Solar panel

[Deleted member 117556]

Several months ago I posted a question about solar vs a generator and got plenty of opinions which is what I asked for. Decided to go the solar route but have some self-inflicted constraints such as: (1) no davits and no plans to add them and (2) have a bimini but only open it when it is raining.
This makes it difficult to dedicate the space for a large bank of panels to keep my 290AH bank of batteries full on my relatively small 31 foot boat. After much research i decided to go for maximum efficiency and install a "pointable" panel to get max amperage with the minimum size panel. The pole mount off the stern was very easy to install and it clears the bimini (which was not an accident, it took several mock-ups with cardboard to determine the minimum pole length). Also installed an MPPT controller and battery monitor. The early results have been stellar. The main power draw is refrigeration and I first double insulated the icebox, replaced the Adler Barbour compressor & evaporator with a brand new more efficient unit. Now the batteries are down about 7-8% overnight and are back to 100% by early-mid afternoon if I do not rotate the panel and before noon if I do. When rotating the panel I can double the output. See the attached pictures of the amperage. These were taken within 2 minutes of each other at 9 am this morning with the only difference being I rotated and tilted the panel to face the sun. Input from the panel and output to the batteries more than doubled.

Am writing this just to give information to others because the amount of information on single, pointable, pole mounted panels is very limited compared to the banks of panels mounted to biminis, davits and even dodgers. The panel I purchased is a Sunpower 120 watt and it is supposed to be very efficient (most efficient on the market they said) according to the company I bought it from. They said to expect 5.5 amps from the panel and the MPPT controller would then deliver 7.5 amps to the batteries. See the pictures here it has already exceeded that. If anyone wants to know where purchased or anything else let me know and I will be glad to help. So far, this looks like a great solution for my specific needs but of course is not for everyone.
bob

 

[Stu Jackson]

If anyone wants to know where purchased or anything else let me know

Looks great, nice job.

Why not just let everyone know, right here?

Like where you got the stick, too.

 

[centerline]

Thanks for the update.
with the quality equipment available now, and the reasonable cost, it is my opinion that it is impossible to beat a well installed solar array (cost and long term dependability) if one wants to be self sufficient in producing a steady supply of 12volt power... and with the least amount of maintenance.

 

[Deleted member 117556]

OK, bought the panel, pole & hardware here:
www.custommarineproducts.com
The owner is very knowledgeable and patient and believe it or not, his name is Tom Trimmer. True story.

Purchased the Blue Sky electronics from EMarine Solutions, a dealer in Ft. Lauderdale. Excellent service and Tech Support. The MPPT controller model I purchased has an auxiliary output to send a max 2 amp charge to a starting battery which is perfect for my setup and is why I selected that model.
bob

 

[Joe]

Thanks.... just happen to be shopping for solar solution... you saved me a lot of time.

 

[Long Story]

All looks very clean, and functional. Got to love Green Power and being self-sufficient.
Can you elaborate (even with photos) on how you achieved dbl insulation on your reefer unit, and what system did you use to replace the old AB cooling system? (mines has been acting up for 2 years now and time to replace so have been looking at a few options)
Thanks in advance

Russ
s/v Long Story

 

[51RD55]

Thanks for sharing. We just purchased 2 solar panels and will get them set up later in the year. One of them will be useful to keep the batteries charged (have 3 batteries) in the winter without having to to check every few weeks.

 

[Deleted member 117556]

Russ,
I read somewhere on this site that Reflectix was a good product to insulate an icebox so I bought a roll at HD. Very inexpensive. Lined the entire inside of the icebox by cutting it to size and pressing it up against the walls including the door and top load lid. Even had the installers put it up against the side of the icebox when they swapped out the evaporator (behind evap). The material stays in place if you cut it to the right size and maybe slightly larger. For the lid we secured it using the screws that are already in place. Then I read a little more and learned that this is not the ideal application for Reflectix-it is better to protect from sunlight and is also better as a secondary insulator because its R value is low but can be improved by additional insulation and air space in between. So back to HD where I bought some styrofoam insulation boards 1/2 inch thick I think. Cut these and again lined the inside of the icebox except for the lid and door and behind the evaporator (new one was already in place). I could tell a big difference with this foam although it does shrink the usable size of the icebox. I will try to take some pictures if I can and post them but it was very easy.

Regarding the new fridge, I just replaced my 16 yo AB unit with a new one. Same size, same footprint and made sure to run new refrigerant lines. Now have thermometers in both the fridge and freezer to maintain the ideal temps and the thermostat is right now at 4/10. Hope this helps.
bob

 

[Tom23350]

Bob,
It would be interesting to see what the difference in solar panel output is for the panel horizontal and the panel tilted toward the sun mid morning and mid afternoon. This would highlight the advantage of moving the panel to optimize sun angle when the sun is not directly over head.
Tom

 

[centerline]

The MPPT controller model I purchased has an auxiliary output to send a max 2 amp charge to a starting battery which is perfect for my setup and is why I selected that model.
bob

using an ACR such as this one, rather than a solar controller with the "aux batt chg" option, is good for the system and by far the better option when you need to keep the banks separated and yet fully charged.. and can be used in conjunction with all charging sources/inputs to do it with very little modification to the wiring. and it is a very simple and clean 10minute install.... and it will allow the system to receive all the amps produced by the source that is charging it at the time.

