new battery charger install, & new solar panel project....

M

MitchM

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Jan 20, 2005
1,031
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
just got the info i need from maineSail's great site...my 2 spring projects are : #1-- install a whole new shorepower and battery charger system into a com pac horizon cat i'm restoring , and #2 --install a flexible solar panel onto the bimini with a MPPT controller and nice deck gland. after a lot of internet browsing, searching i found MaineSail's how-to articles. i just ordered up the battery charger from him (and a compass marine hat..) . his writeup on solar panels was very helpful, and it looks like i'll be ordering the Solbian flex panel setup he recommended. (he's now a dealer for that panel, which has tremendous weight advantages over the rigid panels.) ( then i found another project of his: new teak veneer stereo box .... might make that #3. )

fair winds and a lot of work ahead....
 
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ggrizzard

ggrizzard

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May 27, 2004
2,042
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
For those who may not know of Compass Marine, could you post a link to "Maine Sail's" web page regarding the solar panels?
Thanks,
G.
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,583
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Very interested to hear how your solar install works out. We are considering doing the same, but I’m on the fence about what panels to use. I don’t doubt that the Solbian panels are the highest quality, but they come at a serious price premium that makes them hard to justify for my pretty casual use. I can find panels for much less that claim to be SunPower cells, and I’d take the chance with them if it were just a matter of the panel cost. But I’m nervous about having my Bimini tailored to attach one brand of panel that might not last, leaving me out not just the panel cost but also the custom canvas work.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,799
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
ggrizzard said:
For those who may not know of Compass Marine, could you post a link to "Maine Sail's" web page regarding the solar panels?
Thanks,
G.
Click to expand
www.MarineHowTo.com

Davidasailor26 said:
Very interested to hear how your solar install works out. We are considering doing the same, but I’m on the fence about what panels to use. I don’t doubt that the Solbian panels are the highest quality, but they come at a serious price premium that makes them hard to justify for my pretty casual use. I can find panels for much less that claim to be SunPower cells, and I’d take the chance with them if it were just a matter of the panel cost. But I’m nervous about having my Bimini tailored to attach one brand of panel that might not last, leaving me out not just the panel cost but also the custom canvas work.
Click to expand
Take a look at this article by Nigel Calder. One of the most informative I have read.

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 www.proboat.com
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Davidasailor26 said:
Very interested to hear how your solar install works out. We are considering doing the same, but I’m on the fence about what panels to use. I don’t doubt that the Solbian panels are the highest quality, but they come at a serious price premium that makes them hard to justify for my pretty casual use. I can find panels for much less that claim to be SunPower cells, and I’d take the chance with them if it were just a matter of the panel cost. But I’m nervous about having my Bimini tailored to attach one brand of panel that might not last, leaving me out not just the panel cost but also the custom canvas work.
Click to expand
I am using a Renogy 50W panel on my boat. Works great. Have had zero problems so far. My panel is rail mounted, not bimini mounted. YMMV
 
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Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,583
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
dlochner said:
www.MarineHowTo.com



Take a look at this article by Nigel Calder. One of the most informative I have read.

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 www.proboat.com
Click to expand
I’ve seen that article, and I agree it’s a great summation of the various considerations. But when I look at, for example a 170 watt SunPower branded panel for $400, or a 145 watt panel with “SunPower cells” for $725, or a Solbian SR 144 watt panel for a whopping $1316, how can I tell the difference? The lower cost ones are from US dealers, not random Chinese knock off sites. I’m sure there’s some amount of getting what you pay for, but no where can I find actual data other than “knock-offs are bad, Solbian are good because they use genuine SunPower”.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,799
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Davidasailor26 said:
I’ve seen that article, and I agree it’s a great summation of the various considerations. But when I look at, for example a 170 watt SunPower branded panel for $400, or a 145 watt panel with “SunPower cells” for $725, or a Solbian SR 144 watt panel for a whopping $1316, how can I tell the difference? The lower cost ones are from US dealers, not random Chinese knock off sites. I’m sure there’s some amount of getting what you pay for, but no where can I find actual data other than “knock-offs are bad, Solbian are good because they use genuine SunPower”.
Click to expand
Look at the efficiency ratings and look at the physical size for the wattage. I bought a couple of Solara panels because they use the good SunPower cells and wattage per square foot was higher than others in a similar range.

SunPower sells different grades of cells. So a panel could legitimately have SunPower cells, but these might be lower grade cells. The higher grade cells with advanced construction generate more power in lower light conditions and are less affected by shading and overcast skies.

From all that I've learned, solar panels seem to be the Wild West and you get what you pay for if you buy from a reputable dealer.
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,583
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
dlochner said:
Look at the efficiency ratings and look at the physical size for the wattage. I bought a couple of Solara panels because they use the good SunPower cells and wattage per square foot was higher than others in a similar range.
Click to expand
No help there in my case unfortunately. The $400 panel is 8.51 square inches per watt. The $725 one is 7.71 square inches per watt, and the Solbian is, in theory, the least efficient, at 10.1 square inches per watt.

dlochner said:
From all that I've learned, solar panels seem to be the Wild West
Click to expand
Well that certainly seems to be the truth.
 
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