I'm considering a 10w solar charger for my 23.5 Hunter. Normal electronics: VHF, Depth, GPS, Auto Piolt, Stereo, basic lighting... Of the following, which would you buy (Again if you like): Unisolar US11 Siemens SM10 Siemens ST10 Other (please list) Thanks for your help. I'll post the results.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
M
Miles
Be more flexible...
Seriously, I like the flexible Unisolar panels. Rigid ones get you more power but they tend to be much more sesitive to partial shadows. If you have a good place to mount it out of the way with no shadows from lifelines, mast, etc. a rigid one might be good. I'd vote for the Unisolar flexible 11 (or better yet 32) watt panel...
Seriously, I like the flexible Unisolar panels. Rigid ones get you more power but they tend to be much more sesitive to partial shadows. If you have a good place to mount it out of the way with no shadows from lifelines, mast, etc. a rigid one might be good. I'd vote for the Unisolar flexible 11 (or better yet 32) watt panel...
F
Frank
D
Dan
Any ideas for securing the flexible ones?
I just bought the 11 watt unisolar but have not mounted it yet because I am worried about theft in the marina. Does anybody have ideas about how to secure one of these flexible panels?
I just bought the 11 watt unisolar but have not mounted it yet because I am worried about theft in the marina. Does anybody have ideas about how to secure one of these flexible panels?
R
Ron Mehringer
Unisolar
I went with the Unisolar 11 for my H26. I like the fact that it's flexible (you can even step on it) and it doesn't have problems with shadows falling on the panel. My boat faces north, so I hang my panel on the back of the companionway (which of course faces south). I run a cable lock thru the grommets on the panel. The cable then runs over the companionway boards with the lock hanging inside. Once you close the companionway hatch the lock is trapped inside and keeps the panel on the outside from talking a walk. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
I went with the Unisolar 11 for my H26. I like the fact that it's flexible (you can even step on it) and it doesn't have problems with shadows falling on the panel. My boat faces north, so I hang my panel on the back of the companionway (which of course faces south). I run a cable lock thru the grommets on the panel. The cable then runs over the companionway boards with the lock hanging inside. Once you close the companionway hatch the lock is trapped inside and keeps the panel on the outside from talking a walk. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
Similar to Ron except...
I also have an 11W UniSolar panel, which I secure by passing my main hatch padlock through one of its grommets when locking the boat. A piece of light line through an adjacent grommet is tied off to the teak handhold on the coachroof, and adjusted to level up the panel and lay it against the cabin bulkhead. In that position, it faces south and doesn't gather dust or bird "gifts". Flexible panels are less efficient than rigid panels but work better in real-world conditions. An 11W panel should be OK as long as you give it enough time between trips to recharge your battery. Recharge time can be surprisingly long, since a panel delivers its rated wattage only when it is clean and positioned square to bright sunshine. Dust, haze, clouds, shadows from the rig and the movement of the sun over the course of the day reduce the panel's ability to generate electricity. For example, if you ran your 75Ah battery down halfway and then tried to recharge it with an 11W panel, it would take over six days to bring the battery back to full charge. I assumed the panel was working at 60% efficiency and seeing 10 hours of usable sunshine a day (12 hours minus the hour after dawn and the hour before sunset). Your local conditions may be worse. Rain and cloudy days will also lengthen the recharge time. If you sail more frequently, get a larger panel. Regardless of panel size, the battery should not be drawn down past half its rated capacity. Repeated deep discharge shortens battery life. Calculate your total energy usage for a typical trip and compare with the capacity of the battery (I can help with this if you're not sure how). If you consistently exceed half the battery's capacity, add another battery or try to use less power. Happy sailing. Peter H23 "Raven"
I also have an 11W UniSolar panel, which I secure by passing my main hatch padlock through one of its grommets when locking the boat. A piece of light line through an adjacent grommet is tied off to the teak handhold on the coachroof, and adjusted to level up the panel and lay it against the cabin bulkhead. In that position, it faces south and doesn't gather dust or bird "gifts". Flexible panels are less efficient than rigid panels but work better in real-world conditions. An 11W panel should be OK as long as you give it enough time between trips to recharge your battery. Recharge time can be surprisingly long, since a panel delivers its rated wattage only when it is clean and positioned square to bright sunshine. Dust, haze, clouds, shadows from the rig and the movement of the sun over the course of the day reduce the panel's ability to generate electricity. For example, if you ran your 75Ah battery down halfway and then tried to recharge it with an 11W panel, it would take over six days to bring the battery back to full charge. I assumed the panel was working at 60% efficiency and seeing 10 hours of usable sunshine a day (12 hours minus the hour after dawn and the hour before sunset). Your local conditions may be worse. Rain and cloudy days will also lengthen the recharge time. If you sail more frequently, get a larger panel. Regardless of panel size, the battery should not be drawn down past half its rated capacity. Repeated deep discharge shortens battery life. Calculate your total energy usage for a typical trip and compare with the capacity of the battery (I can help with this if you're not sure how). If you consistently exceed half the battery's capacity, add another battery or try to use less power. Happy sailing. Peter H23 "Raven"
W
William Jowell
I want to install one on a 260.
I strongly suggest you consult "REAL GOODS". I have relied on them for my solar needs to water cattle from deep wells. You say, "What does this have to do with sailing?" They will educate you FAR beyond your capacity to learn. They are very helpful and will give you more info than the "West" catalog. 800 919 2400 This is not a paid political. However, my children do own stock in the company. Good luck. PS. I know which panel and controller I am going to install. My question is, "Where?"
I strongly suggest you consult "REAL GOODS". I have relied on them for my solar needs to water cattle from deep wells. You say, "What does this have to do with sailing?" They will educate you FAR beyond your capacity to learn. They are very helpful and will give you more info than the "West" catalog. 800 919 2400 This is not a paid political. However, my children do own stock in the company. Good luck. PS. I know which panel and controller I am going to install. My question is, "Where?"
A
Alan Long
Where
Hi Good to see sailors leading the way in non polluting power generation. I installed a Siemens SM-10 panel on the mast crutch at the stern of my 23.5. I fabricated a mounting bracket using a stainless fishing rod holder. If I were doing it again I would use one of the larger ball mount type instrument brackets made by RAM and probably other companies. The RAM brackets are available through West Marine for under $50.00 and are very well made. The wiring for my panel is threaded inside the mast crutch pole, out through a small hole and rubber grommet, through the boat stern using a plastic co-ax cable fitting and to the batteries. Using this mounting scheme gets the panel up out of the way and with clear exposure to the sun. So far it works great given the way I use my boat...usually every other weekend. Let me know if I can be of further help. Alan Long dalanlong@cs.com
Hi Good to see sailors leading the way in non polluting power generation. I installed a Siemens SM-10 panel on the mast crutch at the stern of my 23.5. I fabricated a mounting bracket using a stainless fishing rod holder. If I were doing it again I would use one of the larger ball mount type instrument brackets made by RAM and probably other companies. The RAM brackets are available through West Marine for under $50.00 and are very well made. The wiring for my panel is threaded inside the mast crutch pole, out through a small hole and rubber grommet, through the boat stern using a plastic co-ax cable fitting and to the batteries. Using this mounting scheme gets the panel up out of the way and with clear exposure to the sun. So far it works great given the way I use my boat...usually every other weekend. Let me know if I can be of further help. Alan Long dalanlong@cs.com
- Status
- Not open for further replies.