I've got a 26' Pearson with a late model Honda 8 hp 4 stroke auxilary. While I would love to have her in a slip w/ shore power, there are none available at my home marina, so I keep the boat on a mooring. This is actually not an unpleasant situation to be in, however it makes keeping my single deep cycle battery charged a challenge. I'm getting some charge off the Honda, but it's not sufficient to replenish the power I use during a day's outing. I typically run only depth sounder and AM/FM CD. Invariably, after 2 or 3 days on the water, it's necessary for me take the battery home and charge it in my garage (no small feat, the delicate balance required to manuever a 20 or 30 lb block into an 8' dink.) What's my problem? Would a new battery cure what ails me? I suspect that there just isn't enough pooh coming off the Honda. I'm used to chartering a boat with a respectable diesel and generator, where an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening is all that's required to run a hell of lot more electronics for the day and night. Is there an affordable solar solution? Are there ANY affordable solutions?
Battery Charging Options
- Thread starter bcwave
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I use a VW solar panel
that I got from eBay for under 30 bucks. It plugs into the 12v socket I installed in the electric panel and it sits on the companionway slide retained by a bungee when I am not on the boat. It keeps the battery fully charged given a few days to catch up. Simple and cheap. In the winter, I put the battery on a bench in my basement with the charger panel propped in a basement window. Come Spring launch time, the battery is fully charged as well. These panels come with new VWs and Audis from the factory and end up on eBay. Good luck!
that I got from eBay for under 30 bucks. It plugs into the 12v socket I installed in the electric panel and it sits on the companionway slide retained by a bungee when I am not on the boat. It keeps the battery fully charged given a few days to catch up. Simple and cheap. In the winter, I put the battery on a bench in my basement with the charger panel propped in a basement window. Come Spring launch time, the battery is fully charged as well. These panels come with new VWs and Audis from the factory and end up on eBay. Good luck!
question for Chris
Chris, Can you allow those VW panels to be rained on? I thought they were designed to sit on the dash of VW's with the windsheild protecting them from the weather. Any experience with your panel getting rained on?
Chris, Can you allow those VW panels to be rained on? I thought they were designed to sit on the dash of VW's with the windsheild protecting them from the weather. Any experience with your panel getting rained on?
WM sells a trickle solar charger...
that is designed for outdoor use. For $40, you get 2W, or .135mA, or pay $100 for 6W, 400mA. Depending on your usage patterns, the smaller one will prevent your battery from self-discharging, and the larger one will put some juice back in it during the week. An open-circuit lead-acid battery can actually self-discharge up to 1% per day, so that is probably part of your problem. Also, you should check your boat to see if there are any tiny devices - alarms, radio on standby, tank monitor, CD changer on standby, etc. - that might be draining a little juice. Buying a new battery before you know your situation is likely to be a waste of money - unless your current battery is VERY old. Better to get a small solar cell and see if that solves your problem - if you need a new battery, you're still going to need a charging solution. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
that is designed for outdoor use. For $40, you get 2W, or .135mA, or pay $100 for 6W, 400mA. Depending on your usage patterns, the smaller one will prevent your battery from self-discharging, and the larger one will put some juice back in it during the week. An open-circuit lead-acid battery can actually self-discharge up to 1% per day, so that is probably part of your problem. Also, you should check your boat to see if there are any tiny devices - alarms, radio on standby, tank monitor, CD changer on standby, etc. - that might be draining a little juice. Buying a new battery before you know your situation is likely to be a waste of money - unless your current battery is VERY old. Better to get a small solar cell and see if that solves your problem - if you need a new battery, you're still going to need a charging solution. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
flexible panels
