solar panel rack on trailer sailer

[walt]

Earlier on this forum, I was asking about solar panel rack mounting on a trailer sailer and this is a follow up on what I ended up doing. I wanted the panel to be "out of the way" because there in not much room on my boat (old Mac 26S) and also, I wanted to minimize particial shading which can easily drop the output 20 to 30%.

The pictures show what I ended up doing using a carbon fiber pole. The panel can be rotated (azimuth) and angled (elevation) for optimum sun exposure. Or just pointed straight up. The first set of pictures is with a 20 watt panel. The barbeque is on the rail under the panel (worked just fine on our one week trip). I recently changed to a 40 watt panel which is shown in the last picture.

 

[Charisma]

Nice Job, I have been thinking about mounting my M20 solar panel on the Hunter 26, stock mast support, but have not come up with a suitable way of rotating or angling the panel. How did you achieve this? Again nice job Chris

 

[walt]

The white pieces attached to the rails that the carbon fiber pole slides into are fishing rod holders. The old Mac railing was set up nice for this, doesn't work on all boats. I have a radiator hose clamp that is snugged around the fishing rod holder to allow the tube to rotate but with resistance. I can also easily remove the pole mount and panel so added a bicycle lock cable (wont stop someone with bolt cutters however).

 

[Jerry75]

Hey Walt where did you get the Bimim Top. I've been looking for one.

 

[walt]

Jerry, I started another thread in the Macgegor owners forum regarding the Bimini http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=110840

Chris, the picture shows how the "elevation" angle of the rack is set. There are a series of holes on the angle strut and a post on the pole. Different holes, different angles

 

[sinnettc]

cool. I think I can probably do something similar on my Capri 22. Thanks for posting!

 

[Sanman]

Hey Walt!
Very cool solution! I was running a flexible solar panel on my H23.5, I'd like to incorporate your rig on my Hunter 26... What solar panel is your 40 watt? and did it come with the aluminum rack? Also, what is the hinge?

 

[walt]

I think there are a few good options on 40 watt solar panels but the one I just bought is this one http://www.wholesalesolar.com/products.folder/module-folder/kyocera/KC40T.html


The orignal pictures showed a 20 watt panel and since I put on the 40 watt panel, I lowered the pole a little so the panel is about level with the bimini. The boat is currently on a mooring with the panel pointed straight up, so far no problems. Ive been very pleased with this for the trailer sailer.. In my opinion, putting the panel in a good location is like adding 20 to 30 % more panel area.

 

[dvideohd]

very cool..

You have a very cool mount on the 'S with the rear railing. Do you adjust the panels for Time of Day while anchored or in a Marina? ( I see the adjustment screw)

--jerry

 

[walt]

Jerry or others probably know more about this than I do but I'm under the impression that panels like the one I linked to have the output current fall off at smaller "look" angle's mostly from a geometry effect where the panel "surface area" just looks smaller when its not directly facing the sun. At some point, the angle of incidence of the rays to the surface become important (the surface becomes more reflective) and then the output begins to fall off very fast with angle. I dont beleive this kicks in until about 30 degrees (not at all sure - maybe someone else knows).

But I don't think the output falls off that much with smaller look angles of say +/- 20% from straight on (didn't look up a reference, the 20 % number is from memory only, could be off a bit). But at +/- 40 degrees off straight on, your falling off a cliff.

On the mooring where the boat swings all over, I have the panel adjusted to face straight up. When I've been docked, I did point the panel directly at the sun but it was done somewhat out of boredom and if you are pointing, you need to keep at it all day - i.e., if you set if for 10am and leave it for the rest of the day, you might have screwed things up for the afternoon. The panel is easily pointed, set the elevation by using different holes, set the azimuth by simply rotating the pole. I'm guessing that maybe I got an extra equivalent 10% by adjusting the panel?? Whatever it is, I think its much less significant than simply getting the panel up and far to the rear to minimize partial shading.

However, I would guess that in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky, the ability to control the azimuth and elevation give more benefits than during the middle of the summer.

 

[dvideohd]

Setup...

thanks...

I have a 10W solar panel on my battery... keeps the power on the battery in off times... Am adding an outboard/battery charger next week. At some point, I know I will have to upgrade... As that I have a D, it is a bit more to figure out how to do it.... so I won't touch it till winter.. with an S - the mounting choices are just better..

I like the setup you have...

--jerry