Solar panel intsall

[Pops]

I just picked up a sensei 1500 solar panel that I am going to permanently mount to my boat. I am trying to design the installation and think through all of the problems ahead of time before I start making holes in the deck. My thoughts so far are to mount it on the cockpit hatch turtle. I know that it will shaded sometimes, but it will be out of the way and protected there. I thought about mounting it to a rail but I think it would be too exposed to getting snagged by a line or a post when sailing or docking. Now I need to get the power down to the batteries. I was wondering if I could through bolt one side and use the bolts to carry the charge throught the deck. I would put a handrail over the bolts on the overhead as a wiring chase and then run the wires down a grab bar from the overhead to the nav table (I need one there anyway). Am I just smoking something or would through bolts carry the current through the deck all right? Using Maine Sails method of sealing these holes it would be leak free and I wouldn't have to worry about finding another way to get the power below. What does anyone think? How has anyone else done this installation?

 

[Paul Cossman]

I am considering putting a solar panel in exactly that spot as well. You mentioned "Maine Sails method of selaing these holes." Can you direct me to that post? Thanks, Paul.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bolts? Not a good idea...

That's why they make these little things called wires.

Seriously, you can use the handrail idea, but why not run the wires through the hole after getting them into the rail?

Paul, just find any of Maine Sail's posts and click on his link to his website to find the details of how to drill and seal holes in your boat.

 

[Pops]

Paul, this will take you to the site http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck&page=1 Maine Sail's site is a source of the of the best how-to I've seen. He shows how to do many jobs right.

 

[Paul Cossman]

Thanks, guys, for the link. What an outstanding "how-to" on deck holes.

 

[sailingdog]

I just picked up a sensei 1500 solar panel that I am going to permanently mount to my boat. I am trying to design the installation and think through all of the problems ahead of time before I start making holes in the deck. My thoughts so far are to mount it on the cockpit hatch turtle. I know that it will shaded sometimes, but it will be out of the way and protected there.

If it is shaded, it will likely produce far less than its rated power output. Picking a location where it will be clear of shading is key to having a solar panel setup that works properly. I've written a small primer on Solar Power on Boats on my blog that you will probably want to read.

I thought about mounting it to a rail but I think it would be too exposed to getting snagged by a line or a post when sailing or docking.

If you have davits or a bimini, mounting it to them is probably a far better location, since they're likely just as far out of the way and far more likely to be unshaded.

Now I need to get the power down to the batteries. I was wondering if I could through bolt one side and use the bolts to carry the charge throught the deck. I would put a handrail over the bolts on the overhead as a wiring chase and then run the wires down a grab bar from the overhead to the nav table (I need one there anyway). Am I just smoking something or would through bolts carry the current through the deck all right? Using Maine Sails method of sealing these holes it would be leak free and I wouldn't have to worry about finding another way to get the power below. What does anyone think? How has anyone else done this installation?

A really bad idea, since stainless steel is actually a pretty poor conductor of electricity... and you'd lose a lot of power heating the stainless steel. IIRC, it is about 1/33 as conductive as copper... so use wires....

 

[Pops]

Thanks Sailingdog, great info.

 

[Ron20324]

M.P, there is a power post that is made to go thru a bulkhead, so I don't know why it wouldn't go thru a deck if you REALLY HAVE TO. I don't see it in West, so maybe SBO or Defender. It makes a water-tight seal and you would bolt a wire to it on either side of whatever it is you mount it on. Really, it's a thru-bolt, but made for electrical needs. Not the recommended choice, but at least for your information...