Solar panels

[fred1diver]

So I've found a deal on some solar panels, 3 40w panels, witz controler for 250$, the deal seems good, but now I have to figure where and now I could install them.
Any ideas would be appreciated before I go and spend my money
Tanks in advance

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Got a bimini? put 'em on top of that

 

[fred1diver]

I wish, my boat is kinda small for a bimini

 

[Brian D]

Buy them anyway, then worry about where to put them. You can always use one on the stern rail.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I wish, my boat is kinda small for a bimini

mine is only 2 feet longer than yours, with a 7 foot beam. And I had a bimini on my previous boat- a 21 footer. Dowb bhere on the gulf Coast, almost a necessity

 

[fred1diver]

the problem is the height or lack of it

 

[Allan12210]

So I've found a deal on some solar panels, 3 40w panels, witz controler for 250$, the deal seems good, but now I have to figure where and now I could install them.
Any ideas would be appreciated before I go and spend my money
Tanks in advance

Mount them on the lifelines by the cockpit so they swivel up when moored/docked/anchored/on the trailer. When sailing, fold them down and then you have lee cloths.

 

[Sumner]

Not that great a deal. Solarblvd has 40 Watt panels for about $36 each right now I believe....

https://www.solarblvd.com/index.php?cPath=1_25_40

Sumner

 

[flynhi4u]

Do you have a rear pulpit?

 

[Brian S]

What kind of charge controller? Is it PWM or MPPT? http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_controller_testing

Installing a small solar system: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_panel

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Not that great a deal. Solarblvd has 40 Watt panels for about $36 each right now I believe....

https://www.solarblvd.com/index.php?cPath=1_25_40

Sumner

I see they use the Morningstar controllers. I have a Sunsaver. While cruising the Fla west coast in 2011. it stopped working. Called Morningstar, they asked me for some numbers off my unit, and told me I had 2 weeks left on warranty. Insisted on drop shipping a replacement to a port ahead of me, at no charge whatsoever. No shipping, nada. And just keep the defunct one, no problem. Guess who I'll be using in the future??

 

[druid]

I agree that it's not a Great Deal, but it may work for you. One option is just have the panels "free": put long cords on them and just place them wherever the sun is shining. You'll have to have a place to store them, but from a performance point of view, that's the best option. And if there's 3 of them, you could put, say, 2 on the boat and one on the camper... (you don't really need a controller for a 40W panel).

druid

 

[Brian S]

(you don't really need a controller for a 40W panel).

druid

Not true!

In this article, MaineSail shows how a 12W panel brought a 220Ah bank of batteries to 15 volts. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/do_i_need_a_controller

Charge controllers are probably less expensive than replacing batteries all the time.

 

[dziedzicmj]

Not true!

+1 on that. I managed to murder a couple of batteries (a new one and then the replacement) with a 50 W solar panel without a controller. Theoretically you can do it, but the chances are great that you would murder the battery.

 

[Sailm8]

I bought 2 100w flexible panels on Amazon and got $80 off by applying for their credit card which I never use. The panels work great and only weight 4 pounds. Keeps my batteries recharged by noon every day when runnong the fridge 24/7. Haven't had to use the motor to recharge since I installed them.

 

[flynhi4u]

I bought 2 100w flexible panels on Amazon and got $80 off by applying for their credit card which I never use. The panels work great and only weight 4 pounds. Keeps my batteries recharged by noon every day when runnong the fridge 24/7. Haven't had to use the motor to recharge since I installed them.

What model fridge?

 

[SFS]

@Sailm8 Do you have the specs, or a link to the product?

 

[fred1diver]

I agree that it's not a Great Deal, but it may work for you. One option is just have the panels "free": put long cords on them and just place them wherever the sun is shining. You'll have to have a place to store them, but from a performance point of view, that's the best option. And if there's 3 of them, you could put, say, 2 on the boat and one on the camper... (you don't really need a controller for a 40W panel).

druid

the problem with that approach is that I dont have any spare room at the moment, the table and boom tent take up all my free space in the cabin

 

[uncledom]

Fred, I think you should buy a bigger boat then the panels and controller.

 

[Sailm8]

I bought 2 100w flexible panels on Amazon and got $80 off by applying for their credit card which I never use. The panels work great and only weight 4 pounds. Keeps my batteries recharged by noon every day when runnong the fridge 24/7. Haven't had to use the motor to recharge since I installed them.

Adler Barbour cold machine