Replacing the standard solar panel on a 40.5?

[Dennisail]

My stock deck mounted solar panel is a mess. I need to replace it. Does anyone know where the wires end up? I am assuming it is not even regulated?

I would like to get rid of it but with all the mouldings etc it might be best to either find a thin flexible one to replace it if its possible to find the right size, or fit a alloy frame one over the top so it looks neat.

I found that a 65w alloy frame unit will pretty much perfectly cover the hole and frame of the old one.

What are have others done?

 

[Bill Roosa]

The wires go through the deck at the panel aft port corner then follow the aft head forward bulkhead around to the nav panel on the salon side of the bulkhead. They don't go into the panel though just near it. they share the wire run from nav panel to battery compartment. There should be a "solar" fuse on the battery compartment panel in the starboard lazerette. the positive goes to the fuse and the negative goes to the ground buss located under the lazerette floor on the aft starboard corner.

 

[Dennisail]

Thanks! That means it will be easy to just hook the wires up to my existing solar controller for my other panels which is in the lazarette anyway.

Still not sure what to do with the panel though.

 

[fabrik]

well had the same question but would like to know also wich pannel could fit in that space
Capt Michel

 

[redunculous]

Awaiting more info on this as well

 

[Don Lucas]

Still not sure what to do with the panel though.

If you have a real panel just forget about that unless one that came on the boat as at best it is only a trickle start battery charger.