Best solar panels for the buck

KD3PC · Jan 10, 2012

the bigger question with panels, is where you are going to mount them...that will drive the size and mounting style...at that point you can shop $/watt...doing it the other way will force you in to an installation that may be substandard, won't work, safety hazard, etc.

Hamilton Ferris is a good place to start.

Blue Sky MPPT controller are well respected and will provide the things you need in a reliable package.

None are cost effective, unless you NEED solar...and plan to keep using them for years. I would suggest that you would need 4-6 years of full time use to break even...as compared to other systems. Nice part is they are very quiet when compared to wind or generator.

They do work, we used two 110 watt panels on our previous 42' and were quite happy, since the new owner did not want them, they currently supply all the power for our 25' RV.

alexco38 · Jan 10, 2012

Slip cost

If you are in a slip, they usually add the solar panel sticking on top of the davit part of the overall length. i.e. pay extra.

Ron20324 · Jan 10, 2012

About a year ago Sumner suggested SolarBlvd for the panels. Someone else seconded his suggestion, so that's what I went with. Every once in a while S.B. sends an email with a "special" deal. I figured any panel that can tolerate bouncing over the highways can certainly roll over the sea.

Bill Roosa · Jan 10, 2012

DIY and save <$1/Watt solarwindusa.com 250 watts for $200

KD3PC · Jan 10, 2012

Bill Roosa said:
DIY and save <$1/Watt solarwindusa.com 250 watts for $200

I think he meant http://www.solar-winds.info/.....for the DIY stuff he mentions

I think you will find that there is not a real way to DIY and have a functional panel...especially if you want it to work in a marine environment. Just the kit to build a science fair version of the DIY stuff people suggest will be well over $100 (decent temp control solder iron, correct solder, quality tools, tempered glass, evacuation pump, etc, etc) let alone a "real" panel that the admiral will allow to be installed on the boat.

This is one area where you get what you pay for. Think Solyndra, Evergreen Solar and all the others no longer in business, attempting a "cheap" way to jump the market.

Bill Roosa · Jan 10, 2012

kd3pc
I would beg to differ with you. AND I would submit that if the Admiral don't like it, it is not the kit's fault

prroots
try this
http://www.solarwindsusa.com/magento/

KD3PC · Jan 10, 2012

Bill Roosa said:
prroots
try this
http://www.solarwindsusa.com/magento/

different website than previously posted. most of their panels are of a non standard size and their cells are seconds.

And having done a lot of this kind of work before, there is a LOT of work in very clean room to get a quality panel built. Especially when you want to use it in a marine environment

For sure you can DIY, but YMWV....that is it will in no way last as long as commercially built panels, nor will it provide the rated output as long, either

And by the time you figure this out, you will have made a custom mount for a one off panel.

But best of luck, do it for the experience and tell us how it works out.

dscribner · Jan 10, 2012

Sail Mag did an article on this about a year ago. You can probably look that up and get solid numbers to weigh against opinion.

Sumner · Jan 10, 2012

prroots said:
.. I'd like to satisfy on average 120 Ah/day (in Florida) as an initial starting point. From what I've read so far that may require three 120 Watt panels or two 180 Watt panels...

From our experience I think 360 watts total won't get you to the 120 Ah/day you'd like, but maybe pretty close. We were on the water about 3 months this past year in Florida with 180 watts of panels. About 1 month a year ago Nov./Dec (2010) and then last spring, Mar./Apr.. We run a frig., about 3.5 amps 10 hours a day and probably 4 hours on the computer, 2 amps.. That averages out to about 43 Ah/day. Let's say 50. In that time we probably ran the gen-set I made ....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-13.html

...3-4 hours or maybe a little more. There were some days the panels had the two 12 volt batteries on float by late afternoon. So the 180 watts robably supplied over 90% of our needs.

We broke a 80 watt panel on the trip and Solar Blvd overnighted one to us at Marco Island (good service from them). It was a different physical size than the one it replaced and I didn't like the panels hanging out where they could hit pilings and such so when we got home I removed the 80 and replaced it with a 100 and rearranged the panels...

...so they don't overhang as much and now we have 200 watts for the Mac.

We ordered 6 more of the 80 watt panels for the Endeavour. We have 7 total with the one I took off the Mac, but will only mount 6. The 7th will be a spare in case we break a panel. Since they seem to change the physical size at times I wanted a spare that would fit the custom mount.

We will have a little greater electrical demands on the Endeavour with a bigger frig/freezer and a few other things, but I'm hoping the 480 watts of panels again supplies over 90% of our needs.

What is the cost? 6 panels at $159.00 (they are $129 now) is $954, say $1000 with freight. A Blue Sky 3024iL 30 amp MPPT controller was $349. About $600 worth of aluminum from onlinemetals to build a mount with above the bimini for the 5 panels (SS would be better, but even more, but would go that route if we were full time cruisers). A couple hundred dollars for wire to keep wiring loses under 3%. So a total of about $2100 and I'm doing all of the work so no labor charges. Not cheap, but for us well worth the expense.

What is the payback time. For us less than a month. Here is my unique payback time formula for boat expenses. Take last year when we were in Florida for 90 days on the water. If we would of gone down there on a 90 day vacation on land it would of cost us just for the time we were there at least $125 a day for gas, food and a motel room and that is being optimistic. So 90 X $125 is $11,250.00. Our 90 day cost was a couple hundred dollars for food and a mooring ball for a couple days a Marathon. Since we anchor out, don't go to marinas and go to very few restaruants our expenses on the water or less than at home. So with the formula above it won't take long to pay for the panels

.

