Ok, I need help figuring out what kind, size,etc. solar panel to buy? Not sure what all to list here... to get the best help so... I have a 1981 , 30 ft hunter pretty much all stock right now, but I added or going to be adding the following items. 1- icebox refrigation unit 2.2 amp draw 2- Lewmar windlass typ.power watts 700 3- vhf, am/fm radios, two small fans, 1000gpm bilge pump,Jacob press. water pump. 4- 440 Garmin GPS,ramarine depth, spend,wind. 5- Labtop Computer running off of 400 watt invertor, I spend alot of time on the internet. 6- 110v TV 9" , but can do without it. 7- stock lights for this year of boat.( nav. cabin,etc. ) 8- chargers for cell phone,portable vhf, etc. In addion to what i listed above I have a Microwave, toaster,and a hatch type ac unit, but planning to use my generator for these items. I have one starting battery , AGM group 24 Three house batteries , AGM group 31 ,106ah The only charger I have now is a pro sport 20 plus,110 volt. I will be living aboard on mooring or anchor , no shore power. working during the weekdays so other than the refrigator most everything else will be off . probably will use most of power during evening hours and weekends, if that makes a differnce. Question: Whats the best kind of solar should I buy? ( for sunny Florida area.) Whats size should i buy? (watt, amp) I`m pretty dumb when it comes to figuring out amps x watts etc. What do i need the have besides the solar unit to charge the batteries? ( for install) Would a wind genertor work better for me , if so what all do I need for install? Oh and the solar panel will be mounted above dinghy davits , about a 36" x ? area two work with.
help with solar power ?
- Thread starter Chet7135
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Electrical Budget Worksheet
Download the West Marine Electrical Budget Worksheet and calculate 'exactly' what you are using and need to replace. See the link. I have been looking for solar cells myself and have calculated that about 60 watts (which is 4 amps @ 15vdc) will do me fine. Granted I don't think I will get that entire 4 amps, but that is way more than what I require. Based on 5 sun hours of charge, I should get somewhere around 20 amps. Like I said, good enough for me. Just my 2¢ worth. [added] Speaking of the Solar Stik, have you seen the video on YouTube?
Download the West Marine Electrical Budget Worksheet and calculate 'exactly' what you are using and need to replace. See the link. I have been looking for solar cells myself and have calculated that about 60 watts (which is 4 amps @ 15vdc) will do me fine. Granted I don't think I will get that entire 4 amps, but that is way more than what I require. Based on 5 sun hours of charge, I should get somewhere around 20 amps. Like I said, good enough for me. Just my 2¢ worth. [added] Speaking of the Solar Stik, have you seen the video on YouTube?
What you need
To keep you self sufficient in power by solar panels in a live aboard situation with plenty of lights in evenings and assuming you need an anchor light at night you will probably use about 80- 90 ampere hours per 24 hours. With your battery capacity, three solar panels of 80 ah each will guarantee you self sufficency in Florida conditions. On some cloudy or rainy days you will be in a negative situation by nightfall but your battery capacity is sufficient to cover the gaps. I have a similar set up on my H33 and never have to run the motor or a gen set. I get can get in around 80ah on a sunny day which more than compensates for night losses plus any losses from a few miserable days. One thing people often forget in these calculations is that although you might have a total average use over 24 hours of say 80 ah, some of this (mostly refridgeration) occurs during the day when the solar panels are putting it all back in. Thus the net loss per 24 hours is a lot less than the 80 ah useage.
To keep you self sufficient in power by solar panels in a live aboard situation with plenty of lights in evenings and assuming you need an anchor light at night you will probably use about 80- 90 ampere hours per 24 hours. With your battery capacity, three solar panels of 80 ah each will guarantee you self sufficency in Florida conditions. On some cloudy or rainy days you will be in a negative situation by nightfall but your battery capacity is sufficient to cover the gaps. I have a similar set up on my H33 and never have to run the motor or a gen set. I get can get in around 80ah on a sunny day which more than compensates for night losses plus any losses from a few miserable days. One thing people often forget in these calculations is that although you might have a total average use over 24 hours of say 80 ah, some of this (mostly refridgeration) occurs during the day when the solar panels are putting it all back in. Thus the net loss per 24 hours is a lot less than the 80 ah useage.
if you are only going solar power...
with your consumption need you need the largest soloar array you can fit on the boat. However, to meet the your needs correctly you need a larger alternator and smart regulator, perhaps a wind generator and perhaps an installed gererator.
with your consumption need you need the largest soloar array you can fit on the boat. However, to meet the your needs correctly you need a larger alternator and smart regulator, perhaps a wind generator and perhaps an installed gererator.
Boat power spread sheet
I ran into the exact same problem and built an excel spreadsheet that lets you divorce yourself from the number crunching. While it is not ready for prime time and I don't have any intention of making it so it is free. email me at roosaw@verizon.net for a copy and some instructions. For anybody reading this post after 1 Oct 07 I will be deployed to Iraq till July 08 and will not be able to respond to your requests.
I ran into the exact same problem and built an excel spreadsheet that lets you divorce yourself from the number crunching. While it is not ready for prime time and I don't have any intention of making it so it is free. email me at roosaw@verizon.net for a copy and some instructions. For anybody reading this post after 1 Oct 07 I will be deployed to Iraq till July 08 and will not be able to respond to your requests.
Solar panels
Always get the 36 cell type as they insure that you get sufficient voltage even when the sun heats the panel and reduces the efficiency. nothing like buying several thousand dollars of solar only to find out that it will only put out 13 volts. 13 volts will, BTW not charge your batteries. You need a solar capable of something like 16 volts to account for blocking diodes, wire losses, high temp losses, etc
Always get the 36 cell type as they insure that you get sufficient voltage even when the sun heats the panel and reduces the efficiency. nothing like buying several thousand dollars of solar only to find out that it will only put out 13 volts. 13 volts will, BTW not charge your batteries. You need a solar capable of something like 16 volts to account for blocking diodes, wire losses, high temp losses, etc
Solar
IF the math is giving you a problem , d/l the work sheet from west marine or visit www.icpsolar.com. they have a solar calculator that helps understand. I purchased / installed the KC-130 on my hunter 30 and been very plesed with it. under no load conditions it cranks out 21.6 volts. its abt 25 lbs but will be fine on our divits. I built a frame for mine and mounted it above the bimini. I also have the ice box kit that draws less than 3 amps at 12V and a 12V color tv, Laptop on a 700 watt inverter. So far no problems. AS far as lighting at night , i use hurricane oil lamps and only use the boat anchor light for 12V lighting. Here is the link for the system i installed on my hunter 30 www.wholesalesolar.com 1 KC-130 130watt panel 1 15 Amp charge controller. 1 85 AH house battery but adding another for extended cruising.
IF the math is giving you a problem , d/l the work sheet from west marine or visit www.icpsolar.com. they have a solar calculator that helps understand. I purchased / installed the KC-130 on my hunter 30 and been very plesed with it. under no load conditions it cranks out 21.6 volts. its abt 25 lbs but will be fine on our divits. I built a frame for mine and mounted it above the bimini. I also have the ice box kit that draws less than 3 amps at 12V and a 12V color tv, Laptop on a 700 watt inverter. So far no problems. AS far as lighting at night , i use hurricane oil lamps and only use the boat anchor light for 12V lighting. Here is the link for the system i installed on my hunter 30 www.wholesalesolar.com 1 KC-130 130watt panel 1 15 Amp charge controller. 1 85 AH house battery but adding another for extended cruising.
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