Solar Panels - horizontal or angled?

[hpeer]

My experience is that other things matter much more, sharing is deadly.

Where your boat lays is important because that drives what shades. On the hook in the trades you will be pointing eastward. So anything on the starboard side may shade. My wind gen is on the stb side, because of prop walk and docking not good but required. The radar was a problem until I moved it, now much less of a problem. Optimum is to be in slip pointed North.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Have you noticed any difference in dirt or salt built up between the sloped panels and the flat panels? I am speculating if some slight natural water flow aids in self cleaning.

Not so much salt, but dirt and sand from the Sahara if we get a southerly is quite bad. So I don't want a pool of water drying and leaving marks on the glass.

Does it make a difference? lots of smears if you don't clean it properly do We have a window squeeze thing because I can't reach the back of the panel.

Pete

[sail4evr]

Put them on a hinge so they can be rotated. Best of both. That's what I did.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by sail4evr

Put them on a hinge so they can be rotated. Best of both. That's what I did.

Hmm, yes but big 300w panels have a big single piece of glass and whilst mine are held to the arch tube with u bolts, so could tilt the risk of one corner moving and the other staying put followed by a big cracking sound kind of puts me off. Smaller panels on the guardrails I could see being tilted.

Pete

[sail4evr]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Hmm, yes but big 300w panels have a big single piece of glass and whilst mine are held to the arch tube with u bolts, so could tilt the risk of one corner moving and the other staying put followed by a big cracking sound kind of puts me off. Smaller panels on the guardrails I could see being tilted.

Pete

I have 7 300 amp panels set into simple aluminum frames. Each frame with 2 ubolts and lines pull on the frame from the forward and aft edges so therr is no diagonal strain. I've had the panels for 11 years. The 2 lines join so there is only one pull. I have 2 frames with 2 panels and 1 frame with 3 panels total 7, but see it any way you want.

[Wireless1]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I think any gain of one sides angled panel will be offset by a loss on the other angled panel. At best it will just equal out. Meanwhile the angled panels lose sun during the peak hours.

My vote is go flat.

Absolutely. Easier mounting also.

[Bluechart]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Which of the two solar panel arrangements in likely to be more effective in general.???

Both have the same area (3 sq m). Arrangement 'A' is completely horizontal (at rest) where as arrangement 'B' has 1.5 sq m horizontal and two 'wings' each 0.75 sq m) angled (fixed) say 45 degrees (or maybe 30 degrees) from horizontal.

Assuming a mono hull, aligned fore and aft as shown, no shading from rig etc, used both underway and anchored, used at any latitude from 0 to say 45 and each panel has its own MPPT charge controller.

Consider a simple fore/aft articulating frame. Mine has 2 simple locking hand bolts, and a 9/16 bolt to lock the frame horizontal when I leave the boat or for a storm.
In the evening I set my panels to face where I think the sun will rise, based on the prevailing wind. During the day I adjust to keep the sun at right angle to the panels. I can also watch my solar regulator for maximum volts/current while adjusting the angle.

I can follow the sun from horizon to horizon. I just have 2 - Kyocera 135w panels, yet they keep my 4 - battery banks fully charged without the need to run the engine. (Fridge and freezer compressors, etc.)

[akopac]

Edge case . https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa...ont-die-2021-4

[LoudMusic]

I stand by my prior statement that flat is the way to go, and also that a slight slope is the way to go. You can see the difference in my two solar panel locations on my catamaran.

The near panels have about 5 degree slant and the far panels are nearly horizontal. This is what they look like with tree pollen, but they also get standing water, which comes off in a great big splash when the boat gets rocked. I have yet to correct the issue.

[Wotname]

Thanks Loud Music, I gotta agree.

[DavidBeger]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Which of the two solar panel arrangements in likely to be more effective in general.???

Both have the same area (3 sq m). Arrangement 'A' is completely horizontal (at rest) where as arrangement 'B' has 1.5 sq m horizontal and two 'wings' each 0.75 sq m) angled (fixed) say 45 degrees (or maybe 30 degrees) from horizontal.

Assuming a mono hull, aligned fore and aft as shown, no shading from rig etc, used both underway and anchored, used at any latitude from 0 to say 45 and each panel has its own MPPT charge controller.

I installed 6x100W RockPals (600W) - https://solwiser.com/am-solar-panel-reviews/ solar panels on my boat in 2020; two on top of the dodger and four on top of a new stern arch. Horizontal panels will probably give maximal Ah power generated per day.

[Wotname]

Welcome aboard CF, DavidBeger.

[DavidBeger]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Welcome aboard CF, DavidBeger.

Thx

[Nefta]

There is a manufacturer in Spain that sells and ships some arches that are assembled without the need for welding, adaptable to any boat and with a rotating frame for the panels that tilt towards the position of the sun.

https://www.autocazantes.com/en-gb/portiques-3/