Solar Panel Wiring

[Sea Sharp]

I am in the process of installing two 80 watt solar panels. I wonder how I should wire them into my battery system. I have two banks (both banks are house batteries). I was wondering how the smallish built-in solar panel on the coach roof is wired from the factory and whether I could wire the new panels in the same manner (using a charge controller of course). Can anyone help?

Mike

 

[Ron M]

Solar Panel Installation

Mike, See my solar panel installation article in the "Knowledge" section of this site under Hunter 386. I installed a single Kyocera 130 watt panel over my bimini a few years ago and it's fantastic - the batteries are always floating at 13.25 volts even on cloudy days.
I'd ignor the factory installation on your existing panels and set up your new panels to feed the batteries via a 1) breaker (15 amp), 2) the charge controller, 3) a fuse (50 amp), 4) then the positive wire to the large bolt behind your house battery switch that feeds the ON position of your house batteries. What this does is allow you to disconnect the solar panel (for maintenance) at either the breaker or the battery switch (by turning to the OFF position). As an added thought don't forget the starter battery. It too can be fed off solar power via a Xantrex "Echo Charger". When the house battery is full, "excess" power is sent to the starter battery. Over a few days, both house and start batteries will be "happy". The Echo charger is a one-way charge so don't worry about one battery draining the other - it won't happen. Good luck on your project - keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Steve Feinsilver]

did it on my 410

See pictures on project forum under "solar panel upgrade". Removed the original panel and replaced it with a 65W, added charge controller. I just wired it to a switch to charge either house or engine battery, but echocharger might be even neater. Great project; my new h44ds has a generator, but I'm still thinking of adding solar panels to this boat too.
S/V Breathless (5) h 44 ds #234

 

[jwieneck]

Re: Solar Panel Installation

Ron, I did a search and found your solar panel install. I have a 1998 376 which is just like the 386 except I do not have the SS arch. I do have a SS bimini

and would like to add SS bars like you have. I have a couple of questions.


1. First the pictures looks like just one panel but maybe it is 2 I can not tell which is it?
2. Can you leave your refrigerator running when your gone? I have moved from a slip to a mooring. I like the mooring a lot but miss not having the refrigerator running all the time.
3. Where did you get the solar panels?

 

[Nichole]

where is the site you are talking about

I am still having trouble navigating this site. How do I find the articles you are talking about?

 

[Phil Herring]

Re: where is the site you are talking about

Hi Nichole,

Click on the Search tab and try searching for some keywords that might lead you to this post.

Also, you might want to consider registration. It will make some parts of the site easier to use.

Phil