Solar Panel Questions - Hunter 25

[WiscoSailor]

Hi!

I'm thinking of installing a small solar panel to help maintain/charge the battery bank while I am away.

I have a 2007 Hunter 25 with two standard car sized batteries chained together. The batteries do not have much draw as they are only used for the following:

1. automatic bilge (mostly dry bilge, not much use)
2. push-button start for an 8hp mercury outboard (no alternator set up, just a draw for auto start).
2. Running/nav lights (when turned on)
3. instruments (when turned on)
4. Cabin lights (rarely used)

There are no larger draws like a stereo, refrigerator or anything like that, but I keep it on a mooring pin so it is annoying to have to bring it to the pier and leave it on shore power to top off the batteries every few weeks.

I was thinking that maybe a small 5 watt panel would be sufficient. Do you think a charge controller is necessary with such a small panel?

Does anyone have recommendations on size/brand of solar panel that has worked well for them?

Thanks!

 

[Meriachee]

We have a pair of 35s for maintaining the pair of batteries and we are fairly heavy power users probably three times a week. They keep the batteries up.
Whatever you do, you need a charge controller, and a dual output one is what you should install. Overcharging usually doesn't end well.

 

[Justin_NSA]

maybe you should talk to Brian about a solarstik.

 

[dziedzicmj]

I have 24 W Power Film rollable panel and a Mornigstar controller. Not the cheapest option, but it works great. The panel stays on the bimini, completely out of the way. This provides about 6 - 10 Ah per day. More than enough between sailing.

A small (5 W) panel without controller is a sure bet to kill the battery (don't ask how i know).

 

[isaksp00]

I have an 18W kit (panel and charge controller) that cost about $60 for our 23. I have similarly light loads (no electric start on the outboard though) and only one deep cycle battery. The panel is rigid and is about 3 ft by 8 or 10 in. I lay it across the cockpit when I tie up, and store it on the front v berth when using the boat. The controller that came with it (not dual output, whatever that is) is mounted inside the lazarette and I just plug the panel cable to the controller cable when setting it up. So far seems to work OK - used it about half of last summer and this one.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

isaksp00, sent you a PM last night, if you worked there where I was, in all likilhood you met my wife. Small world and my phone is on it. You are welcome to this part of the country. I can get either a rubber ducky or small sailboat to put into the bathtub but doubt you can fit into that boat and sail it. FOr the grandsons. Small world

 

[isaksp00]

Dave - I don't see it, if I am doing it right - I looked in my Private Messages area and while I see the one I sent you, I don't see anything from you.
I never worked in Zebulon directly, I worked in our Philadelphia area office and spent a lot of time in Raleigh (RTP). I only visited the Zebulon factory once for a few hours. Most all the people I knew who were at Zeb. were Info Tech people.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

They would have known Ann as she retired last year from there. The old defunct pool between the main buildings would have been a great place for model sailboats. I will check that message to see what happened. I laughed when I suggested a 240 in that pool to the plant manager once.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Bingo, never sent it but you should have it now. Some would say Senior Moment but from Crazy Dave, Old Fartitis!

 

[kpgraci]

I would recommend using a regulator of some sort. I have two isolated 55 Ah batteries charged with a 20W solar panel regulated with a Morningstar SunSaver-DUO SSD-25. The nice thing about the SSD-25 is it charges two batteries independently at a priority of either 50/50 (what I use) or 90/10. When one is charged the other gets the power until its charged, and each gets a trickle charge as needed. And as it happens I have an extra one laying around, just saying.

 

[twodzusfittings]

I have a 100w solar panel on my 84 25.5. I fill up two group 24 1000mca batteries using two 7amp controllers. I have a lot of electronics running while I am sailing and do some over nighters as well. All my lights except for the mast lights are LED. I run an auto pilot, a stereo, a vhf, an Ipad mini while underway. I also have a tv and wifi antenna which is in use sometimes while at anchor. I start the motor via the batteries. I have enough juice to be "Off the grid" if I want to be.