Recommend a 100 watt Solar Setup for my C-22

[Carl Wonderful]

Hello,

Looking for a recommendation or links to a full 100 watt solar setup for my catalina 22. No fridge, no power hungry anything... Just the usual simple necessities for multiple night stays (2 to 4 days) on the boat. Don't need anything fancy.

-An inverter would be nice.
-Also like the charge controller option to see how many Volts I'm at.

There is so many and its really confusing and so many options at a huge range of prices???

Can I get a decent full kit setup for around $300 to $400? Or will I just end up with junk that I'll need to replace in a year or two?

I have 1 brand new, good quality regular Lead acid car battery right now...but nothing else. I would be open to getting another battery in the near future.

Thanks

 

[Davidasailor26]

I have 1 brand new, good quality regular Lead acid car battery right now

Car batteries are not really the best for what you’re looking to do. Car batteries are designed to give a relatively high amperage for a short period of time, like you need for starting a car engine. They aren’t designed for giving low amperage over a long period of time, and they don’t tolerate being deeply discharged very well at all. You’re much better off with a proper deep cycle lead acid battery, or better yet a LiFePO4 lithium battery.

-An inverter would be nice.

Consider what you really want the inverter to and whether you could do the same thing with just 12V connections. Many things, like charging electronics, are doable with just 12V, and skipping the inverter saves complexity and cost.

-Also like the charge controller option to see how many Volts I'm at.

The de facto standard for this is a Victron Smart Shunt. This tracks voltage and the amps in and out of the battery to give a more accurate state of charge than voltage alone. The smart shunt has Bluetooth so you can see the data from your phone without needing to wire an additional display.

 

[dlochner]

-Also like the charge controller option to see how many Volts I'm at.

A Victron Smart Controller with Blue Tooth will provide the info you want and is programmable. Coupled with the Victron Smart Shunt you can have all the information you need on the phone.

I have 1 brand new, good quality regular Lead acid car battery right now...but nothing else. I would be open to getting another battery in the near future.

Consider buying a medium grade (i.e. not the cheapest) LiFePO battery. A 100 amphour battery will give you plenty of power for a few days especially with some solar charging. Many LFP batteries now have Bluetooth so you can directly monitor the battery's condition.

 

[DanMaine]

I put the victron thing on my sailboat with lead/acid batteries. 'Nothing fancy and I don't use much electricity and it has been just great.

 

[jssailem]

In the stated price range of $300-400, you should be able to get a good solar kit that will provide at least 10 years of constant service. Renology is one brand to check out. They have been around for a few years. Look at the warranty for an idea as to the manufacturer's belief that their system will serve you for a specified period of time. Note that not all the components will last the same time frame. The panels are likely to have the longest warranty, 20plus years.

Factors that shorten life: Extreme heat/cold, poor installation (e.g., shading, bad wiring), lack of cleaning, or deep battery discharges. Proper mounting, ventilation, and occasional maintenance (e.g., checking connections) can push these toward the upper end of usable years of service.

The "Car Battery" may be the weakest component. It is not designed to provide energy in the way you suggest using it. You would be better off with a deep-cycle lead-acid or a LiFePO4 battery as @Davidasailor26 suggests.

In choosing a system, make sure that the charging controller is designed to meet the needs of the battery type you choose.

Develop an energy use plan. A list of the ways of use and amounts of power you want to draw from the battery. Think of the battery as your vehicle's fuel tank. Then start adding up the ways you will use the fuel. (i.e. Charge Phone 2 hours 2 amps)

Good luck. Winter is a great time to do this planning.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Both Morningstar and Victron make good charge controllers. Morningstar can be found for a very low price. I had a Morningstar 6amp controller with a 100w Renogy panel on a pair of lead acid batteries that were 7+ years old. I used the boat as a day sailor and never ran out of power. The hardest part will be mounting the panel. You might consider two smaller ones as they are easier to mount