I am looking to upgrade my solar panel and batteries, my current panel and battery does not get the job done. I want to hook two deep cycle marie batteries together and would like a soft roll up 15w panel that i can stow while sailing or would I be ok with just one battery? I had 2 large hard panels to one battery and it worked well but took up to much space. No I have a small panel it charges all week and on weekends I would a run low. Would a 15w panel and one battery be ok? I only run a ipod and barley any lights. Thanks for the help!
Solar Panels
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This reminds me that I have been meaning to point people to Goal Zero, which has a range of portable solar panels and related battery units. Cost is related to power, from cheap to a lot. But their small units are offered as ideal to recharge an ipod, for example. http://www.goalzero.com/ It's a good place for window shopping and thinking what if...
I ran across this in the course of business but have no interest in the company, just liked their stuff.
I ran across this in the course of business but have no interest in the company, just liked their stuff.
Anybody tried or looked at the 15 watt panel at Harbor Freight? I just noticed it in their flyer. Ad does not show nor mention regulator. But the price of $59. is pretty attractive.
A 15W panel would require no regulator or controler as its output current would be 1.5 AMPS peak. In my region that would only be about 4 hours a day.
Volts x current=watts
watts \ voltage=current
15W\12Volts = 1.5 amps current
Volts x current=watts
watts \ voltage=current
15W\12Volts = 1.5 amps current
Not sure that I agree Chuck. The rules-of-thumb(ROT) that I read suggest that my 400aH AGM house bank is borderline for 15 watts. That assumes that nothing is running on the boat and the AGMs lose a normal 2% in twenty-four hours. I have seen a ROT that a controller is not needed if the panel puts out 2 watts or less per 50aH. So 400/50 = 8 and 15/2 = barely less than 8. Pretty close.
I also see that a lot of companies are offering controllers with their 15w panels.
I also see that a lot of companies are offering controllers with their 15w panels.
I ran the numbers as follows, 400 AH total bank capacity, 1 light @ .75 amps for 8 hours a day and 15 watt panel. It looks like the panel can keep up during the weekend and certainly would replenish the banks in 5 days. I'm not sure if you are using an anchor light or what an Ipod draws so this is pretty sketchy. I'm thinking that a much smaller battery would be fine provided the weekend loads are close to being correct.
How much does an Ipod draw and how long does it run?
Do you have an electric anchor light?
How much does an Ipod draw and how long does it run?
Do you have an electric anchor light?
My post might have confused this thread Bill. My battery needs are simply a matter of long periods away from the boat. I am reluctant to leave shorepower connected but I worry about the bilge pump. With a keel-stepped mast I always have water in the bilge.
Thanks Bill
Thanks Bill i do not have a anchor light like i said the other two panels worked fine i just think i am under powered now. Thanks again
Thanks Bill i do not have a anchor light like i said the other two panels worked fine i just think i am under powered now. Thanks again
I have the Harbor Freight 5W pane- actually 2 of them- They are not supposed to be directly exposed to rain- I had inquired about it to HF. I wanted to mount one on my weekday companionway slide-in board and run the wire under the lip of the cockpit locker and to the battery below it.
l liked the price so I got it and bought a clear plastic sheet and several feet of plastic deck rail trim from Home Depot and built a frame. Nigel Caulder's book on sailboat electrics mentions that the effectiveness of these solar declines in heat(I have a southern exposure in the slip). To allow air to pass under/thru the panel/ frame, I had the panel lifted off the board with bumpers - and also since its not waterproof- had a piece of the clear plastic touching the companionway board across the top.Just in case I also put a thick bead of silicone around the solar panel's frame edge - both top and bottom. Its worked fine.
When I'm at the boat in the slip for the weekend I hang the solar board on the stern cage rail. its out of the way but still functional. The Second 5W solar panel hangs under the Vberth hatch- it wedges nicely into the dog locking channel of the frame and the the dogs/lever hold the other side up-and it plugs it into my 12V system to the 2nd battery.
BTW Hamilton Marine has a sale this week on marine use panels-so you may not need to build a frame.
l liked the price so I got it and bought a clear plastic sheet and several feet of plastic deck rail trim from Home Depot and built a frame. Nigel Caulder's book on sailboat electrics mentions that the effectiveness of these solar declines in heat(I have a southern exposure in the slip). To allow air to pass under/thru the panel/ frame, I had the panel lifted off the board with bumpers - and also since its not waterproof- had a piece of the clear plastic touching the companionway board across the top.Just in case I also put a thick bead of silicone around the solar panel's frame edge - both top and bottom. Its worked fine.
When I'm at the boat in the slip for the weekend I hang the solar board on the stern cage rail. its out of the way but still functional. The Second 5W solar panel hangs under the Vberth hatch- it wedges nicely into the dog locking channel of the frame and the the dogs/lever hold the other side up-and it plugs it into my 12V system to the 2nd battery.
BTW Hamilton Marine has a sale this week on marine use panels-so you may not need to build a frame.
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I found these guys on line, maybe worth a look: http://www.aurinco.com/solar-electric_us.html
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