Solar panels

Agree that post by georgesymond121 is rubbish and spam. Yesterday I visited a friend who had professional solar panels put on their house about 6 years ago. I don't rememberer the exact wattage, but over 10,000 watts, and the cost was about $30,000 with inverters. The unit feeds power to the grid during the day and the house draws from the grid at night. They pay less than $500 a year for total electrical power. The plan is to pay off the cost of the installation by 20 years--the expected life span of the panels.

If the panels output is more than 4 amps (or 50 watts in 12 volts) you definitely need a controller. Most trickle charges are 5 to 10 watts, larger boats and RV's use up to 50 watts for large battery banks. I have used a 10 watt solar panels on both an RV and the C Dory 22 and 25 to keep the batteries topped off when in NV or CA. storage.
 
dutch123":16wzz693 said:
Anyone mount a solar panel setup on their 22 cruiser that they care to tell us about? I'm looking at putting a panel on either side of the handrail on the cabin and being limited for space 40 watts output Is about max for the size of panel I would like to use, is it worth the hasle and expense?
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I hope you must have got these panels.. I know thread is bit old but still can you share your experience as I am looking to get these panels soon.. I hope you will reply
 
A single solar panel, maybe doubles, could be mounted on an aluminum frame, similar to a radar arch, constructed on the stern over the engine(s). This location seems good since it would be close to the batteries, out of the way and easy to adjust inclination to the sun for optimal performance. Fishermen may not go for this one... but, if you don't fish much, aahh...

Aye.
 
I had thought about that - but then I started to wonder if a bimini (which I have) or a camperback might shade the panels (unless they were really high). Maybe it's not a problem when the sun is high (and giving the good rays), but it's something I wondered about.
 
Foggy":35lzx4ne said:
A single solar panel, maybe doubles, could be mounted on an aluminum frame, similar to a radar arch, constructed on the stern over the engine(s). This location seems good since it would be close to the batteries, out of the way and easy to adjust inclination to the sun for optimal performance. Fishermen may not go for this one... but, if you don't fish much, aahh...

Aye.
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But why would anyone own a boat and not fish? I just can't wrap my head around that! :lol:
 
rogerbum":2wu7dag8 said:
Foggy":2wu7dag8 said:
A single solar panel, maybe doubles, could be mounted on an aluminum frame, similar to a radar arch, constructed on the stern over the engine(s). This location seems good since it would be close to the batteries, out of the way and easy to adjust inclination to the sun for optimal performance. Fishermen may not go for this one... but, if you don't fish much, aahh...

Aye.
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But why would anyone own a boat and not fish? I just can't wrap my head around that! :lol:
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FYI, there's more than fish out there. More than filing your hold with fish and then your tummy... IMHO.

Aye.
 
mjsiega":1bt355pu said:
If you're just looking for battery maintenance/trickle charging, what's the most wattage solar panel you can have for a given ah battery without a voltage regulator?
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I'm not sure when a regulator would be a requirement but I've been running a Northern Tool 7 watt solar panel on each of my batteries since last spring to keep them charged up while the boat isn't in use. I check the voltage regularly and have found them to show 12.6 to 12.9 volts whenever I check. I just lay the two solar panels on the dash and plug them into the 12 volt outlets I wired to each battery. They seem to get enough light with the boat pointed east. Every time I've put the boat in the water the engine fired right up and from the voltage I get when checking I don't think they are over charging the batteries.
 
We have a 20watt panel with a 10A controller to keep the house batteries (2gp24in parallel), charged; works fine thus far. We usually keep the panel bungeed to the starboard lazarette area. We even keep it there with the canvas up and while not best we still seem to get enough wattage to keep the batteries charged.
 
GlennMullins":202p0djb said:
dutch123":202p0djb said:
Anyone mount a solar panel setup on their 22 cruiser that they care to tell us about? I'm looking at putting a panel on either side of the handrail on the cabin and being limited for space 40 watts output Is about max for the size of panel I would like to use, is it worth the hasle and expense?
Click to expand...

I hope you must have got these panels.. I know thread is bit old but still can you share your experience as I am looking to get these panels soon.. I hope you will reply
Click to expand...
 
That does look interesting, as do some of their other solar packages. Their prices are certainly good, but I've never heard of the company and they don't identify the manufacturer of the panels which concerns me.

I really like the idea of adding a solar charging system, and I'm inclined to do something like they do on the Ranger Tugs - on the cabin top between the hand rails. I've asked the folks at Ranger for info on the panel they use but they have never responded to me. They make a quality boat so I would expect them to use a quality solar panel as well. Anyone know the particulars of their solar system for comparison purposes?

Rob
 
Rob,

While in Death Valley this past winter, I ran into a fellow who lived completely off grid near Anza Borrego. House, outbuildings, the whole enchilada. That's the company that he used for his array. In my discussions with a number of people during the desert travels, I'm hearing more people say that the panels are giving the same life, over the same period of time, regardless of manufacturer. They typically paid half what I did for the 150 watt panel that I have on my Airstream. Mine is a Zamp system, with a 30 amp controller.

AM Solar in Eugene is one company that has a very good reputation with the Airstream crowd. Airstream factory is reported to use Zamp. These days, I think I would go with someone like SolarBlvd or Am Solar.
 
Here is a link to a thread about the solar panels on Daydream. The first post has a photo showing how the panels are mounted. Two 100 watt panels and a 40 amp controller (as I recall) for $379 with free shipping. I am really anxious to get to Lake Powell next year, assuming there is any water in it, and see how these solar panels really perform. I do need a monitor, maybe Santa will be bringing that soon, I don't know.
 
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