Solar charging (was RE: Cig Lighter Battery Boosters )

["VanDerWal, Peter" <vanderwp@fhu.disa.mil>]

>On a similar note, I have a solar panel that plugs into the cigarette
ligher

I have one of these my dad gave me for Xmas a couple years ago.  I'd guess
that it barely produces enough power to keep up with self-discharge and the
drain on the battery from the radio, EFI computer, etc. when then cars
turned off.

I use mine to recharge small lead-acid batteries that I use in various
projects.  It take about a week to recharge a 12V 8Ah battery.  It takes
about 4 or 5 of these batteries to move an electric bicycle around.  Well...
one could do it but not for long.   

Now if you were to spend $1000 or so and buy a couple of those big (square
yard or so) panels, that might get you the extra mile.