Some parting thoughts. Keep the panels inboard of the sides and if you can the stern of the boat in Florida and any other place there are pilings. We have dinghy davits on the back of the Endeavour and I was going to put 2 panels above them, but finally figured out how I could mount all 6 panels above the bimini. When we bought the boat the dinghy davits had come into contact with the pilings where the boat was slipped at Ft. Myers Beach, so be careful if you put the panels there.

Also we have been very happy with Solar Blvd. I've seen a little cheaper pricing other places, but they are a 'real' business that you can get on the phone. They took care of us when we broke the panel in Florida and didn't try and gouge us on that deal and in fact the panel was on sale and they told me that and gave me that price. We have gotten all of our panels from them and they are their 'in-house' panels and so far have been fine.

We have gone with the Blue Sky Solar MPPT controllers from them and like them, but have no comparison to other brands. Adequate wiring and a MPPT controller will maximize results from any panels you have and we are limited on how many panels we can put on our boats. Our Mac is maxed out and we could probably still put a couple more panels on the Endeavour over the dinghy, but that is about it.

I like more panels that are smaller vs. fewer that are larger just in case you do loose one for some reason while your are out.

On sizing a system be very conservative on output expectations. It is hard to have the panels optimized for sun angle on a boat. The sun is at low angles a lot of the day. There can be clouds or boat parts shading the panels. They aren't as effective on hot days vs. winter days, but then the winter days are so much shorter. So it will be almost a miracle if the panel is ever putting out its rated wattage and then only if you have a MPPT controller on it and not a PWM controller.

Good luck and we love solar,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Endeavour 37[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our MacGregor S Pages[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]

paul1938 · Jan 10, 2012

Almost all of the panels sold in California and rebatable are California Certified to generate 80 or 90% of their rating over a 20 year period. There is probably a list of the approved ones.
I had bought 60 of the 180s, and it turned out they were certified at 183 so I received a larger rebate. Good luck.

RichH · Jan 10, 2012

Bill Roosa said:
DIY and save <$1/Watt solarwindusa.com 250 watts for $200

Totally agree with Bill. You can DIY your own panels made from bulk cells, aluminum framing and moisture proof sheets for support, etc. Especially now that individual cells are at historic low prices, if you can solder an intact join, etc. then if you want to have an extremely low $/w-hr, this may be the way to go.

The 'net' has a lot of info on DIY panels (some good, some god-awful rip-offs, so beware).

njsail · Jan 10, 2012

The Kyocera 130watt' panels you mention are great for Marine use and are a solid deal (IMHO) at $300ish. We have a pair mounted above our dingy davits and they have worked great for many years. They are sealed for marine use as well as they are rated/tested for high wind which is very important when you have them hanging off the back end of your boat. You can buy the generic brands (evergreen, etc) for $180 for 130 watts but many of them are B-grade and might also have issues with the glass clouding (so I've heard). They prices have fallen through the floor on solar which makes it so much more affordable. Our Kyocera's have been in 60-90mph winds a number of times without any issue. I also forgot to fold them up in the winter and snow loaded up on them. We also have a Blue Sky controller and a Trimetric 2020 meter. Older but they work well.

If you have room above the bimini that's a great place too, but you'll always have some shade from the boom. hanging out the aft end they are usually shade free. It's silent...and as soon as the sun comes up in the morning I watch the Trimetric light up and start charging. It's incredible to have the fridge running 24/7 without plugging in and all the lights and music you want. Don't forget to look on ebay for LED replacement lights (soft light, not harsh white). Besides the refer...the lights are your next major power draw at anchor.

Good luck.

windward54 · Jan 10, 2012

I've been looking at installing solar on my boat. Most people I have talked to like the Blue Sky MPPT controller. In looking around, I did find this, a Blue Sky modified for the marine environment.

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/e30-Package-Blue-Sky-1524iX-12V%2d25A-270W-Solar.html

Sumner · Jan 10, 2012

windward54 said:
I've been looking at installing solar on my boat. Most people I have talked to like the Blue Sky MPPT controller. In looking around, I did find this, a Blue Sky modified for the marine environment.

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/e30-Package-Blue-Sky-1524iX-12V%2d25A-270W-Solar.html

That is the same controller that we are using on our Mac. You can find it for a little over $200...

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/e30-Package-Blue-Sky-1524iX-12V%2d25A-270W-Solar.html

I might be wrong, but to me it looks like they just put it in a waterproof box and jumpered from the outputs/inputs on the controller to a terminal strip on the outside of the box. If so that is something that wouldn't be all that hard to do, but if you want to pay for that service it is up to you.

I'd also talk to a Blue Sky tech rep and see if the unit needs some air for cooling before doing it myself. Sometimes I wonder about the "marine" mods. I see thousands of homes on the water in Florida alone. If the inside of my boat stays dry then what is the difference vs. a house sitting 50 feet from the water?

Now saying that if you are really going offshore and can see heavy weather there then I'll say their is a difference in what you might need. If you are coastal or inland and sit out weather do you 'always' need the marine grade. I could buy almost two of those controllers for the price of the one "totally enclosed marine grade package",

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Endeavour 37[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our MacGregor S Pages[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]

Maine Sail · Jan 11, 2012

Sumner said:
I'd also talk to a Blue Sky tech rep and see if the unit needs some air for cooling before doing it myself. Sometimes I wonder about the "marine" mods. I see thousands of homes on the water in Florida alone. If the inside of my boat stays dry then what is the difference vs. a house sitting 50 feet from the water?
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/macgregor-links-1.html[/FONT]

Nearly every home in Florida has central air which often keeps the humidity to 50% or less. We're in Maine, close to the water, and I can assure you the humidity takes it's toll..

Just ask my power tools..