Customer Reviews for Coleman 18-Watt 12-Volt Solar Battery Charging Kit

I bought this 18W solar panel to provide power to a 16" fan to cool my greenhouse. It's connected to an 12v RV battery which runs the fan through a thermostat. The panel worked well from the start and generates power even under overcast conditions. I especially like the controller that comes with it to limit the voltage to the battery @ 14.2v and prevents back discharge during cloudy periods. It works very well.

Fits on your dashboard while traveling and well made...used it with a deep cycle marine battery while camping...plenty of power...while shopping for it, I saw similar ones for $200...get this one!

WIRING COULD BE LONGER ,YOU MAY HAVE TO ADD. MOUNTING BRACKETS COULD BE STRONGER. I MONTED MINE ON OLD SATALLITE POLE MOUNT. DOES THE JOB ON KEEPING BATTERY CHARGED.

I bought this to charge my trolling motor battery on my kayak while out fishing. Works very well.

Working great so far.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Worked well and met my needs. The fasteners were difficult to use.

Worked as claimed. Just what I was looking for. Excellent quality.

No it did not. It didn't have a protective case nor and stand. Instructions could have been a little clearer.

Fairly straightforward and easy to put into use. Requires very little knowledge of electrical wiring, though a bit helps. It’s charging a pair of batteries on our sailboat and working fine

Great unit. Easy install. Would have liked weather proof connections, it is going outside.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

The panel seems to do exactly as advertised. The only issue is the lack of matching connectors on the charge controller. Various pigtails are provided with matching two prong connectors for the panel but the controller has two bare wires and two lug fittings. Had to modify, spliced in connectors.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

great product

The panel seems good enough. Housed well, although I am not sure on its weather proofing. I haven't tried yet.The problem is the set up experience for novice solar buyers, and those without wiring experience and tools. Coleman is doing this all wrong. First, every wire should have a connector, and then provide adapters off of that. Instead they leave two bare wires out of the charge controller. I dont see the reasoning for this, but even if there is one, the average buyer rather have a wire with a connection on it. If someone wants the wires bare provide an adapter.Next, the ring terminals dont fit the bolt on the vehicle leads to the battery. Actually one fit and the other does not. Why in the heck are these two different sizes? So I ended up just cutting the ring terminals off and doing a temp job to get it going. Later I will have to go buy a pair of ring connectors that fit.Third, I almost killed my battery. I hooked it up incorrectly, because I followed the directions. Apparently, dispite the fact that the red wire is marked positive and the instructions say hook up the red positive wire to the positive post... Wrong. The battery took a hit before I caught it. Check your connection. I know I should have, and I am glad I caught it before it was too late. Why this is, I do not yet know. And this is the problem. I shouldn't have made a mistake, and Coleman should have kept me from doing so.This should be plug and play. With some foresight, Coleman could fix this. I shouldn't have to go through so much effort when a proper set up would be two wires to the battery and connecting two plugs together to link to the panel. Where is the easy button? Provide adapters for the other options. Such a system would let us plodders get this working without such a hassle.So... This is a good product, with an awkward time ahead for many who are not schooled in this type of device or who have electrical wiring experience. And Coleman doesn't make it easy with their one page front and back instructions in your language.

Very nice unit for the price. Well worth it!

Super easy to assemble however it does not work I would return it but I lost the receipt

I've only had it a few days. I am using it for battery maintenance on a tractor stored at a remote location where there is no electricity. I had to run about 60' of extra 16ga wire from the panel to the controller, but was still getting 22V at the battery. I'm pleased. Now it remains to be seen if the controller functions properly and doesn't discharge the battery when it is dark outside.

this is supposed to be a plug and play kit. but for some reason they were to cheap to add quick connects on all the wire ends so you have to cut and splice and since I don't know what im doing im just going to box it up and send it back. absolutely ridiculous whoever was in charge of the wiring design is an idiot. they can have their product back

Easy setup, worked very well. Setup switching system for popup camper, tests work out perfectly! Can't wait for snow to go!

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Solar panel is top quality. Solar charge controller works as advertised.

Works as it should. It's keeping the motor start battery charged very nicely. Overcast, rain don't bother it. It still puts out enought to top off the battery, then the controller shuts it off. Great stuff for the price. Toom.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

works great on our RV to keep the battery up when we are gone.