volkswagen solar charger composition

[drone]

Volkswagen has shipped their autos with solar battery trickle chargers for a while now.  The old ones (with cigarette lighter adaptor plug) appear to be polycrystalline.  Does anybody know the composition of the new ones (with different configuration adaptor plug)?  Amorphous?  Thanks.

[ghurd]

Yes. Amorphous. AKA thin-film.

A crystalline or polycrystalline shortage is probably responsable.

Too bad. They were pretty nice before.

G-

[disaray1]

Thin film is correct... 4Watt. 275ma. Made by ICP, whoever that is. They claim 50% more power per square inch than "competing solar technologies". hehesnortchuckle.

[drone]

So now they have a short lifespan.  Typical.  However, I suppose these chargers were meant simply to get the auto to the dealer running, not to provide power to ingenious DIY'ers.  More's the pity.

[ghurd]

Have you (or anybody) seen a new one, or is the 4W 275ma rating from an ebay ad?

I have not seen it and would like to know more.

Is it more weatherproof?

Is the controller built in? Or is it just a diode?

Has anyone tested one?

Etc, etc, etc...

G-

[disaray1]

Sorry I didn't find this sooner, G.. No I haven't seen one. Yes, I had seen it on ebay.. I think VW supplies them to be laid on the dash or rear parcel and used to have suction cups to stick to a window, just to keep the batt charged on long sits. Charge control? I wouldn't think so, but maybe. Probably a diode and a cigarette lighter plug....  D

[ghurd]

There were 2 versions, at least, of the old blue ones.

One version only had red felt(why?) and a diode.

Most (90%) of mine have a fairly nice controller set at 13.8V. An IC or 2 or 3, a few transistors, caps, etc.

G-