Has anyone installed a solar Panel to charge batteries on an O'Day 28. If so what is your experience with them and who was the manufacturer. Also where did you mount the panel. Do you have any recommendations. Jeff Horton
Solar Panels
- Thread starter Jeff H.
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i haVE 2
I have 2 solar panels on my 28. the first is a uni-solar flexible solar panel (15 watt) which I have mounted on the sliding companionway top (with bungee cords) that is connected to my house battery and does a great job. I use a dedicated house battery for instruments, vhf, cd/fm radio, running lights, anchor light, chartplotter. I also have a 5 watt rigid solar (trickel charger) panel that I have connected to my starting battery . that plus what ever motoring I do keeps my starting battery topped off. The 5 watt charger is new this year and for the past 2 seaosns I have used the 15 watter flexible panel. It has been great. I found it on ebay for under $100 (new) and the 5 watt at a marine auction for $25
I have 2 solar panels on my 28. the first is a uni-solar flexible solar panel (15 watt) which I have mounted on the sliding companionway top (with bungee cords) that is connected to my house battery and does a great job. I use a dedicated house battery for instruments, vhf, cd/fm radio, running lights, anchor light, chartplotter. I also have a 5 watt rigid solar (trickel charger) panel that I have connected to my starting battery . that plus what ever motoring I do keeps my starting battery topped off. The 5 watt charger is new this year and for the past 2 seaosns I have used the 15 watter flexible panel. It has been great. I found it on ebay for under $100 (new) and the 5 watt at a marine auction for $25
Solar Mounting
I dont have an Oday, however, I bought a no name solar panel a couple of months ago and it's doing it's job by keeping the battery charged. As far as placement, I decided to mount the panels on the stern rails. I bought some clamp fasteners from Home Depot for $4 and will make a weather resistent support bracket so that I can mount the solar panels on the support bracket. The panels are therefor out of the way and are being held up by the stern rail.
I dont have an Oday, however, I bought a no name solar panel a couple of months ago and it's doing it's job by keeping the battery charged. As far as placement, I decided to mount the panels on the stern rails. I bought some clamp fasteners from Home Depot for $4 and will make a weather resistent support bracket so that I can mount the solar panels on the support bracket. The panels are therefor out of the way and are being held up by the stern rail.
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