How about alligator clips directly to the battery Sent from AOL Mobile Mail Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com On Thursday, February 5, 2015, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote: If you are a freshwater only sailor, you can get by with that. Not recommended though. Hard to find plug and socket that are of quality materials, most are cheap cheap, will rust quick even from fresh water. Connection quality is mediocre, not as positive as other options. Also only good for low current (OK if you're just trickle charging a battery, running a tiny inverter under ~200W, but nothing over a couple amps). If you are saltwater, you need a saltwater ready connection - marine quality plug and socket. Anything else will corrode to uselessness very quickly. Also if you are saltwater, use only high quality marine grade wiring materials, connectors, etc.. Especially for anything that is not dead easy to access and replace. It will cost more time and money replacing cheap materials than installing the good stuff up front, in the long run. cheers, John S. On 02/05/2015 07:41 AM, Thomas Buzzi wrote: > Bones, > Will a regular 12 volt plug type ala a dashboard cigarette lighter type > plug work to tap from the solar panel into the battery below decks? Sounds > like you have "the answer" to topping off a battery on an extended cruise. > Tom B > > On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 8:44 AM, bownez@juno.com <bownez@juno.com> wrote: > >> Hi Bill, >> >> I use a 30 watt portable solar panel for my M17. >> It is built like a brief case and unfolds. >> I set it up in the cockpit while I'm slipped or at anchor. Plugs into a DC >> jack in the cockpit. >> >> It has a built in regulator as well. >> >> The panel came from Goal Zero. >> >> Nice thing about this setup is that you can easily move it from boat to >> boat to campsite to RV etc....... >> >> Bones >> ____________________________________________________________ >> The #1 Worst Carb Ever? >> Click to Learn #1 Carb that Kills Your Blood Sugar (Don't Eat >> This!) >> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/54d3820dbda4520d6e36st03vuc >> >> -- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com