Solar Panel Mounting on Bimini

[Pelagic]

Does the Outback Flexmax 60 generate much heat??

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Does the Outback Flexmax 60 generate much heat??

No very little.
It has a small fan and even close to its maximum rating ( which you will be operating at) the fan will probably never come on.
These units are designed to be installed in metal boxes outside in the sun of Australian summer.

BTW give some consideration to the 80A model if you have any possible plans to expand the solar panels in the future. Its not a great deal dearer than the 60A model.

The maximum recommended array @ 24v is 1600w for the 60 and 2500w for the 80

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

No very little.
BTW give some consideration to the 80A model if you have any possible plans to expand the solar panels in the future. Its not a great deal dearer than the 60A model.

Thanks Nolex…I did go with your suggestion and ordered the 80A.
Just as well, since at last minute a Sunpower Agent came up with 4 x E327W panels (arrive next month)

Changed my wiring plan to have a simple waterproof combiner tucked under Bimini… 8 wires in 2 out down to a disconnect breaker beside the Outback in the Pilothouse. (Perfect Fit)

For this Disconnect… is it advisable to have 2 breakers switches to isolate Solar Outback completely from other charging resources… Battery chargers and High outpur alternators? …

[Pelagic]

Camber Question

I made Plywood Mock-up of twin E-20’s for each side to test Mizzen Sheet Clearance when sheeted out (no problem). This also highlighted the camber and photo shows how much of a riser I can put in on outboard side to keep panels horizontal.

Newbie question:
On a boat Horizontal panels would be best…Right? so if I made standoffs on outboard side to keep horizontal, I could I safely keep the existing white Bimini under the panels rather than removing them to improve circulation…opinions??

Added 2nd photo to illustrate what I had in mind

[Pelagic]

I received my 4 x E327 Sunpower modules yesterday from the Philippine Distributer S.W.E.P. The quality looks very good.

To clarify the confusion about grounding, the manual states that a NE designation allows for “negative ground".

[gspeak]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I received my 4 x E327 Sunpower modules yesterday from the Philippine Distributer S.W.E.P. The quality looks very good.

To clarify the confusion about grounding, the manual states that a NE designation allows for “negative ground".

I too am about to install a E327 using a Morningstar Tristar MPPT 60. I didn't receive a manual like you've shown. Does it say that for our installation we need to ground the frame also? I dodn't think we would need to.

Dave

[Pelagic]

Hi gspeak…..Strange that you did not get any installation manual… but they are a secretive bunch.

Perhaps the electric gurus on here can chime in and confirm, but I believe it is still necessary to negative ground for safety reasons.. (My boat is steel)

I scanned the manual for you so hope it helps….. Next step is to design the attachment structure for Typhoon conditions.

[Pelagic]

Dave….These link will give you a manual and other info on Sunpower

http://www.we-llc.com/PDF/installation.pdf
http://www.ftp.tognews.com/GoogleFil...owerPanels.pdf
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ing-90082.html

[Sabbatical II]

My boat was launched 7 months ago with 4 x 80amp panels mounted on a stern arch that incorporates the davits. I don't have a wind generator. The electrical system is totally 12v and house battery capacity is 660ah. All lights are LEDs & all nav gear is modern stuff which has a low current draw. At rest, only the frig draws significant power and I have never seen the batteries drop below 530ah and that was after 2 consecutive days of cloud and no motor. On a typical day at rest, at sundown the batteries are fully charged (660ah). When I wake up in the morning, it has dropped only to 645ah & is back to full charge by lunchtime. If I flick the frig off overnight, the interior, nav lights & incidentals draw no discernible amount of power and the batteries are still at full charge in the morning. I am stoked with both the performance and the simplicity of this system. The panels are fixed so being able to angle them would improve it further but as yet I don't see the need to.

[gspeak]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Dave….These link will give you a manual and other info on Sunpower

http://www.we-llc.com/PDF/installation.pdf
http://www.ftp.tognews.com/GoogleFil...owerPanels.pdf
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ing-90082.html

Pelagic,
Thanks very much for all of that. Having read the bit about surface polarization I am still very confused. Exactly what do we have to do to wire these panels up correctly?

Dave

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by gspeak

Pelagic,
Thanks very much for all of that. Having read the bit about surface polarization I am still very confused. Exactly what do we have to do to wire these panels up correctly?

Dave

Me to Dave..... Since my MPPT Controller does not arrive by container in Manila for about 6 weeks, I have time to confirm wiring details/options with Sunpower Support thru their local distributer/installer SWEP.

The factory is here in the Philippines, so they should hopefully provide some clarity. (but small marine applications void warranty and confuses land focused installers)

My layman’s understanding at this point… is that the “N” Series modules are not designed for positive ground and therefore become less efficient, when negative ground .(How much we need to confirm?)

Could be that they can still be wired positive as Dashew did with his E20/327’s… and work at optimum rating but that needs to be confirmed

See Dashew’s blog on how he wired positive… and some of the comment concerns…from others
SetSail» Blog Archive » Sunpower 320 Solar Panels – Real World Output Data

Definitely appreciate input from anyone like Cotemar who has installed the Sunpower Panels as to how they wired them?

[Cotemar]

We have five boats with the SunPower 230 watt panels and they all did + to + and - to -
The same way you wire any panel. We all have been using them for a few years now and have plenty of power.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post491749