Looking for Solar panel recommendation
- Thread starter xavpil
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Solar Panel | Sail La Vie
PM me if I have missed any needed info.
Great info. Thx!Visit above link. I installed on my Catalina 36 that has 2 4D flooded battery and one 27 starter flooded battery. I have not plugged into shore power since the beggining of 2023.Solar Panel | Sail La Vie
mei1970.org
PM me if I have missed any needed info.
There are lots of variables to consider, however, the adage you get what you pay for holds true with panels. More expensive panels tend to have better cells, are physically stronger, have a smaller footprint, are more efficient, and have better/longer warrantees.
Rigid panels tend to have a longer life than flexible panels, especially if the flexible panels are mounted on fabric, like a dodger or Bimini. Frequent flexing can break the very small wires connecting the panels.
The best article on solar power I've read is by Nigel Calder. A bit technical at times, but the information is great.
www.proboat.com
Rigid panels tend to have a longer life than flexible panels, especially if the flexible panels are mounted on fabric, like a dodger or Bimini. Frequent flexing can break the very small wires connecting the panels.
The best article on solar power I've read is by Nigel Calder. A bit technical at times, but the information is great.
Advances in Onboard Solar - Professional BoatBuilder Magazine
Advances in onboard marine solar technology improved efficiency and lowered the cost. But they also introduced more complexity.
www.proboat.com
I am very happy with our Panasonic panels. They use HJT cells and can outperform the panel rating on occasion. We also have two 200W Rich panels I selected for size constraints. Although they are constructed well, they output about 10-15% less of their rating when compared to the Panasonics. The highest I have seen on the MPPT history is 190W and the Panasonics on the same day hit about 115%.
I bought Solara Panels. They had the smallest footprint and the highest efficiency I could find and 5 year warrantee that covered marine use.
They worked well even in low light conditions, early morning and late afternoon.
I have 2 150 watt panels with independent Victron Smart 75/15 controllers. I was very pleased with their performance. Over the course of one 30 day period we averaged 428 wh, just shy of the projected 3 times the nominal output, 17 days were at 440 wh or greater. This data include several very low production days because we were motoring and/or very cloudy and rainy. On several days the panel produced 600wh or more. The data is for just one of the two panels.
Solara no longer makes the 150w panel, seems they found a way to squeeze another 10 watts out of the panel in the same footprint.
coastalclimatecontrol.com
They worked well even in low light conditions, early morning and late afternoon.
I have 2 150 watt panels with independent Victron Smart 75/15 controllers. I was very pleased with their performance. Over the course of one 30 day period we averaged 428 wh, just shy of the projected 3 times the nominal output, 17 days were at 440 wh or greater. This data include several very low production days because we were motoring and/or very cloudy and rainy. On several days the panel produced 600wh or more. The data is for just one of the two panels.
Solara no longer makes the 150w panel, seems they found a way to squeeze another 10 watts out of the panel in the same footprint.
Shop Coastal Climate Control
Coastal Climate Control, marine refrigeration, air conditioning, flexible and walk-on solar panels, systems monitoring, and battery solutions, including lithium batteries
Dave makes an important point. It’s more about daily Wh production than peak wattage. On the best summer day in the FL panhandle, our 1340W of Panasonics will yield 8kWh, and our 400W Rich 2kWh. So about 6 hours and 5 hours times the rating respectively. It goes down from there based on clouds and shading . The past couple of days we got about 4kWh daily from the Panasonics and 1kWh from the Rich. It was mostly sunny, but with a short day, low sun angle, and a fickle wind that kept putting the boom shadow in the worst spot.
If you do use SunPower, the link below will get you a discount. I don't benefit from this, Bill and Grace on Calico Skies are friends, just like to help them out.
10% off SunPowered Yachts Flex Panels, use code CALICO10
10% off SunPowered Yachts Flex Panel Bundles, use code CALICOBUNDLE
http://affiliates.sunpoweredyachts.co...
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and I talked to them. Shipping from AZ is $800!!!
This is Lyall and Katie....
and I talked to them. Shipping from AZ is $800!!!
Try A1solarstore. I got my 4 Panasonics shipped from them and it was reasonable. Well, it took them two tries. The first shipment they sent the wrong panels and one was damaged. But they answered the phone and emails and it was all sorted rather promptly. They also have locations around the country where you can pick up orders as well.
a1solarstore.com
Solar Power Systems & Solar Energy Equipment - A1 Solar Store
A1 Solar Store is an online shop of solar panels, inverters, batteries, controllers, etc. | Equipment from Panasonic, REC, Jinko Solar, Q CELLS, JA Solar, Enphase and other brands
I"ll check them out, Thx!Try A1solarstore. I got my 4 Panasonics shipped from them and it was reasonable. Well, it took them two tries. The first shipment they sent the wrong panels and one was damaged. But they answered the phone and emails and it was all sorted rather promptly. They also have locations around the country where you can pick up orders as well.
Solar Power Systems & Solar Energy Equipment - A1 Solar Store
A1 Solar Store is an online shop of solar panels, inverters, batteries, controllers, etc. | Equipment from Panasonic, REC, Jinko Solar, Q CELLS, JA Solar, Enphase and other brands
This is Lyall and Katie....
and I talked to them. Shipping from AZ is $800!!!
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How big are the panels? The panels will probably ship motor freight where physical size makes a difference. Two 150 w panels may cost less to ship than one 300w because they are more compact and easier to handle.
and I talked to them. Shipping from AZ is $800!!!
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How big are the panels? The panels will probably ship motor freight where physical size makes a difference. Two 150 w panels may cost less to ship than one 300w because they are more compact and easier to handle.
How big are the panels? The panels will probably ship motor freight where physical size makes a difference. Two 150 w panels may cost less to ship than one 300w because they are more compact and easier to handle.
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The quote was for the solid panels. They have to fabricate a crate that you pay for plus special delivery handling. It makes sense but I can’t justify the cost.
Eight years ago I thought I had done my research and after being persuaded to “consider reputable and proven reliable brands like Solara, Gioco, Solbian or Aurinco” I bought a Gioco 170W flexible solar panel from a very reputable dealer in the area for the dear price of $850(USD). A backing board over a tight Sunbrella bimini and secured with sewn in velcro greatly reduced any chance of chafing or flexing of the panel. Five times in 5 years that panel and it’s replacements failed then the warranty ran out. Three years ago, I went the other way and bought a 175W Renogy for 1/3rd of the price of the “proven brand”.
I have been very happy with the Renogy panel. It and another 160W Sunpower panel with 2 Victron MPPTs satisfy my needs when at anchor. Compared to the various 5 Gioco flexible panels that I had received, I'd give the Renogy panel a thumbs up.
Renogy 175W Rigid Panel $190 shipping in
For the rigid Renogy panels. I just completed season three with my 100w and two low end MorningStar PWM controllers on FLA batteries.Here's some excellent articles regarding solar and chargers
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