Jeff, I bought a flexible panel about four years ago. Sounds like we do similar kind of sailing. I tried to find the site where I purchased mine but can't. If you search for flexible solar panels or chargers you'll find several. Mine is about 14 x 20 inches with gromets at the corners. I have lines going from the gromets to the hand rails on either side of the cabin roof. It sits there when not sailing. When sailing I unclip one side and leave it sitting on edge on the deck leaning against the cabin. I haven't had a dead battery since I bought it. Paid about $100. Pretty cheap peace of mind. It feels like a thick piece of vynil and appears to be pretty indestructible. I'm not the gentlest guy around and so far no problems. It has one cable running straight to the battery and about 6-8 feet long. Easily reaches from battery in lazerett through quarter berth to the cabin roof on my O'Day 25. I'd swear it was Uni-Solar. Its so trouble free I forget. Mike
Jeff, I bought a flexible panel about four years ago. Sounds like we do similar kind of sailing. I tried to find the site where I purchased mine but can't. If you search for flexible solar panels or chargers you'll find several. Mine is about 14 x 20 inches with gromets at the corners. I have lines going from the gromets to the hand rails on either side of the cabin roof. It sits there when not sailing. When sailing I unclip one side and leave it sitting on edge on the deck leaning against the cabin. I haven't had a dead battery since I bought it. Paid about $100. Pretty cheap peace of mind. It feels like a thick piece of vynil and appears to be pretty indestructible. I'm not the gentlest guy around and so far no problems. It has one cable running straight to the battery and about 6-8 feet long. Easily reaches from battery in lazerett through quarter berth to the cabin roof on my O'Day 25. I'd swear it was Uni-Solar. Its so trouble free I forget. Mike
Simlar history
I too have a Pearson 26' with a Honda 8hp, 4 stroke. When I bought it three years ago, the battery (regular wet cell) was nearly dead. The PO would charge it with the Honda, but it never held much of a charge. I later found out that the wiring from the Honda had a loose connection, but that was only part of the problem. I'd only use the engine to get out of the slip and about 300 yards down the river before raising the sails. Same on the way home. To get enough current out of the honda regulator, I would have needed to run much higher throttle than the 1/4 to 1/3 that I was. I replaced the lead-acid wet cell battery with an Optima Blue-Top Marine (not gel-cell, but spiral wound sealed lead acid). It is supposed to self-discharge less than the normal battery would over time. The PO had a flexible solar cell (5W) that I use to keep things topped off. The battery only has 50 A-h, and I don't sail more than a day on any weekend. We spent an overnight one summer, and between the lights and coffee pot, I think we used quite a bit of A-h. I don't have a FM/CD, so I probably used less than you would have. That said, the solar panel does a good job keeping up with my usage. At the end of the season, I bring the battery home and use a portable charger. I'd recommend a new battery and maybe a larger solar panel than 5W. You may need a charge regulator depending on the size you get. Two 6-volt golf cart batteries (lots of A-h) can also be used, but then you may need some serious charging capability (lots of amps).
I too have a Pearson 26' with a Honda 8hp, 4 stroke. When I bought it three years ago, the battery (regular wet cell) was nearly dead. The PO would charge it with the Honda, but it never held much of a charge. I later found out that the wiring from the Honda had a loose connection, but that was only part of the problem. I'd only use the engine to get out of the slip and about 300 yards down the river before raising the sails. Same on the way home. To get enough current out of the honda regulator, I would have needed to run much higher throttle than the 1/4 to 1/3 that I was. I replaced the lead-acid wet cell battery with an Optima Blue-Top Marine (not gel-cell, but spiral wound sealed lead acid). It is supposed to self-discharge less than the normal battery would over time. The PO had a flexible solar cell (5W) that I use to keep things topped off. The battery only has 50 A-h, and I don't sail more than a day on any weekend. We spent an overnight one summer, and between the lights and coffee pot, I think we used quite a bit of A-h. I don't have a FM/CD, so I probably used less than you would have. That said, the solar panel does a good job keeping up with my usage. At the end of the season, I bring the battery home and use a portable charger. I'd recommend a new battery and maybe a larger solar panel than 5W. You may need a charge regulator depending on the size you get. Two 6-volt golf cart batteries (lots of A-h) can also be used, but then you may need some serious charging capability (lots of amps).
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