I have a 12v small solar panel made for keeping battery topped up, it will sit nice on the back shelf....I don't want to run it all the way to the battery, anyone know of a good connection point at the rear end?....my car may stand for a week or so...and I have suffered a nearly flat battery....This is my first time on the site...panda is a 2008 dynamic ...... any ideas?

Firstly your battery should cope with being left for at least a fortnight. I'd still expect mine to start easily after a month. You may be trying to address an effect instead of a cause. If the battery is the original, it is about ready to die, so replace it before the winter.

A charging voltage will travel along every available wire. If connected directly to the battery, these things seem ok, but from the back of the car you may be running a risk of harming electronic stuff.
With a vertical rear window, the amount of sunshine it gets may be limited.

^^ What he said. I'd be very worried if your battery couldn't handle being left for a week (unless you live in Siberia, perhaps). Almost definitely worth chucking in a new one for £50 and have peace of mind.

In addition to this, Solar maintainers MUST be disconnected when the car is running, they don't like voltage spikes, and this is often mentioned in their operating instructions.

More importantly, DO NOT leave it on your parcel shelf. Even in a minor accident it'll have the ability to kill you or anyone else that has the misfortune to come in contact with it. You should NEVER have anything left on a parcel shelf, and this still applies even if the car has rear head restraints!

Most Easterly Pandas said:

In addition to this, Solar maintainers MUST be disconnected when the car is running, they don't like voltage spikes, and this is often mentioned in their operating instructions.

More importantly, DO NOT leave it on your parcel shelf. Even in a minor accident it'll have the ability to kill you or anyone else that has the misfortune to come in contact with it. You should NEVER have anything left on a parcel shelf, and this still applies even if the car has rear head restraints!

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Thanks for all the replies. I mostly run only local miles, with lights and heater etc. the battery being only 40ah doesn't stand much chance. I have parked it for a month at a time at airports and it has been ok, but that was summer time. I now have a 13 amp outlet under my carport just right for a charger. The battery is an Exide only one year old.....again thanks all.....de Twonk

If your battery is only a year old, I wouldn't go to the bother. It shouldn't be required.

I've left mine for three weeks and it started instantly. I think you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

JD82 said:

I've left mine for three weeks and it started instantly. I think you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

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Thanks all....I will monitor it and see what happens....de twonk