Need some guidance on charging system for my 26.5 Hunter (1987). at the present time my battery charges off the engine (Honda 9.9). I burned about 1 gallon of fuel last season I don't like to run the engine when sailing, so I am considering installing a solar charging system. i would like recommendations on any systems people have installed or used. I have very low power demand, depth finder, speed and radio. engine is a pull start. thanks in advance.
charging system
- Thread starter Hickdog
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Without an energy audit, get the largest, highest-wattage quality panel(s) you can comfortably mount onto your boat, and a proper charge controller.
Seeing as you're in Maine, I think having the ability to orient your panels relatively easily can help, too.
Search Main Sail's forum for this oft-occurring subject, also.
HTH.
Seeing as you're in Maine, I think having the ability to orient your panels relatively easily can help, too.
Search Main Sail's forum for this oft-occurring subject, also.
HTH.
You're welcome. As far as batteries go, Main Sail's forum is still your go-to source. I'm sure others will chime in, of course.
Happy searching!
A lot depends on how you use the boat. night sailing? weekend sailor? daysails only..... If I was designing for the worst case then a full night sail with nav lights, instruments, and radios on. Follow this with a day and night at anchor with just the radio and anchor light on and then motor home. the math looks like 5 amps * 12 hours + 1 amp *12 hours + 3 amps * 12 hours = 9*12=108 Ah for a weekend out without charging......so a 200 Ah battery bank will "get you through" without solar panels. Add in solar charging for 12 of those hours at half of the rated panel output (sun angle and swinging on the hook.....lots of problems getting the panels "full on" to the sun on boats) and you could subtract:
20 watt panels--> 10 watts/14.4 volts= 0.7 amps for 12 hours or 8.3 Ah your batteries don't need to store.
40 watt ---> 16.6 Ah
80 watt--> 33.2 Ah
160 watt--> 66.4 Ah (you are probably out of bimini acarage at this size)
But it depends on YOUR usage not my SWAG.
20 watt panels--> 10 watts/14.4 volts= 0.7 amps for 12 hours or 8.3 Ah your batteries don't need to store.
40 watt ---> 16.6 Ah
80 watt--> 33.2 Ah
160 watt--> 66.4 Ah (you are probably out of bimini acarage at this size)
But it depends on YOUR usage not my SWAG.
thanks for the info. at this time we are day sailing only. I can see your point on an overnight or weekend voyage.
Let's start at the beginning. Where do you keep the boat? The most convenient and efficient way to recharge batteries is with a plug in electrical charger. A boat on a slip or a trailer can usually find an electrical outlet. A boat on a mooring can be best served by a solar panel but bear in mind that you only get maximum output for a limited few hours a day on some days. Hence the recommendation of getting the largest that can fit the boat. Definitely go with a deep cycle battery as they provide better performance under charging and discharging cycles. For day sailing, with low power demands and no engine electrical start I would recommend a real simple system composed of a single wet cell battery with 90 to 100 ah capacity. A group 24 or 27 will do depending on available space. You can use a single on/off battery switch and perhaps a small single battery 6A charger. The object is to recharge the battery after every use back to full capacity to prevent sulfation and elongate its useful life.
Although I have an inboard diesel, my typical DC demand is like yours. Mostly day sails. When out, its only GPS, Auto-Pilot, Depth Sounder and Knot-Meter. My VHF for day sailing is a hand-held always attached to my PFD (which I always have on). Engine is only used for leaving/returning the berth. And given the short ~1.0 mile each way along the channel = not much charging time by the alternator. I don't have a fridge. All interior lights are LED. The TV/DVD is AC only. So even an overnight out can't deplete the batteries much.
I'm in an AC supplied berth. But I don't connect to the AC unless spending the night and in need of a few creature comforts. I turn on my AC charger only once or so per year just to feel better about the cost of it! Instead, one 20W solar panel and one dual battery controller has kept my two dual purpose group 27 batteries charged fine for five years now. What I want/need is the batteries to be always topped up between my visits to the boat.
From your description, this is is your case as well.
As suggested, read Maine Sail's excellent primers/tutorials on the subject. The price of solar panels has dropped significantly since my 20W purchase. A small sized 30-40 watt panel (which is what I would opt for now for even more re-charging "head-room") will give more than enough to maintain your battery(s) and/or fully recharge it/them over a day or two between sails.
I have read that solar is the best way to maintain a battery. They like to have charge/maintenance voltage (during the day) and then return to natural resting state (during the night). Seems to be working for me. I've also read that today's dedicated AC smart chargers have algorithms to do the same thing. Charge to perfection. Then turn off for a while. Resume when it senses the battery needs some charge again.
I'm in an AC supplied berth. But I don't connect to the AC unless spending the night and in need of a few creature comforts. I turn on my AC charger only once or so per year just to feel better about the cost of it! Instead, one 20W solar panel and one dual battery controller has kept my two dual purpose group 27 batteries charged fine for five years now. What I want/need is the batteries to be always topped up between my visits to the boat.
From your description, this is is your case as well.
As suggested, read Maine Sail's excellent primers/tutorials on the subject. The price of solar panels has dropped significantly since my 20W purchase. A small sized 30-40 watt panel (which is what I would opt for now for even more re-charging "head-room") will give more than enough to maintain your battery(s) and/or fully recharge it/them over a day or two between sails.
I have read that solar is the best way to maintain a battery. They like to have charge/maintenance voltage (during the day) and then return to natural resting state (during the night). Seems to be working for me. I've also read that today's dedicated AC smart chargers have algorithms to do the same thing. Charge to perfection. Then turn off for a while. Resume when it senses the battery needs some charge again.
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You might want to check my site for general info. If you have just one battery, you could use either of the cheaper controllers we handle. From your description of sailing habits and power usage, the 20w should do. If you sail for 2 or 3 days, you might want to add another battery and consider the MorningStar Duo. If you decide to cruise longer, a 40w might be a better choice.
It's always best to do an energy audit and look at your actual numbers. Good luck.
Mike
coastalsolarsales.com
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