 pm

On Canada day, I went to Montreal's old port for the big party and the Canadian Forces were there with one of their LUV (light utility vehicle) which is basically a Mercedes G-wagon adapted for their needs.

I couldn't help but to notice the little solar panel on the side of that vehicle and I really got curious about it. I find out this gizmo is actually a system that sends a pulsed signal to the battery to keep it from sulfating, keep it fully charged and make it last much longer. I purchased one yesterday for those -20 winter days where my truck can sit in a parking lot for as long as 15 hrs in a row and has a hard time starting. It should keep the battery in good shape. The military is using this system everywhere, keeping their equipment in a ready state even if it's been sitting for a few weeks without moving. By the way, the solargizers can go up to the voltage to which they're made for: a 24V solargizer can fit with a 12V or 6V battery.Here is the link for whoever is interested: http://www.chargingchargers.com/pulsetech/is-24-l.html

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:59 pm

Cool.

Where are you going to mount the solar collector?

05infernoCRDL · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:14 am

i also read it is for lead acid batteries... what is the safety for gel cell... like the optimas most of us have

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:26 am

The specs says it should be good for every type of batteries including gel cells. I think I'll install the solar panel on the roof behind the light bar where it will receiver the most sun. My second option is at the back on the driver side beside the rear window (almost the same as the g-wagon). It's a really interesting system and there's plenty of those on e-bay.

Squeeto · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:56 pm

Quote:

The specs says it should be good for every type of batteries

Pulsating circuits to desulfate batteries are usually damaging to lithium cells. I wonder if running this while charging your cell phone would be an issue?

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:26 am

It shouldn't be a problem. Your cell phone charger should have a filter to eliminate the spikes (a capacitor at the beginning of the circuit in parallel with the appliance) and the battery should also act as a capacitor (which is why the solargizer controller has to be installed a max of 3' away from the battery. On top of that, the current on the pulse is limited to the solar panel power which is not that much. The only component feeling the effects of the solargizer should be the battery if it's installed properly.

onthehunt · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:35 am

I so want one of those Mercedes. They're just a little out of my price range!!

Squeeto · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:28 pm

e_poirier2004 wrote:

It shouldn't be a problem. Your cell phone charger should have a filter to eliminate the spikes (a capacitor at the beginning of the circuit in parallel with the appliance) and the battery should also act as a capacitor (which is why the solargizer controller has to be installed a max of 3' away from the battery. On top of that, the current on the pulse is limited to the solar panel power which is not that much. The only component feeling the effects of the solargizer should be the battery if it's installed properly.

De-sulfators can come with a peak meter off of the battery. This is to show how sulfated the batteries really are and these can read far higher than 12v. The circuit doesn't pull much current but surely does break down the "capacitor" effect of the battery. It wouldn't desulfate if it didn't do this. The small inductor\capacitor in most chargers would have little chance then.

Still a good idea to see if the manufacterer has included a better filter on board for this concern.

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:42 pm

05infernoCRDL wrote:

i also read it is for lead acid batteries... what is the safety for gel cell... like the optimas most of us have

Optimas are not Gel Cel they are Spiral Core.

The US Army uses these as well, since 2002.

gmctd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:25 pm

The 3' requirement is not a physical thing, but rather an electrical requirement - you can mount the unit directly above the battery, but the connecting wires should be at least 3' in length to allow for correct system inductance

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:26 pm

Just installed it, looks pretty good. I purchased for 35$ off ebay when it's going for over 300$ in Canada. I thought I was buying a used one but it came it the original box with the installation kit. It was pretty straight forward. I glued the solar panel behind the light bar on the roof and ran the wire through the light bar. Very simple and you also have a led on the controller to let you know when it's working (when there's UV). Nice little system.

Lancer · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:47 am

Keep us informed about how you get on with it - especially in winter!

Installing a pulsetech solargizer on my KJ

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