[Public-List] Solar panels

Tue Jul 30 10:31:53 PDT 2019

I have a 50W 12 volt panel mounted on the stern railing (about 2ft x 2ft).
It is unsightly but practical, just like the rail mounted grill and the
lifesling.
It is wired through a victron 75/10 charge controller.
It is enough to keep the batteries topped off and supports lighting and
cellphone charging.
On colder nights when I use the heater (forced air diesel) it takes the
solar a few sunny days to return the batteries to full charge (14.4v). When
cruising this is not a problem as I usually run the engine to go in and out
of anchorages and that produces enough charge.
I'm considering switching to a 24 volt panel which is recommended for this
controller for better efficiency. As it is I have never seen outputs higher
than 12W, but that might be because of the lower sun angle here in Alaska.

On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 5:18 AM Andrew Johns via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> I am also interested in what folks have done for solar.  Our only charging
> is off the engine and shore power.
>
> I was thinking about mounting (4) 100W panels above the lazarette supported
> by the bimini frame and stanchions down to the stern pulpit about 6 feet
> off the deck. Two panels would be fixed mounted and two mounted on drawer
> slides above the fixed panels allowing them to slide out revealing the
> fixed panel below.   The idea is while sailing, motoring upwind or in the
> slip, the drawer mounted panels will be retracted to reduce windage and
> overall width.  When anchored or on a mooring the extra panels can be
> extended to maximize output.  I have a cabin top mounted mainsheet so it
> opens that area up quite a bit.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 5:43 AM Gordon Laco via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
> > Good morning
> >
> > We charge using the engine… and plug in to use the shore powered charger
> > once or twice a season before week long trips.  We don’t have
> refrigeration
> > and have switched out electric lighting to LED, so power usage is low.
> We
> > use the boat Wednesdays for racing and cruise most weekends, with the
> > occasional longer trip.
> >
> > We carry one deep cycle marine battery and one ‘regular’ starter battery.
> >   When running the engine we have the selector to ‘both’  so they’re
> > getting the benefit of the alternator’s output.  When at anchor we use
> the
> > deep cycle for our lights.
> >
> > Every few years I think refrigeration might be nice… but have never taken
> > the plunge to install it because of the dramatic change in electrical
> > capacity it would require.  One can buy a lot of ice for the cost of a
> > refrigeration plant, unsightly solar panels etc.  I’ve considered a
> > portable fridge ‘cooler’… even considering using it to make my own ice;
> but
> > then I’d have to run the engine just to run the fridge; and I don’t
> really
> > want to change the boat to a situation where we’d need to do that.
> >
> > Gord
> > 426 Surprise
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Jul 30, 2019, at 4:54 AM, Jeffrey Randall via Public-List <
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks all,  I am still researching but a trickle charging solar setup
> > > seems to be in the future.
> > >
> > > Gordon,  Is the shore power the only way you recharged? and how often
> did
> > > you need to do it.  I am looking to see if I am leaking more power than
> > the
> > > standard flow rate that any battery might drop over time.
> > >
> > > BTW for all,  I am still on chapter one of boat electrics for dummies
> > after
> > > many starts.  But getting there.  12 V or electricity in general seems
> to
> > > have baffled me for years.  I am on a quest for electrics competency if
> > not
> > > expert status.
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 8:22 PM Gordon Laco via Public-List <
> > > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >> We have electricity at our slip but only very rarely use it to
> recharge
> > >> batteries or any other purpose… there’s no need.
> > >>
> > >> Gordon Laco
> > >> #426 Surprise
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> On Jul 29, 2019, at 5:43 PM, R Kirk via Public-List <
> > >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Jeff... Not to worry. Isobar (181) swung at a mooring (NAVSTA
> > Annapolis)
> > >> all the years I had her, so no shore power. I never used much
> > electricity
> > >> underway so the batteries never got too low. I used a cheap solar
> cell,
> > not
> > >> much larger than a tablet. Before I left the boat I put it on top of
> the
> > >> companionway slide and ran its wire to alligator clips at the house
> > >> battery. Always kept the charge up. I used a mechanical, wave
> generated,
> > >> bilge pump at the mooring so no electric use there. (It was/is an
> > exposed
> > >> bumpy mooring field, so plenty of piston action.)… Bob
> > >>>
> > >>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>> From: Jeffrey Randall via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > >>> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> > >>>
> > >>> Cc: Jeffrey Randall <jcrandall1956 at gmail.com>
> > >>> Sent: Mon, Jul 29, 2019 5:00 pm
> > >>> Subject: [Public-List] Solar panels
> > >>>
> > >>> My slip has lost it's electrical power for reasons related to Navy
> > >>> regulations, so I need to charge batteries.  Who has added solar
> panels
> > >> to
> > >>> their A-30 and what were the pluses and minuses?
> > >>>
> > >>> --
> > >>> Sincerely,
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Jeff Randall
> > >>> JCMedical
> > >>> 603-498-5574
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> These businesses support your Association:
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> > >>
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> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > >
> > > Jeff Randall
> > > JCMedical
> > > 603-498-5574
> > > _______________________________________________
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