Hi, I don't have an altinator on my motor for my '99 H240 and would like to install a flexible solar panel I have seen in the West Marine catalog. Has anyone had any experience with that. I have not had to charge the battery yet all summer, but I don't use the lights much either and don't have a stereo or radio installed. Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Charlie
Got enough juice so far
Dan, I also have a H240 with 9.9 Honda - took delivery in June. I belive the motor does a great job of charging the battery. I have decided not to invest in solar until the need arises. I only use the lights and do not have radio/stereo. Perhaps when you start adding the other power using goodies, keeping a charge will become an issue. No problems so far. Maybe others have more experience............ Good Sailing! "Good Medicine"
Dan, I also have a H240 with 9.9 Honda - took delivery in June. I belive the motor does a great job of charging the battery. I have decided not to invest in solar until the need arises. I only use the lights and do not have radio/stereo. Perhaps when you start adding the other power using goodies, keeping a charge will become an issue. No problems so far. Maybe others have more experience............ Good Sailing! "Good Medicine"
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Danaiel[author]
let the sun shine in.
Hi, I also have a 240, with a 5 horse Nissan/4s. While I don't have any special electrical drawing devices on my boat, I have tended to run the battery low using just the cabin lights and running lights. The battery is in a terrible place to get it from and heavy as hell. I have installed a solar battery charger and it works great. When I am not sailing it sits in the cockpit, and when I am, it is stowed in the compartment where the gas container sits. It has never failed to "top" off my battery and give me the power I need. If you had severl other devices on board which drew off your battery, then you could install a larger solor panal. I went with the USF model, 13-amps per week charging capability. They have larger ones avaliable. Hope this helps. Daniel, s/v Endeavors
Hi, I also have a 240, with a 5 horse Nissan/4s. While I don't have any special electrical drawing devices on my boat, I have tended to run the battery low using just the cabin lights and running lights. The battery is in a terrible place to get it from and heavy as hell. I have installed a solar battery charger and it works great. When I am not sailing it sits in the cockpit, and when I am, it is stowed in the compartment where the gas container sits. It has never failed to "top" off my battery and give me the power I need. If you had severl other devices on board which drew off your battery, then you could install a larger solor panal. I went with the USF model, 13-amps per week charging capability. They have larger ones avaliable. Hope this helps. Daniel, s/v Endeavors
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Tim
Solar Charging
I have the West Marine 5-Watt on my H26, and love it. I use the boat on the weekends, and it's enough to keep the battery charged up to run the stereo, VHF, and lights. I'd say I'm a "medium" use guy, and the panel does great. The stern of my boat faces south, so I just hang the panel from the railing that goes around the tiller. Tim Juniper Light Lake St. Clair, MI (By the way...it's for sale...)
I have the West Marine 5-Watt on my H26, and love it. I use the boat on the weekends, and it's enough to keep the battery charged up to run the stereo, VHF, and lights. I'd say I'm a "medium" use guy, and the panel does great. The stern of my boat faces south, so I just hang the panel from the railing that goes around the tiller. Tim Juniper Light Lake St. Clair, MI (By the way...it's for sale...)
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Steve Petrie
solar panel
I have a 1994 h26 with an Evinrude 9.9 hp yachtwin with alternator and was constantly strugging with battery life until I bought 10 watt solar panel. It is a hard panel and I mounted it on the rear pulpit and slanted it the most effective angle in relationship to the sun angle. The alternator on a small outboard is generally low output (less than 10 amps and usually < 5 amps) so running the motor for one hour gets you only 5 to 10 amp hrs, assuming complete efficiency. Unless you a lot of motoring there is simply not enough amps coming out of the alternator to accomplish the task.
I have a 1994 h26 with an Evinrude 9.9 hp yachtwin with alternator and was constantly strugging with battery life until I bought 10 watt solar panel. It is a hard panel and I mounted it on the rear pulpit and slanted it the most effective angle in relationship to the sun angle. The alternator on a small outboard is generally low output (less than 10 amps and usually < 5 amps) so running the motor for one hour gets you only 5 to 10 amp hrs, assuming complete efficiency. Unless you a lot of motoring there is simply not enough amps coming out of the alternator to accomplish the task.
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John Thomas
I have just purchased a 5W, 350mA solar charger from Northern made by ICP Global Technolgies. It is "Weather Resistant". It is not flexible but it is only about 1'x1' so I should be able to mount it somewhere out of the way. It list for around $75, but mine was on sale for around $25. The web page for this company is not bad (www.icpglobal.com). Good luck...jt
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pat
solar
i have a rigid siemens 10 amp from west marine with a blocking diode mounted on the stern of my 240 in a vertical position (between the rudder post and cutout for the steps.) even though it is mounted vertically, it puts out a consistent 14.2 volts. and it has not dried the battery out one drop. i run a gps, autopilot, depth gauge, and stereo all day long. no problemo. pmb
i have a rigid siemens 10 amp from west marine with a blocking diode mounted on the stern of my 240 in a vertical position (between the rudder post and cutout for the steps.) even though it is mounted vertically, it puts out a consistent 14.2 volts. and it has not dried the battery out one drop. i run a gps, autopilot, depth gauge, and stereo all day long. no problemo. pmb
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MIke43067
overwintering with solar panels
I was reading some posts about the best ways to winterize a battery but saw nothing regarding solar panels. Does anyone know if leaving a solar panel attached in the winter is sufficient to keep the batteries charged.
I was reading some posts about the best ways to winterize a battery but saw nothing regarding solar panels. Does anyone know if leaving a solar panel attached in the winter is sufficient to keep the batteries charged.
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Bill Gander
Solar panel trickle charging
I have been using a 5 Watt solar panel on a gel cell winter and summer for about 6yrs. Battery always shows full charge. You need to be careful not to have too high a wattage solar collector or you'll overcharge which the gel batteries won't tolerate.
I have been using a 5 Watt solar panel on a gel cell winter and summer for about 6yrs. Battery always shows full charge. You need to be careful not to have too high a wattage solar collector or you'll overcharge which the gel batteries won't tolerate.
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