Solar Panel

[silicon_toad2000]

All,

I bought a cheap small solar panel to keep my battery topped up when I don't drive my landcruiser for a while.
I'm in the process of testing it at the moment on an old motorcycle battery so it hasn't been installed as yet.
Someone told me that solar panels draw current from batterys in the dark.
Does anyone know if this is the case or not?

[ruttkowb]

You need to install a blocking Diode between solar panel and charger. That will insure that no current can flow back to the panel. Some solar battery chargers have the blocking diodes already build in.
Best, Bernd

[Ryland]

if it was sold for charging batteries and has either a plug or a juncion box, then you most likely already have a diode in there, if it's just a panel... then it's just a panel.