Best Battery Charging Option

[OneTimeUser]

First of all, I searched around and couldn't find much. The one promising link comes up 404, page not found.
Anyway, I want to keep the battery on my stage 420 predator charged and use some low-draw LED lights. It's mounted on a Murray Kilowatt an there is not much room for a stand alone alternator.

On another cart, pull start only, I solved the problem by installing a solar panel to keep the battery charged. It works well.

So, do I spring for an expensive higher-output alternator, or go with a solar panel to keep the battery topped off.

I do not have room for a stand alone alternator and I'm not planning on running the LED lights for extended periods-- just from time to time while I drive in the dark.

I await advice/experience from someone who has successfully solved this problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hellion]

What kind of battery is it, what type?
Is a wall plug trickle charger out of the question?
The solar panel charger is genius, by the way, free energy. Will also wait for the learned elders to weigh in.

 

[OneTimeUser]

It's a garden variety 350 CCA 12 volt. I can certainly use a plug in or solar trickler. I currently have solar panel tricklers with regulators on the mower, the tractor, and the bucket truck. The panel is pertinently mounted and I just plug the vehicle in when I park it. This means though that I have to park said vehicle in the same place every time. I'd like a bit more versatility with the cart. The little 212 pull start has the solar panel mounted directly on the cart so it works wherever I park it.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I think I have the same battery and my 420 keeps it charged. We only run one LED but the kids use the starter all the time and it keeps itself charged.