Old dog trying to learn new tricks...

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Robspan

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Apr 30, 2006
610
Macgregor 26s Kemah, TX
How much solar panel wattage you need will probably depend on how much you use the boat continuously. If you use it on weekends, with an occasional overnight, and use lights, and maybe run a laptop for a few hours, then you can probably get by with a 15 watt panel with a charge controller. That's 1 amp per hour max in sunlight. That's what I have and it works well. Between that and the lame alternator on the motor, the batteries seem to stay up well.
If you're going to be out for multiple nights at a time, then Sum's setup makes more sense.
 
mccauley13

mccauley13

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Feb 7, 2010
76
macgregor 25 Beaver lake, Rogers Arkansas
Solar Panel

Sumner;

Thanks for your comment about the solar cell being too small. I took your advice and ordered a 40 watt with a controller from Solarblvd this morning. The guy that I talked with seemed to know what he was talking about. Like the mods you have made. I am somewhat limited by the boat (1981 Mac 25) and that it's in the water. Oh well, a little at a time. Once again, thanks.

McCauley13
Bentonville, Arkansas
Beaver Lake



Sumner said:
We bought a ....................



......40 watt last year from these guys......

http://www.solarblvd.com/index.php?cat=c40_20---55-Watt--6-.html
Click to expand
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
mccauley13 said:
Sumner;

Thanks for your comment about the solar cell being too small. I took your advice and ordered a 40 watt with a controller from Solarblvd this morning. The guy that I talked with seemed to know what he was talking about. Like the mods you have made. I am somewhat limited by the boat (1981 Mac 25) and that it's in the water. Oh well, a little at a time. Once again, thanks.

McCauley13
Bentonville, Arkansas
Beaver Lake



Sumner said:
We bought a ....................



......40 watt last year from these guys......

http://www.solarblvd.com/index.php?cat=c40_20---55-Watt--6-.html
Click to expand
Click to expand
I'm planning on installing the 80 watt where that 40 watt one is in the picture above across the back of the boat and it will go over the dinghy motor on a slide track so that I can slide it to port to lower the dinghy motor with the winch. I'll move that 40 watt in the picture just forward of that location so that it will be over the gas powered 12 volt charger/alternator that is under that blue cover.

Now for the other 40 watt I'd like to install I'm considering making a mount on the top slide hatch on the pop-top. I'd like to make a quick release mount where once we are under sail I could bring the 40 watt panel out of storage on the side of the aft berth and put it up there for the day and plug it in. If the weather turns bad and I think I will need to get to the mast I'll leave it below or take it off and stick it below.

It will mainly be an auxiliary to the other 40 and 80 watt panels and hopefully supply all of the electricity for the .....



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/Comp-ChartPlot-Index.html

.....12 volt computer/chartplotter I'm making. With these panels I'm hoping we won't even need to run the gas powered generator most days. I'll post pictures after I do the mounting.

Enjoy the panel and keep an eye on the battery, so that you don't run the water out of it. Walt what are you doing with your panels and batteries when the boat is in the slip? Are you having any problems actually overcharging the batteries and running the water out? When our boat is at home and sitting out I take the panels out of the battery circuit and use some trickle chargers on the batteries off a power cord.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links
 
R

Robspan

.
Apr 30, 2006
610
Macgregor 26s Kemah, TX
Sum,
Doesn't a charge controller prevent overcharging? If so, why would you need trickle chargers?
 
Sumner

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Robspan said:
Sum,
Doesn't a charge controller prevent overcharging? If so, why would you need trickle chargers?
Click to expand
Thanks, I should of looked into that more. I always thought that they just lowered the 16-18 volts that the panels put out down to an acceptable voltage to charge the battery and to prevent reverse draw on the battery at night. I wasn't aware that they monitored the battery and lowered the charge rate to avoid over charging the battery.

I'd looked at my battery voltages a couple times after getting home and leaving the panel hooked to them and it seemed high and I worried I was overcharging them. So now I'll quit worrying about that thanks to you.

The boat is in the shop now, so the trickle chargers are on the two batteries. I leave them on the batteries all of the time, just don't use them when away from home and now I won't use them outside anymore either :).

c ya,

Sum


Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links
 
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