Hi All,,

I have a Maplin solar powered battery trickle charger I want to leave on the FFRR whilst I'm away for a couple of weeks.

My cig lighter is live on ignition off. It also appears to be live when the FF goes to sleep (I can see the green led on my mobile charger I left plugged in).

Is there therefore any reason why I cannot use the cig lighter to top the battery up?

It's just more convenient than having to pop the bonnet every time.

Views? 2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

No reason at all why you can't use a permanently live cigar socket to plug in a solar panel for battery charging.

That's what I do. I had the dealer make the front cig socket live when I bought the car. I am often abroad for weeks at a time and sometimes the wife gets back before me. I just plug in my ctek charger, lay the cable under the door and lock it up. When we get back just unlock, unplug and away we go. Just don't let anything drop in the socket or leave anything else plugged in as its permanently live. 2012 5.0L S/C
Previous:
3.6 TDV8
4.4 HSE
P38 4.6 HSE
Classic 3.9
90 County
Series3 Lightweight

The power point in the boot is permanently live, so no need to change the front one anyway.

Also you can power it through the wiring of the tow bar. There are special converter plugs/cables (just do a search) to charge through the tow bar wiring

My experience with mine is that 4 weeks is no issue, it will start without hesitation. Mind you, the temperature is 30+ in the parking garage, all the time and mine is a petrol. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Mine has a new OEM battery, alternator and final stage resistor and after 2.5 weeks too low (9.2V) to start the vehicle. Admittedly I have been to it a few times to get stuff out the boot etc. but I'm very glad I'm not in an airport car park!!!

You imply that your cig lighter wiring has been altered. Mine appears to be constantly live anyway so perhaps the previous owner had it changed?

Cheers all!  2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

my cig lighters aren't working at all, any one know a fix for that

DTaylor, the fuse(s) is/are likely blown. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

This is the set up I used... Maplin as well. Plugged into the socket in the boot.

Click image to enlarge

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I've got a smaller Maplin's solar panel than Contraband that's stuck to the inside of the rear side window using double sided numberplate tape and plugged into the boot socket.
These done need direct Sunlight to supply a charge and I leave mine plugged in all year round.

Up here it helps more in the middle of winter as we only get 5-6 hours of daylight at that time of year and you're normally driving with lights, wipers, heater fans and demisters all going. This takes it out of the battery and we never drive long distances to really give the battery a good charge up.

I tried one of these solar panels on a 300 TDi Discovery and it really made a difference in keeping the battery conditioned.  

Contraband wrote:

This is the set up I used...

That's a seriously big panel - do you really need one that big or did you have it lying around from another project ?

Contraband wrote:

This is the set up I used...

That's a seriously big panel - do you really need one that big or did you have it lying around from another project ?

Lol... Yes, for another project.. But it did the trick in keeping my battery topped up until it died.
THIS IS IMPORTANT...... Starting the car with the panel plugged in can damage the circuitry of the panel. Always unplug before you start the car. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

That panel is seriously big!!! I could power my whole house from that! 2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

Contraband wrote:

THIS IS IMPORTANT...... Starting the car with the panel plugged in can damage the circuitry of the panel. Always unplug before you start the car.

Even if it has a one way diode ? .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

That would make sense about the diode, but it was in the user manual to make sure it was unplugged before starting the car. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI