Solar Panel Placement.
- Thread starter jpiombo67
- Start date
Unless the panels are specifically designed to be installed on a deck where they will be stepped on, installing a panel on the deck will lead to the panel's early demise. Although you may believe you will not step on these panels, it's a boat and sooner or later someone will step on it a break it. The issue is the very small wires inside the panel connecting the cells. Flexing the panel will cause some of those wires and connectors to break, even though the frames and glass may be intact.
The panel may only be a ½" high, it is still a trip hazard and a toe stubbing hazard.
Besides the obvious, wanting to charge the battery, what's your intention for the panel?
The panel may only be a ½" high, it is still a trip hazard and a toe stubbing hazard.
Besides the obvious, wanting to charge the battery, what's your intention for the panel?
I like the lensun fiberglass panels. They are not as efficient or long lasting as rigid panels, but they accommodate an occasional walking on and they come in a variety of sizes. There are a couple other brands that make fiberglass panels, NaturePower seems to be the same panel, but much more expensive. BougeRV and AllPower appear to make something similar.
What Dave said. I put a solar panel on my first boat - installed in pretty much the only location where there was sufficient room. We knew that we could avoid stepping there. After a season or two with no problems, I needed to get a guy from the yacht club to crew for me to shuttle the boat 100 miles down the coast. Within the first 15 minutes, he stepped on the panel and cracked it. Interestingly, that boat was a Venture 22. (We put the panel on the pop-top.)
That said, if you want solar panels, there is no perfect place on any boat. Any location is a compromise. If that is the best location, then that is the best location - or the least bad location, anyway.
If the panel sticks up, at all, it will probably snag lines. If it can be stepped on, it probably will be stepped on. You just do what you can.
My preference is having panels that are mounted off the deck and above and/or behind most running rigging, such as off the transom or over a bimini/dodger. But, I think that, in most cases, you just put them in a place you can live with that is as out of the way as you can manage.
Something I think is a good idea, if you have to mount where the panel can be stepped on, is twofold. First, you make sure the panel is really well supported underneath. This minimizes the panel's ability to flex, should it be stepped on. So, there's a chance it won't break. Second, is to build a little plexiglass (or similar) cover that can be easily removed/installed. That way, you can choose to protect it, such as when under sail. The cover will decrease its effectiveness, which is why you would want it easy to install and remove. I haven't seen anyone build/use such a cover, but I've always thought it would be a good idea.
A little "cage" protector would not degrade the panel's effectiveness as much and could be left in place. But, it brings its own little issues, too. That is something I have seen - not over solar panels, but over hatches and ports. (There's a name for this that escapes me, right now.)
That said, if you want solar panels, there is no perfect place on any boat. Any location is a compromise. If that is the best location, then that is the best location - or the least bad location, anyway.
If the panel sticks up, at all, it will probably snag lines. If it can be stepped on, it probably will be stepped on. You just do what you can.
My preference is having panels that are mounted off the deck and above and/or behind most running rigging, such as off the transom or over a bimini/dodger. But, I think that, in most cases, you just put them in a place you can live with that is as out of the way as you can manage.
Something I think is a good idea, if you have to mount where the panel can be stepped on, is twofold. First, you make sure the panel is really well supported underneath. This minimizes the panel's ability to flex, should it be stepped on. So, there's a chance it won't break. Second, is to build a little plexiglass (or similar) cover that can be easily removed/installed. That way, you can choose to protect it, such as when under sail. The cover will decrease its effectiveness, which is why you would want it easy to install and remove. I haven't seen anyone build/use such a cover, but I've always thought it would be a good idea.
A little "cage" protector would not degrade the panel's effectiveness as much and could be left in place. But, it brings its own little issues, too. That is something I have seen - not over solar panels, but over hatches and ports. (There's a name for this that escapes me, right now.)
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Thank you for the insight. All of this makes so much sense. I just need enough energy to top off batteries when anchored. The transom for me is a bit rough in that I have a "swim ladder" ( we scuba off the boat), and I don't have a push pit. The pop-top is also a bit of a struggle as I step there when stepping the mast. ( maybe a flexible/removable panel) that I can setup when under way.
Thank you. Im going to look into these. I wonder how efficient they would be in topping off my batteries.
Very valid. Thank you. Just topping off the batteries. We trailer around lake Michigan and Lake Superior and most trips are weekend jaunts. We always anchor in coves etc and would like that little piece of mind that batteries are charging. Maybe add a couple more batteries and bypass the solar all together.
You don't need to mount them. Just get some small ones and keep them wired up ( or have them on disconnects) and put them somewhere in the cockpit, cabin top or deck when you are at anchor and then stow them away wnen you are sailing,
Man, do I feel d..b That is an excellent idea. Need to stop watching all these videos with mounted solar panels. Michigan winters...Lots of down time!