Solar Panels on a 260

[tgrass462]

I'm planning on adding a solar panel to my H-260 this spring to keep my batteries topped off when I'm at anchor - away from the Marina.

I'm NOT an electrical expert ... I've been looking at the Sunforce 15 Watt solar battery charger - puts out 1 AMP of current - along with the Sunforce Seven Amp Solar Charge Controller to keep from overcharging the batteries.

General questions:

• Have any of you done something similar?
• If so - where did you mount your solar panel? (I'm thinking of the stern - right above the rudder post)
• In your opinion - the above choices - over kill? under kill? about right?
• Any 'gotchas' you might like to share?

Thanks,

Tom Grass
Grasshopper III
Lake Carlyle, Illinois (St. Louis)

 

[Jackdaw]

The first question is: what consumption are you trying to keep up with? I'd make an energy budget that looks at what you consume in a 24 hour period. That will get you started.

That panel is OK, but remember it puts out that 1 amp only when pointed DIRECTLY at the sun on a cloudless day. 90% of the time it will be 40-80% of that value.

Can you charge when you get back? For weekends more battery power might be a better answer.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

The boat in the next slip throws his on top of the bimini whenever he is aboard.