420: Solar

[berumenm]

I am planning on installing solar panels on our 420. Any thoughts about pros/cons of installing on the hardtop bimini vs a platform on the davits?
Any thoughts welcome!

[Cotemar]

berumenm,

These may help you with your solar panel planning.

Bimini Solar Panel - http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post488059

Davit Solar Panel - http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post491749

Mark

[berumenm]

Thanks Cotemar!

[Blue Pelican]

Just avoid Blue Sky charge controllers......

[dockbumdan]

I have an 80 watt panel mounted on the davits.
The only draw back is it makes droping and raising the dink somewhat problematical, It also makes tilting it towards the horizon (better sun angle) limited. In my case only about 20 degrees of rotation. Since I don't have a hard bimini mounting it on-top of the bimini was not an option.
Also Since the davits are spaced around 8 feet apart, it makes adding a second 80 watt unit impossible.

[Fishspearit]

Usually less items to shade the panels on the back of boats. On a bimini you'll have the boom and more of the rigging to cast a shadow across the panels. It's amazing how much just one line shading a panel can decrease it's output. ....and my experiences with a blue sky controller have been good.

[berumenm]

Thanks all.
Mike

[impi]

Originally Posted by berumenm

I am planning on installing solar panels on our 420. Any thoughts about pros/cons of installing on the hardtop bimini vs a platform on the davits?
Any thoughts welcome!

Fits really nicely on the davitts of our 440 - all 5 of them - Kyocera 135s

[Unicorn Dreams]

You can also try Solar electric power components and solar panels

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by impi

Fits really nicely on the davitts of our 440 - all 5 of them - Kyocera 135s

IMPI... Very nice installation guys!


BERUMENM... If room and aesthetics allow, the davit or stern rack mount allows the array to be tilted, (IF you build it that way), and is more out of the shading of the rig.

IF you have a welded aluminum angle frame with corner gussets and cross bars to make it rigid, and Kevlar "down lines" from the corners for storms, then you can hold it dead horizontal, and they will survive hurricanes. PARTICULARLY on multihulls!

A huge array like above "might" only be up to a cat. 1 or 2, but a smaller one like our 110W stern panel, as well as our other 3, have made it through a category 3, that was only 1 MPH shy of being a 4! (gusts to 150)!

Mark

[zeehag]

i plan on using mine as a bimini cover......

[capttman]

I built an arch and put them on there

[Mikromidas]

Hi,

I'm also looking into installing solar panels on my L440.

IMPI: do you think four kyocera 240W on the davits would be too big?

I saw another L440 who had the panels installed higher, like an extension to the bimini. Any thoughts on that?

Kjartan

[thinwater]

I dislike adding extra crap to a perfectly good design, and that is what extra arches and their supports add up to. Simple is generally better.

Sail Delmarva: Solar Panels

Specifically, we often hand large items (bicycles and groceries) up over the transom, since we find it more secure in a bumpy mooring than working off the sugar scoops. Unless the davit mount is VERY high, access is inhibited by panels.

Boom shading is solved by securing it forward when we need more power . when sailing, yes, generally 1/2 is in the shade. Cats typically have less rigging and stays than a typical monohull and it is further away, so those shading concerns (except for the mast which can shade them anywhere) are less.

[Bradley]

IMPI, I just bought a Lagoon. Where did you get the struts, etc. to mount the panels. Any better pics would be greatly appreciated.