Only Solar

[Jentine]

Unless I am missing something, there is no use for 80 v. dc.

[hellosailor]

Jentine, when you move to higher voltages you can use thinner cables with much lower (percent) voltage loss. In a longer cable run--that's a big advantage. It can be a good way to go, especially with an MPPT controller which accepts that voltage and also has lower losses at higher input voltages.

[Soft Air]

Can you guys recommend Solar Panels brands for my B343, thanks in advance.

JC

[James S]

I see many of the maxi’s have the cells laminated right into the deck….no frames…no glass.
I really like solar but there is no way I can strap a conventional panel on my classic boat….The very idea makes me shutter.
I would love to have solar.
Anyone know about wireing and laminating the individual cells into a structure?

[jeanpier]

Do you guys know if locating the solar panels in a vertical position on the lifelines (instead of a canvas wind breaker) would work without losing too much efficiency? This way they would also protect you from the wind and take no room. I realize that a best there would be only one of the sides exposed to the sun and possibly the reflection from the water to generate electricity.

Also I read concerns about the amount of electricity needed to make fresh water. I came across this product which could be handy on long passages: http://www.waterloginternational.com...kers%20ffp.htm
It is expensive but does not use electricity and can be hand actuated in emergencies.

[Zach]

Originally Posted by sv_makai

If you can swing it and it makes sense more is better..We even know of one cruiser who is putting the new flexible nonskid panels across his deck.

Flexible nonskid panels?

Done a little poking around, but haven't found a source for these... Who makes them?

Thanks

Zach

[imagine2frolic]

I have all 5 systems. Is there a door prize for that?????????

[hellosailor]

The door prize is the mythological "One Regulator to Rule Them All".

How are you regulating all five systems? Multiple regulators to multiple banks?

[schoonerdog]

Your efficiency loss would be very high. However I think that there are mechanisms that you can employ which would allow you to face your panels up when at anchor which might make it worth it.

Originally Posted by jeanpier

Do you guys know if locating the solar panels in a vertical position on the lifelines (instead of a canvas wind breaker) would work without losing too much efficiency? This way they would also protect you from the wind and take no room. I realize that a best there would be only one of the sides exposed to the sun and possibly the reflection from the water to generate electricity.

Also I read concerns about the amount of electricity needed to make fresh water. I came across this product which could be handy on long passages: http://www.waterloginternational.com...kers%20ffp.htm
It is expensive but does not use electricity and can be hand actuated in emergencies.

[James S]

These PV panels are semi-flexible...can be glued down or screewed... and can be walked on........not sure about non-skid properties.

Solar Panels For Boats, Semi Flexible

[imagine2frolic]

My generator is a portable Honda. My solar panels charge both the starter , and house batteries. They have their own meter to show output. The wind generator also has it's own meter to show it's output. Each alternator has it's own meter to show it's output. My Philips GPS shows me the state of the house batteries only. YEP.....you guessed it the shorepower charging has it's own meter too. I guess I don't get the door prize do I?

[schoonerdog]

you'd want a high efficiency, shade tolerant panel with high native voltage to be stepped down by something like an outback MPPT. Sharp Solar.

I use the sharp 175u1 with module efficiency of 13.4 percent, the 180u1 is a little better now with 13.8 percent module efficiency (the solar cells are close to 18% efficient). Sunpower has the most efficient commercially available panels at 17.3 module efficiency, but they are available only through a their own installer.

When calculating wire load and voltage drop, note that the "24 volt" panels actually produce 36 volts as measured at the panel. I personally choose around 48 volts max coming back because this is the maximum voltage I'd want to personally connect, it can zap you, but it should not do any harm.

Originally Posted by Soft Air

Can you guys recommend Solar Panels brands for my B343, thanks in advance.

JC

[hellosailor]

Jeanpier-

" Do you guys know if locating the solar panels in a vertical position on the lifelines "
You lose about 10% of output per every 15 degrees that your panels are not aimed directly at the sun--and as you get past 30-45 degrees that gets rapidly worse.

Let's just say a vertical panel is going to be a very bad idea, except in the first hour or two of weak daylight IF it is aimed at the rising/setting sun, which doesn't provide a lot of power in the best of times.

If you kept the boat weathercocked so the panel was "facing" the sun all day as it shifted across the sky? But kept it vertical? I'd expect more than a 50% loss in the best case.

[schoonerdog]

oh, make sure your mppt is located away from your battery bank, it's not ignition protected and could potentially create a fire from the offgased hydrogen. You'll also want a big circuit breaker installed between the outback and the battery bank.

[Pelagic]

In doing my research for installing Solar on Stargazer I found this posted in Environmental Leader: March 19, 2007
SunPower Tops List of Best Solar Panel Manufacturers

“... The directors were asked to name which brands of photovoltaic components they have purchased in the last 12 months, and rate the products for their quality and value for money. An average of these two scores has been used to find the companies whose customers thought most highly of their products... “

Environmental Leader is a daily trade publication that keeps corporate executives fully informed about environmental and sustainability news as well as the latest on corporate environmental initiatives:

Environmental Leader · Green Business, Sustainable Business, and Green Strategy News for Corporate Sustainability Executives

For the complete article
Goto ~ SunPower Tops List of Best Solar Panel Manufacturers:

SunPower Tops List of Best Solar Panel Manufacturers · Environmental Leader · Green Business, Sustainable Business, and Green Strategy News for Corporate Sustainability Executives