[Public-List] Solar panels

Tue Jul 30 12:14:12 PDT 2019

James Baldwin on his "atomvoyages" Youtube channel has several videos on
how he mounted solar on Tritons and A-30s.  Look in the blog portion of his
website atomvoyages-dot-com for plans on his tracking pedestal.

On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 1:48 PM Hernán Scarnichia via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> 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
> > > >>> _______________________________________________
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> > > >>
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Sincerely,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Jeff Randall
> > > > JCMedical
> > > > 603-498-5574
> > > > _______________________________________________
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