 

[Deleted member 117556]

Russ,
I did promise some pictures so see attached here... Hard to take pictures of the fridge but the first two pics are of the reflectix lined door and lid. The third pic shows the reflectix behind the evaporator and the styrofoam used over the reflectix below the evaporator. The fourth picture shows the back wall of the fridge where I had to cut the styrofoam in two pieces to fit it in. The fifth pic shows the inside back wall corner. The last pic shows the front of the fridge and digital thermometer (available from Publix). All styrofoam was put in on top of the reflectix. Styrofoam is a little messy but otherwise easy to work with and a good insulator. Fits in snug with no glue needed.
Good luck - an easy project well worth the time.
bob

 

[seadaddler]

Most boats here usually have solar panels mounted on or near the top of the bimini
and maybe some more aft to keep the boom or main sail from blocking out the sun.
This way of install the panels are secured at all times with less chance of movement
or chance of damage while sailing or anchored and yes no need to be checking if they are
pointed directly at the sun,this way at all time they are getting the suns rays charging the batteries when ever the sun is out and no need to be jumping around making sure they
are working at all times even if they were positioned properly.
Having panels that move around may sound great but my panels are mounted just to rear of my arch and even when not at the boat they are getting plenty of sun and no worry about
how they are mounted and no matter when or where they are working keeping my batteries charged when ever any sun is out even on a cloudy day too.
Only saying what I have noticed cruising around here in Florida and have rarely noticed
any kind of boats with panels that need to be moved,usually solar panels are mounted in the best possible position to the sun and well secured.

Nick

 

[Deleted member 117556]

Nick,
My point exactly about the majority of information posted online. My panel does not "move around" but rather is "pointable". This is not the same thing.
bob

 

[Maine Sail]

Most boats here usually have solar panels mounted on or near the top of the bimini
and maybe some more aft to keep the boom or main sail from blocking out the sun.
This way of install the panels are secured at all times with less chance of movement
or chance of damage while sailing or anchored and yes no need to be checking if they are
pointed directly at the sun,this way at all time they are getting the suns rays charging the batteries when ever the sun is out and no need to be jumping around making sure they
are working at all times even if they were positioned properly.
Having panels that move around may sound great but my panels are mounted just to rear of my arch and even when not at the boat they are getting plenty of sun and no worry about
how they are mounted and no matter when or where they are working keeping my batteries charged when ever any sun is out even on a cloudy day too.
Only saying what I have noticed cruising around here in Florida and have rarely noticed
any kind of boats with panels that need to be moved,usually solar panels are mounted in the best possible position to the sun and well secured.

Nick

The vast majority of my customers boats are on moorings and I have a fair number of them with aimable panels (I do too). Not a day goes by in the mooring field where I don't pass at least one of them who forgot to reorient the panel flat when leaving the boat. Aimable panels can greatly increase output, when aimed correctly, but it is often far less than owners count on or plan on because on an anchor or mooring swinging boat the aiming needs regular attention. If you really stay on top of it the gains can be good but forget for even an hour or two and those gains can vanish pretty quickly.

 

[walt]

I have had a boat in a slip in Arizona this last winter without power and being able to point the panel made a very significant difference. You get the benefit if the sun has a low arc in the sky because of season and latitude and the boat stays oriented in one position. Probably the further South you go or the more into summer, the less benefit.

 

[Maine Sail]

I have had a boat in a slip in Arizona this last winter without power and being able to point the panel made a very significant difference. You get the benefit if the sun has a low arc in the sky because of season and latitude and the boat stays oriented in one position. Probably the further South you go or the more into summer, the less benefit.

Absolutely, if your boat it fixed in one position an aimable panel can be a big improvement. It is when you are on a mooring or at anchor or under sail when they require lots of attention to see the improvements..

 

[Bill Roosa]

Boy wouldn't it be great if you had a panel that reorented itself all day long.......
more to follow after I get my sole boards done.

 

[Deleted member 117556]

It appears that my single panel can keep the batteries charged while my boat sits in a slip with the fridge running. The panel stays in one horizontal position and keeps the batteries charged even without pointing them. When we are on a trip - sailing or at anchor or a mooring and use more power then the ability to double output by pointing them at the sun will be valuable. Energy independence with minimal footprint was my objective. Looks good so far and will know much more by the end of May after we take 2 or 3 trips this spring.
bob

 

[seadaddler]

I have my boat at my dock and the ref is on 24/7 and even a fan running and my batteries are always well charged and no one to point them and when sailing they keep my batteries charged all day and just think I am getting plenty of sun and being exposed to the sun 24/7
are doing more to off set having ones that can be pointed.
Just saying if the type of boating you do allows you to be able to point them that's great but
for most boaters are not doing the pointing when needed and really are losing what I gain
having mounted my panels in such a way that they are getting sun more most of the time when at sun rise and sun down.
Just saying most of my friends and in our club are so happy with their panels and the amount of free charging with out having to point them and also like that they are installed
really strong so no need to worry about bad weather or damaging of high dangerous winds.
So either way you decide to go you will love what they do and don't go too small and add a little extra wattage for those cloudy days and a good charge controller will keep your batteries safe if all that charging is too much some times.
Loving my solar panels and was well worth adding them.
Nick

 

[Long Story]

Russ,
I did promise some pictures so see attached here bob

Thanks so much Bob for the photos...
Russ