Solar Panel Basics

Aurelia · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:16 pm Post subject:

Looking good and I like the tip-up feature you added. Our dory is gone of course (now in Anchorage), but I added a 100watt flex panel and victron controller to our Bullfrog pilothouse for self-recharge of the trolling motor/downrigger/pot puller group 27 battery

This boat will live out most of it's life afloat and towed behind a trawler so it needs to take care of its own power requirements. There is also a combiner to share that charge with the start battery as needed, but I doubt it will ever sit still long enough to need that.

Greg

localboy · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2023 3:01 pm Post subject:

I installed a very basic system a few years ago. One 110 watt "semi-flexible" panel that is stored standing up in the head. I employ the "curtain" to hold it up.

This year I added an acrylic "green house" panel to the rear of it to help with cooling. The panel consists of myriad small channels about 1/4" square all attached to one another. It creates a space that allows air to flow between the solar panel and the (gelcoat) cabin top; those panels get hot in the sun. When in use, it's held down by six 1" wide webbing straps with snaps that go around the grab rails. Just something so a gust of wind won't lift it all. I don't trailer with it up there but being under way is fine. If it's a long trip, the dinghy is up on the roof so the panel is stored.

Keeps our group 31 house battery topped off during the day. Our only big draw is out refer, but I just bought a counter top ice maker so we'll see what that does to battery draw. Pulls 160-180 watts. Under good sun conditions the panel will put out 6 amps and 14+volts. Under less than ideal conditions it can be only 1-2 amps. I bought a better quality panel a couple of years ago, so I have two actually. But we only currently use one. That may change depending on the ice maker experiment.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2023 10:46 pm Post subject:

After spending two weeks in Isle Royale National Park, I have to say my solar panel installation met all my expectations, and then some. It managed to handle not only the refrigerator, freezer and airhead fan loads, but also charged my batteries back up from the previous night, and allowed me to also charge up my pc (via an inverter) and my cell phone and ipad. Even if a few clouds passed over. Total cost was $430. That included a tool kit for adding connectors, and extra duplex wire. (You can see everything I ordered via links I posted earlier in this thread.) Colby

Peter & Judy · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:38 pm Post subject:

Colby, I'm glad the system is working out for you. Enjoy the quiet without the generator running while you eat your ice cream.

nicklee · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 4:54 am Post subject:

I bought the renogy 100w panel and it has been running for more than 2 years. Everything is fine now.