how to install a solor panel on 93 23.5

dstrippe · Mar 2, 2015

smaller solar solutions

sailboat738 said:
Hi Guy's
I'm picking brains , i sail on a pa state lake with no power . I leave the boat all summer , but the battery keeps going down i dont want to keep taking home every few weeks to top up the only thing that is on is the builge pump (never run yet !!!) i use cabin lights when i stay overnight 2 times a month if im lucky
. so i thought about adding a depht finder so i will be using more 12 v power and i think its time to add a solor panel any ideas any thoughts ?

I've used smaller panels on my boat from Aurinco. The smaller package gives you some flexibility in installation and with a small MPPT controller you could get a couple of amps with a 25 W panel.

mmsailor · Mar 2, 2015

sailboat738 said:
Hi Guy's
I'm picking brains , i sail on a pa state lake with no power . I leave the boat all summer , but the battery keeps going down i dont want to keep taking home every few weeks to top up the only thing that is on is the builge pump (never run yet !!!) i use cabin lights when i stay overnight 2 times a month if im lucky
. so i thought about adding a depht finder so i will be using more 12 v power and i think its time to add a solor panel any ideas any thoughts ?

I have a 23.5 and a solar panel that has never been installed . I posted a similiar question some time ago and one responder said he leaves the panel in his cabin while he is away and gets enough sunlight thru the slider to keep his battery topped up . I have a panel that came with the boat but not sure it works . It has a thru hull plug in on the transom with a wire that runs to the battery under the aft berth matress . It has clamps to attach it to the stern rail ,. Very neat and clean install I just am not sure the thing works so got a new one . The old one has a three prong plug if I am not mistaken . It either does not work or there is a short somewhere draining the battery . I am starting this season with a new marine battery . The previous owner had a car battery in the boat . There were so many other things I needed to take care of that the battery was at the bottom of the list .

Stu Jackson · Mar 2, 2015

There's a good solar install article here. You should become familiar with the website, great stuff.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects

sesmith · Mar 2, 2015

When we had our 23.5 I used a 15 watt panel and pwm charge controller. I just put the panel out when we left the boat, and did not permanently mount it. It kept up with most of the drain, except when we were gone for a week or more at a time on the boat. We usually needed to plan on a marina stop every few days to top things off with shore power. It helped to switch all cabin lighting and the anchor light over to LED.

Our current boat has a 75 watt panel permanently installed. It keeps up with all our use. We don't have shore power on this one. We also don't have refrigeration.

tallswede · Mar 7, 2015

I have a small panel I bought at West marine for about $60 that just plugs into a power receptacle (cigarette lighter socket). It keeps the battery charged up fine all year long. I have had to put distilled water to top off about once a year.

Kevin

Brian D · Mar 7, 2015

Here is mine: http://forums.lancer.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=167896&#post1170390[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Crazy Dave Condon · Mar 9, 2015

ne response included a car battery. It does not matter, I always suggest marine battery over the standard car battery any day and that should be a priority.

bysiklest · Mar 9, 2015

On my 23.5 I have a two battery setup with a dual battery charger. One battery powers an aftermarket stereo system and the other all the normal stuff like lights and bilge.

I store my boat on it's trailer in a storage facility that does not have a power source so the battery charger was not of use. I picked up one of these to help maintain the two deep cycle batteries. It is just a maintainer used to just keep the batteries topped off, but has worked to recharge them from normal day trips out on the lake.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578629_200578629

It has worked well and I just switch it between the two batteries. I did have to remove the dual charger from the battery being charged by the solar panel or it would create a short and drain that battery for some reason.

When I have it plugged in I left the panel sitting outside and just ran the cord through the small opening I have between the companionway and sliding top section. I have a tarp tent setup over that area to keep water out anyway so I have not seen any excess water getting inside the cabin.