Battery Tender 5-45 Watt Automatic Solar Panel Controller - 021-1162

I've used it for 7 months now to charge alternately a 32AHr, 26AHR and 8Ahr deep cycle AGM batteries and it has done a great job. I have a 30 watt monocrystalline solar panel wired directly to it and connect it directly to my batteries using various quick disconnect connectors. I monitor the state of discharge (with a multimeter)and never let my batteries fall below 75% of rated capacity (as recommended by battery manufacturers for best practice and long life of battery.) The Battery Tender as described is a 3 stage charge controller and will put the most voltage out when the battery needs it and cuts back as it approaches full charge down to a trickle level. All the batteries quickly recharge even on partial sun days. Takes 3-6 hours of sun on the biggest battery less on the others. Keeping them topped off is easier (better for it), faster to recharge, and simple to rotate each bettery for its day or shared day of charging.I've monitored its output to the various batteries and it does its job as described at manufacturers website.Charge light lets you know when it is working and indicates what stage its at by color or flashing. Again just as described.I use 12 volt DC LED lights and and connected to my inverter some AC CFL lights and charge all my phones and run my laptop a few hours EVERYDAY! If you have the right expectation of what wattage you planned to use and think about the set-up you can make a nice daily use (or emergency use) system with these components.I am very pleased with the product to used for a small solar systems using a 45 watt panel or less. I plan to buy a few more and connect up lights, radios, in other rooms all over the house. My way of going green.I also charge my AA, AAA rechargeable batteries with a DC connectable battery charger off my 32AHr battery too!Saves me a lot of money on batteries and I use more battery operated devices now and the family enjoys the whole system. Use the Battery Tender only to charge batteries and do not try to run other things from it. That is not what is was designed for.********1 YEAR LATER: Now Feb 2013 AND THIS PRODUCT IS STILL SERVING ME WELL AND AS DESCRIBED. GREAT FOR SMALL TARGET INSTALATIONS!

I just installed this a couple of days ago and it is working perfectly, connected to my Renogy 30W solar panel. I spoke with Deltran's excellent customer service department and found out the following:- the solar controller has a blocking diode, to prevent current reversal back from the battery to the panel at night, or when the panel is not putting out enough voltage due to cloud cover, etc.- the output side of the solar controller can be disconnected going to the battery without having to disconnect the input side coming from the solar panel. The voltage coming into the solar controller from the solar panel will not damage the controller. Be sure to use a solar panel rated between 5W - 45W, as the specs of the solar controller mention, which is also printed on the solar controller itself.- the (4) size #6 screw terminals can not be removed.I wanted to use ring terminal connectors instead of spade terminal connectors due to the spade connectors having a tendency to spread. Prior to calling Deltran, I attempted to remove the screws which met resistance after unscrewing almost all the way, so I stopped and spoke with Deltran. I'll try to use heavier spade terminals, if the need arises. As of now, the slight spreading is not an issue due to everything being stationary.Two suggestions:1) It would be nice if Deltran made the screws removable. I assume they made them non removable so they cannot be lost, or perhaps the purpose is to make the unit more moisture resistant, where the screws enter the controller. I'm not certain though.2) Why didn't Deltran make their Battery Tender solar controller Water Resistant or Waterproof??After all, this solar controller is meant to be used with a solar panel which obviously will be used outdoors in the environment, where it rains or snows. It's hard to believe this was an oversight. This issue had to be discussed in one of those Research & Development meetings. Perhaps they'll come up with a Waterproof version in the future.I've given this solar controller 5 Stars as it is performing well. I'll be sure to post any updates.I have the 1.25A Battery Tender Plus and the 800mAh Battery Tender Waterproof charger which have performed flawlessly for years, and I expect the Battery Tender solar controller will also perform flawlessly.

Yet another Deltran charger/ maintainer that works great and as described. Using with a 25w solar panel powering a 24f size 585cca , 2 year old Clarios/ Walmart mediocre battery. Simple setup!Purpose is to run ParMak Magnum 12v fence charger 7x24. From testing, fencer runs overnight just fine on battery and recharges as expected during daylight hours. Does not take very long to go from charge to float ( see BM300 pic).Previously used a cheap PowMr “solar controller” that never would regulate voltage properly, regardless of settings.This makes my 6th Deltran battery tender product since 2011 and yet to have any fail.

This battery tender works very well when hooked up to a small solar panel. The only issue I have with it is its size. It is really small and compact. This actually makes for a slightly dangerous situation. The battery terminals are very close together and it uses a screw and spade terminal design. The chance of shorting out your battery is not insignificant. You must be careful in an outdoor setting that some small animal does not pull on the wires or you don't accidentally snag them. This happened to me and the battery wire started smoking.

It works great