Solar Daylight Panels

  • Thread starter Barrie McDonald
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Barrie McDonald

I am planning on installing solar panels on my Hunter Legend 37 to keep my house batteries charged when I am at anchor and or sailing. Does anyone have any advice on which panels are the best and any advice on the elecrical installation process. Thanks in advance, Barrie
 
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Richard Laribee

What I did

One friend has a flexible solar panel for his 30' sloop, and another has non-flexible panels mounted on his 45'. I was convinced by looking and talking with them that the non-flexible, permanent mounts are a HUGE mistake. They are very much in the way. My H25 has no generator, nor easy access to AC, so I bought a single 10W flexible panel. My battery is always fully charged... and I come back from overnight trips (running lights, anchor lights, radio, depthfinder, knotmeter) with the battery STILL fully charged. Because it's flexible, I mount it on my cabin top hatch with bungee cords, or stow it easily when it might be in the way. I SO LOVE this panel that I have thought about trading my outboard in on an electric motor, another battery, and another panel. Finally, you're looking for the best... and I was looking for the cheapest! So I searched the internet for prices. There is a wide range. In the end, I bought a factory second for $99. It has some cosmetic flaws, but works fine. Because it was a second, it came without a guarantee (I hadn't expected that... and gulped nervously... but it works great.) Do a search for "solar panel flexible" and you'll come with a number of sites. Good luck. Rick
 
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Claude Labrecque

Our experience

We have a hunter 1991 35.5, purchased in 1999, with Adler Barbour refrigeration and a house bank with 4 group 31 flooded cell batteries with more than 400 amps. The refrigeration uses around 60 to 70 amps per 24 hours period. Our boat came equipped with 3 Seimens rigid 55 watts solar panels mounted permanently just in front of the dodger. It is not the ideal location for the panels, but it works well. Electricity production when it is sunny is between 6 to 7 amps per hour, total for the 3 units. If the main sail is making a shadow over any portion of any panel, the amps go down immediately to 2 to 4 amps. The angle between the sun and the panels also has an important impact on electricity production. On a typical summer day, in our northern latitude, the panels will supply about 30 to 40 amps. It is not enough to keep the batteries full, but we can stay at anchor without running the motor for 3 to 4 days without any problem. At anchor, I always move the boom over the side to minimize shadows over the panels. We are very happy with the setup because it is maintenance free and most important to us, it is noiseless. Good sailing
 
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Alan J

Panels

I sail a H37c and a sister ship in my same harbor has installed two 75W panels on his dingy davits. They provide all the electric he need to live aboard in summer running refrigeration, radio etc. He ordered them from Jack Rabbit Marine and they have the expertise and the associated parts for a complete installation.
 
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