New Solar Charging System Breaks Price Barrier

SCC015 Solar Controller with a 15 W Panel

Solar panels, strong enough to keep several large ampere-hour batteries fully charged for months or years, have typically cost hundreds of dollars. In spite of their high cost, these panels still needed additional charge controllers to prevent them from over and undercharging batteries. The cost of solar charging systems has prevented many recreational vehicle, boat, farm implement, and construction equipment owners from using solar charging systems to keep batteries in good condition during extended, non-use periods. They chose instead to replace batteries every few years, even though downtime, reduced performance and replacement costs exceeded initial solar system investment.

VDC Electronics’ BatteryMINDer® series of solar charger-controller-desulphator systems have been designed to do more for less. In addition to ensuring batteries will not be overcharged, model SCC015 automatically desulphates all lead-acid-based 12 Volt batteries*, including sealed starter, deep cycle, AGM, marine, maintenance-free, gel and filler cap free electrolyte.

All BatteryMINDer® systems are supplied complete, including a high efficiency 15-watt-rated amorphous silicon solar panel, a temperature compensated controller- charger-desulphator, a Qwik connect-disconnect battery harness, and a battery condition indicator. The SCC015 will maintain up to six (6) parallel-connected batteries, including series connected 6 Volt deep cycle golf-cart-type.

According to Bill Woods, spokesperson for VDC: “Our systems start at less than $200 (average “street price”) for the SCC015 BatteryMINDer® designed to maintain up to four (4) group 31 batteries and do more to extend the life and performance of batteries than any comparable product we have ever tested”. 

* Also series connected 6 Volt types

Solar Controller 12 Volt with 5 Watt Panel

Model # SCC005

The BatteryMINDer is a 3-mode maintenance charger and desulphator-conditioner that extends performance and life of all types of 6 Volt or 12 Volt lead acid batteries. These include maintenance-free, marine, sealed gel, AGM, dry and valve-regulated batteries.

The 12 Volt BatteryMINDer allows you to charge 1 to 2 batteries (parallel or series connected) at a time. The batteries can be the same or different type (starter, deep cycle, sealed gel, AGM, etc.). The voltage (6 Volt, 12 Volt), the resting voltage, Amp and the age of batteries must be the same if you charge more than one battery at the same time.

All BatteryMINDer® products carry an unconditional one year guarantee** and a no hassle five (5) year warranty. MSRP for the SCC015 (15 watt system) is $199.95. VDC’s complete line of BatteryMINDer® battery maintenance products are available from dealers nationwide. For additional technical information visit www.vdcelectronics.com or toll-free (800) 379- 5579 (ET). 

** Except for physical abuse