Finally have solar on the boat.

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Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
OK, not the best job, but at least I can go afloat and not worry (too much) about power conservation. This is a quick job for a mini cruise my wife and I will take on Saturday.

Panel is 50 Watt Renogy I purchased on Amazon. It is mounted with insulated 1" clamps. The support is not glued together yet. I am still experimenting with how I want to use it. I was thinking mounting a tee on the lower horizontal rail and shortening the support arm. Anyway, the tee under the panel is tie wrapped to the panel. Bottom of support has nothing right now by I might add a tee or end cap for now. 1" Schedule 40 PVC support.

Results show voltage from the panel about 21.4vdc and voltage at the controller load is 14.2vdc. Connecting the controller to the battery is 3' of #14 wire. I will change that to #10 before I leave.

So, finally I can charge while sailing and on the hook. Took me awhile but I am glad that I have finally done it. Please be gentle in your criticism. ;) :dance:
 

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Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,774
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Great job, I've been wanting to do that for a while now but it is still a dream. Now you need one for the other side :) symmetry
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Symmetry? or wings? LOL... Yeah, for another day and another time. That would give me 100 watts. Nice.
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
looks good but what about poles while pulling into/out of a slip or along a pier.......my Bar B Q is mounted in the exact spot and I can count on my fingers how many times it go whacked......never bent it or the rail cause it always moved on the clamps.....just saying
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
It can fold down, yes. But I have to loosen the rubber clamps. No big deal. Thinking nylon instead of rubber would help in that regard. Still playing around with the thing. Notice that it is not horizontal. Need to adjust the support poll a wee bit to make it eye appeasing.
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
7,993
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
For some reason, I elected to support my array just underneath the rails. It's also pivotable.

But I 'spect you don't drop your mast on the rails as much as I do? :redface:

(I hate when that happens.)
 

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Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
You obviously have professional mounting hardware, I don't. I like how yours is set up. That is what I am trying to achieve. But at a fraction of the cost. Nice install, JSG.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
im sure that will work fine... its nice to have away to keep the battery ahead of the radio consumption and lights.
the one thing i would consider is tying it down so a gust of wind cant lift it and let the lower support become unsupported...
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Yeah, centerline. A 3/16 line through the tee and to the toe rail should do the trick. At least for now.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
7,993
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Brian D said:
You obviously have professional mounting hardware, I don't. I like how yours is set up. That is what I am trying to achieve. But at a fraction of the cost. Nice install, JSG.
Click to expand
Thanks. But I'm still a cheap bastard, and there's only around $70.00 worth of fittings (freight included) there.

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|7504|2290217|2290219&id=2097020

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|2290217|2290219&id=2096974

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|7504|2290217|2290219&id=2089396

I re-purposed my old spreaders as supports, cut to 3 different lengths to orient, and built my own rail clamps from stuff I had lying around.

Since your panel seems larger, you might want to think about beefing up the panel's framing with some aluminum angle stock?

I may still find that to be necessary on my set-up. We'll see very soon. :dance:

A fun and worthwhile project.
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Thanks for the links, JSM. When my mini cruise is done, I want to do a better install. But for now, I think it will hold up just fine.
 
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