Type and model and size of
boat.
Pearson Countess 44
Total Panel Output (How much
power can be generated?)
800 W @ nominal 12 volts
Panel Size: How big are the panels? Individual? Total area required?
8@50W, 27"X27" each, 4@100W 27" X 37" each, 50W 2 X 8' X 2"=32 sq ft
300W 1X 7'X3'= 21sq ft , 1@3'x2'=6 sq ft Total for 4 locations= 59 sq ft
Age of Panels: When did you install the panels?
400W 2 years, added 400W 1 year ago
Panel Location: Where is the panel located and does it cause problems there?
4 banks of panels: 200W each port and starboard 3 on cabin roof and 1 on
dodger, 300W in three panels on
davits aft, 1 @ 100 W forward of pilothouse to port.
Does it cause problems with any other
gear or while sailing?
The cabin top panels have to be hinged out when accessing the main boom when the boom is stored amidship. I've got lazy jacks and a self stowing system on the boom to minimize the need for access.
Does it cause windage problems?
If so; not noticeable.
Has shading of the panels been a problem due to location of the panels and surrounding rigging or
equipment?
Yes and no. I split the the panel wattage into smaller pieces and hinged the cabin top bank so that they could be moved up and
outboard to diminish shading. I added the aft bank
outboard and made them tilt to avoid the mizzen mast and boom shade.
I've put the forward panel on a tilting mount to
experiment with output. All that said I still get shading and I've never seen a full theoretical potential output from the system.
Type and Brand of Panel: Who made the panel? What type of panel is it?
The 50W were made in
Mexico and are domestic, the 100Ws are made in
Germany are higher output and also domestic.
Marine or Domestic (land) panel? Origin?
Total Cost: How much did it cost to build the system? How much was each panel?
The panels cost $865 delivered, the mounting materials about $400, the wire $300, the controller and
monitor $400 so about +-$2,000
Total Efficiency: Do you consider the
installation efficient? Please any comments that may help another improve efficiency, based on your experience.
I'm pretty sure that the system works well, if the panels are kept clean, one cormorant and the efficiency goes out the window. I have 660 Amp hours of battery
storage my load and use
monitor is only set up for 400 hours and I rarely draw the bank down by more then 10% and it gets mostly replaced by about 10 AM.
Damage? Has the installation been damaged by
wind or
corrosion or breakage?
No
What would you do differently next time? Tips? Different type of panel?
I might add another three panels and another 400 amp hours of batteries. I currently have a Tristar PWM controller and might change to a MPPT as an
experiment in output.
Any problems? Disappointments? Surprises? Disatisfaction? Issues? Weaknesses of
gear or system?
No
How has adding the solar affected your sailing or cruising?
I'm very comfortable about
electrical usage since the addition of the 400 W Bank. I've been testing the installation by running the microwave and toaster
oven off the
inverter, it's been working with the solar controller's output increasing to meet the load characteristics. I'm planning to add a small AC
freezer, and I'm going to try out running the water
heater off the
inverter as well. It was kind of shocking to see a 100 Amp discharge on the meter the first time I used the toaster
oven but I got over it.
Sorry these are the best pictures available.