Helia 44: Solar

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 comes with 400 watts of solar panels

[Sander]

The factory option is for 4 x 100W panels. With the "Eco Cruise Monitor" system this comes to around €5,500.
With the additional battery the total Amphours will be 600.
FP recognise that this is not enough solar power to keep the batteries topped up under normal cruising conditions but it remains the only option at the moment.
Our FP dealer has said that for the same price 600W or more can be retrofitted which is what we will be doing.

[mndreamchaser1]

Did you add larger panels? What fit in the space? And now did you handle the downward slope to the sides? I saw three 140w panels installed, that had big gaps at then end due to hardtop slope. Do you have pictures?

[Cotemar]

Go big or go home with a Solar panel system.
600+ watts would be a good system for a Helia 44 with all the goodies.

You have to think out of the box and not worry about the existing foot print. If it’s not big enough then just build a frame for the panel sizes you want.
You have plenty of room to hang off the back of the bimini with larger panels.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post749542

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post814078

[SeaKing]

WE had 600 watts installed at the factory. I spec'd out Aurinco thin flexible panels I had seen at the boat show two year before we built. Aurinco solar start page nothing for lines or toes to catch on with these surface mounted panels.

This shows the top of our boat, I have 12 panels at 50 watts each. 3 MPPT controllers, one for 200 watts on the stbd side of the main, one for 200 watts on the port side of the main and one for 200 watts accross the back on the hard bimini. I get optimum power from which ever panels have full sun, plus redundancy if a controller goes down I still have 400 watts into the system untill I could rewire or get another controller.

The 3 controllers were also cheaper than one large enough to handle 600 watts.

We have been pleased with that addition. I have amps meter readings showing 34 amps going in the batteries in full sun, no shadows.

Notice the photos the panels aft of the sail, full sun, only the port 4 panels (200 watts) are in the shade of the main.

[Cotemar]

The FP factory install of 400 watts is not enough and you will still have to run the generator to top off the batteries everyday.

I would not order the factory system and just add 2 or 3 SunPower 345 watt panels.
SunPower panels are the lightest, smallest and most powerful panels made.
They are 61 x 41 inches at 41 lbs (1559 x 1046 mm at 18.6 kg).

I have been using SunPower panels for the last five years and you forget what is powering your boat. These panels even pump out power in foggy or over cast days.

[onthehook17]

Does anyone know the brand of solar panel that come from the factory in the 4 x 100 arrangement from FP?

onthehook17

[mndreamchaser1]

When I looked into this, I was told the factory option was 4 @ 85 watts each. Not nearly enough. We added 6 @ 100 watt panels to Dream Chaser. Four across the back and two up the port side. A nice arrangement, but had to use two different panel types across the back (two mono's and two poly's). Two of the wider panels in the middle, and two narrower panels on the ends. But a very nice arrangement with almost no overhang and only a small gap on the ends. We used Renogy panels, as they offered the only 100 watt dimensions that we could get to fit across the back.

Originally Posted by onthehook17

Does anyone know the brand of solar panel that come from the factory in the 4 x 100 arrangement from FP?

onthehook17

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by mndreamchaser1

When I looked into this, I was told the factory option was 4 @ 85 watts each. Not nearly enough. We added 6 @ 100 watt panels to Dream Chaser. Four across the back and two up the port side. A nice arrangement, but had to use two different panel types across the back (two mono's and two poly's). Two of the wider panels in the middle, and two narrower panels on the ends. But a very nice arrangement with almost no overhang and only a small gap on the ends. We used Renogy panels, as they offered the only 100 watt dimensions that we could get to fit across the back.

Sounds like a really nice solar setup. Can you post some pictures of your panels, as most of the Helia 44 owners are looking for more solar power.

[skipdaichainer]

Have a look on this installation : https://www.facebook.com/uchimatashop?ref_type=bookmark

[Cotemar]

Here are a few pictures of Gordon’s Solar panel upgrade from the factory 400 watts to 800 watt.

Great job Gordon.

[StarryHorizons]

That's a nice looking set up. It certainly seems to be a popular thing to have the solar panels hang over the edge of the bimini. Just not enough space otherwise to have the necessary amount of solar?

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by StarryHorizons

That's a nice looking set up. It certainly seems to be a popular thing to have the solar panels hang over the edge of the bimini. Just not enough space otherwise to have the necessary amount of solar?

If you look at a lot of Lagoon 44 & 45's, you see this same solar panel overhang concept.

For Cruisers, 800+ watts of solar is the way to go. You have more electrical toys on a catamaran this size and who really wants to run the generator anyway.

These panels really pay for themselves in short order and make your catamaran more pleasant to live on.

SILENCE, REALLY IS GOLDEN.

[monte]

We had Uchimata install ours on our L400

Originally we were going to put them on the davits as per our last L380 as I was concerned about shading, lack of sunshine in the cockpit and obstructing the view. As it turn out we prefer them as they are. The shading and rain protection is a plus, we can always sit in the sun if we want.
The panels were a bit tricky to source as they are quite high output, but we eventually found a supplier in La Rochelle, Pierre can hook you up there.

Similar size victron panels are only around 240W
The bar supporting the panels should have been 50mm diameter instead of 38mm, then 2 supports would have been enough.
Cost is under 4000 euro supplied, installed with a victron 85/150 MPPT controller which is just enough capacity for the 1120W panels. Installation is neat, all wiring running through the Bimini lining and the stern light moved to the rear of the panels.

[peteh007]

Great!! 1120W seems quite a bit.. is it enough? Do you still run your GenSet? Would you ideally like more?

cheers
P