Solar - Go Redundant or Go Big ?

[Surf City]

Why would you want to bring them inside or home? Are you worried about theft and/or hurricanes? Looking for full time live aboard and cruiser, with dependable panels for cold beer.

[capt_douglas]

Thanks for the comments and great suggestions. I don't have room for 2-225W versions, so that's out.

I'm leaning towards the 2x 135s for redundancy and a bit more power. I've got 8x 225AH 6V deep cycle batteries in the house and they're going to need to be fed. I tend to be a belt and suspender kind of sailor and I like the redundancy.

I'm working hard on getting the power requirements down, even if I have to take another job to pay for the LED lights, but I know I'll add stuff in the future and would like to have excess charge capacity rather than start off in the hole or on the edge.

[witzgall]

Both of those are good reasons. If you know a 90+ mph storm is coming, it is just smart to take them down, and you want a safe place to keep them. Or, perhaps you are working on the systems of the boat, and need to take them down for a bit.

Chris

Originally Posted by Surf City

Why would you want to bring them inside or home? Are you worried about theft and/or hurricanes? Looking for full time live aboard and cruiser, with dependable panels for cold beer.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

The cordless drill batteries take forever to recharge, plus camera batteries, computer, shaver, video camera, handheld VHF, Cell phone, vibrator, the list goes on.


Mark

Too much information Mark.

[FraidNot]

computer, shaver, video camera, handheld VHF, Cell phone, vibrator,

What! Who uses a shaver?

[mbianka]

I'd go with two panels. If something falls from above or something hits it from below breaking a panel you at least have some power generation from the remaining panel until you can get a replacement. I have two 75 watt Siemens panels for my 12 house system and two 60 watt 48 volt panels for the electric propulsion battery bank. I like the redundency.

[Bill_E]

I have three of the Kyocera 135s and am happy with them but have never calculated their total output under varying conditions. I'd highly recommend an MPPT controller. Weight and placement are not-trivial considerations.

Nigel Calder has an article in a recent "Sail" magazine regarding battery charging. Basically he says that more solar and wind power is better and less draw is better. I'm looking towards better insulation on my refrigeration systems and lots more LEDs.

Bill

[capt_douglas]

I'm beginning to realize that high efficiency items (insulation, LED lights, power in moderation) is cheaper than more batteries, larger gensets, or more solar panels. And by keeping the maximum battery discharge level higher I think the batteries will last longer.

[bene505]

There are more coices out there than the 2 panels you mention. Is there any pair of solar panel bigger than 135s that you can fit?

Regards,
Brad

[Bash]

Originally Posted by capt_douglas

I'm working hard on getting the power requirements down, even if I have to take another job to pay for the LED lights, but I know I'll add stuff in the future and would like to have excess charge capacity rather than start off in the hole or on the edge.

I have two 130W panels, and find that they provide plenty of energy in the summer months at latitude 38 north, even when I'm running both a fridge and a freezer and running 12v fans all night. The two panels are not sufficient for the winter months, but that's why I have a 200W wind generator to back them up.

Regardless, 270 watts is a plenty of power for most cruising situations, assuming you're not going to try to run an air conditioner or a 60" flat screen TV.

[seandepagnier]

There is a place in LA where you can get 50watt panels for $100. 100watts for $200. I got 8 of them but now I have to figure out how to mount them! Keep in mind I have a 27ft boat and I already have 2 115watt panels. With which I can power my boat at 1knt in full sun.

Hopefully with the additional panels, if I can aim all of them properly (very important) I should be able to achieve higher speeds and also ability to move fast in bursts and create apparent wind to amplify light winds, and quickly recharge large battery banks.

Eventual computer control will enable the motor to "kick-in" automatically to maintain boat speed when the wind slackens.

With this logic you should be considering about 12-15 135w panels :-P You wont have a problem runnign the fridge or ac either

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Bill_E

Nigel Calder has an article in a recent "Sail" magazine regarding battery charging. Basically he says that more solar and wind power is better and less draw is better.

Next he'll tell us that a balanced diet and regular exercise can keep someone healthy.