Is the factory solar trickle charger neccesary?

Rick

Rick

.
Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
2004 Hunter 420 Passage
The factory 10 watt Uni Solar panel has been inop for a while now and is a ugly spot on the coach roof. Uni solar went bankrupt a long time ago. There arent any replacements out there that are the right size. Some close. And here on the sight, a replacement is just not cost effective. So a couple of questions, oh and I am five hours from the boat.

Do I need this panel? I mean an amp maybe.
If I have my general knowledge correct, the start battery is charged by the alternator. When I start the engine, a solenoid in the generator locker auto combines both house (400 amps) and starter. When i use the windlass, the engine is always running. Motoring is a way or life when your destination is out of the bay in San Diego at least some of the time.

Im leaning towards not replacing it.

Thoughts?
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,979
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
10 watts of solar is pretty much worthless, it is only .8 amps. Over the coarse of a good day of sun, it generates maybe 3 to 5 ah, roughly 1% of your battery capacity and less than that actually makes it to the battery due to charging inefficiencies.
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

.
Feb 10, 2004
4,140
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Mine hasn't worked for 20+ years. So what? Maybe you could remove it and replace it with a piece of white plastic to be more visually pleasing.
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,416
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Ok, so first - I know nothing about your boat and what a 10 watt panel might be doing that would make it needed in your system.

That said, a 10watt solar panel sure isn't doing much of anything other than taking up some real estate and if been inoperable as you say and nothing bad has happened, I'd yank it off in a heartbeat. Now, I might look at putting like a 400 watt panel on, or something in a more useful range. But worry about a 10 W panel? NOPE.

dj
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
That in Deck Solar Panel is wired to maintain your Start Battery only, thus 35 watts.

Jim...

55119.jpg
 
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Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

.
Jan 4, 2006
7,268
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Rick said:
Do I need this panel?
Click to expand
Are you on a dock with electrical supply ?

Do you have a battery charger installed in your boat ?

If the answer is yes to both questions, I would say a fish pond on your forward deck would be more useful that a 10 watt solar generator.
 
Rick D

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,186
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
It offended me not to have one, so I purchased one and the bezel from this site and installed it. BTW, I long ago put any output into the overall solar feed. I get a surprising amount of power from it. Is it cost-effective? Probably not where you are. Not for me either, but I just did it.
 
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Rick

Rick

.
Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Thanks for all the input fellow sailors.
Always good to ask a question here. @RickD, good to see you are well. Seems a lifetime ago when you blew by us at the start of the NOSA race. As I said, I would replace but for a tiny panel that is a ton of cost. I have 575 watts of solar that just charges my house lithium bank. It actually looks fine after removing the factory panel and cleaning up. I am sure the wife will come up with something to freshen up the area.

Im gonna live without it. In my cruising grounds, just not necessary.

Cheers
 
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MikeHoncho

MikeHoncho

.
Dec 28, 2015
1,909
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
your boats existing 575 watts is not going to be able to tell the difference in 11 watts either way.
 
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