W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63

Solar trickle charger / Cig Lighter socket

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rating: Thread Rating: 2 votes, 3.00 average.
 
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 09:56 AM
  #1  
£ C43 £ AMG £'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Super Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 626
Likes: 8
From: UK
E55K AMG
Solar trickle charger / Cig Lighter socket

Hi,

read the various other posts regarding trickle chargers connecting straight to the batteries which is fine.

But is anyone using a solar power trickle charger conected through the Cig Lighter socket to supply charge to the batteries. This will save me running a mains lead into the drive way and having other things showing outdoors.

Is this a good idea, given the cars electronics?

Will it trickle charge both batteries or actually do nothing due to the split charging system?

Cheers

Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Feb 26, 2012 at 10:00 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 10:34 AM
  #2  
lowprofile's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 5
E55
I have done this on one of my other vehicles and yes it maintained the battery year round.
On the MB you would need to confirm that the cig lighter is constantly on with the vehicle off. If not, you can changed the fuse location to correct the aforementioned.
Second, I do not believe it would charged the aux battery. You would need to run an additional panel and hardwire a socket to that battery.
Last concern, do you get enough sun over there to make this worthwhile?
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 10:58 AM
  #3  
AgSilver's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 32
From: Florida-Germany-New York
2004 E55,1969 300SEL6.3,2011 ML350 BlueTec Diesel,2005 ML400 CDI
Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
Hi,

read the various other posts regarding trickle chargers connecting straight to the batteries which is fine.

But is anyone using a solar power trickle charger conected through the Cig Lighter socket to supply charge to the batteries. This will save me running a mains lead into the drive way and having other things showing outdoors.

Is this a good idea, given the cars electronics?

Will it trickle charge both batteries or actually do nothing due to the split charging system?

Cheers
I've been using a 6 watt Sunsei solar charger by ICP for years on our ML which sits outside (with a cover) in Long Island for the six months while we are in Germany. Inevitably, when we return to NY in January, it's about 20 degrees or less and the battery is showing right at 13 volts. Bottom line - - - it absolutely does the job. The kit comes with a multitude of connection options. All fittings are weatherproof and the solar panel has a diode circuit built in to eliminate battery drain during periods of darkness.

This is the only vehicle that remains outside until its return to Florida in February. All the others, either in the U.S. or Europe, use Schumacher float chargers. In 7 years I have never had a vehicle fail to maintain a full charge or fail to start.

When we return to Germany this July I am going to check the voltage of the BS14 accessory battery. YachtMaster pointed out to me last year that the BS14 is only charged from the vehicle's charging circuit. The engine start sequence takes the sensitive electronics off the main bus and switches them to the BS14 in order to avoid subjecting them to low voltage conditions and spikes. If this is correct, and I have no reason to doubt YachtMaster, the BS14 will be at a lower voltage than the main battery in the trunk.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 01:53 PM
  #4  
SvtAmg's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
2005 E55 amg
Originally Posted by lowprofile
I have done this on one of my other vehicles and yes it maintained the battery year round.
On the MB you would need to confirm that the cig lighter is constantly on with the vehicle off. If not, you can changed the fuse location to correct the aforementioned.
Second, I do not believe it would charged the aux battery. You would need to run an additional panel and hardwire a socket to that battery.
Last concern, do you get enough sun over there to make this worthwhile?
Could you explain how to do this please? I have searched and can't come up with anything
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 03:38 PM
  #5  
theeddie's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 756
Likes: 3
From: Texas
e55 w/LET TUNE Drinks: vodka STRAIGHT Wheels: 19" HRE 547r Mods:FF headers ASP Pulley
Originally Posted by SvtAmg
Could you explain how to do this please? I have searched and can't come up with anything
fuse panel under hood. the fuse will slide over
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 04:04 PM
  #6  
£ C43 £ AMG £'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Super Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 626
Likes: 8
From: UK
E55K AMG
Originally Posted by lowprofile
I have done this on one of my other vehicles and yes it maintained the battery year round.
On the MB you would need to confirm that the cig lighter is constantly on with the vehicle off. If not, you can changed the fuse location to correct the aforementioned.
Second, I do not believe it would charged the aux battery. You would need to run an additional panel and hardwire a socket to that battery.
Last concern, do you get enough sun over there to make this worthwhile?
LOL ......Yes we do get some daylight over here, but no UV sun burn weather warnings.


Thanks for that ............good point I forgot that the cig lighter does not work with the ignition off.

ok make it permenant live and it should work and charge.

Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Feb 26, 2012 at 04:11 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2012 | 08:20 PM
  #7  
lowprofile's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 5
E55
Courtesy of Yacht Master:


https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...ion-ry-480.jpg
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 01:30 PM
  #8  
theunderlord's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 921
Likes: 2
From: Seattle, WA
(SOLD) 05 E55 Estate. 11 Golf TDi
anyone have anything else to chime in on regarding brands / models?
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 03:23 PM
  #9  
novae500's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 15
From: Northern VA
W211
i have a ctek trickle charger that i use during the winter months. Less than $60s
CTEK Multi US 3300 12-Volt Smart Battery Charger
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 2 votes, 3.00 average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:57 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE