80W Solar panel arrived with a 'crease'

[Refueler]

The B in PBO stands for Boat not Bodge

I think 'bodge' is a bit iffy term for it ?

The existing panel has a cable sealed through deck into same style junction box as the new panel. If I can open both boxes and transfer the existing panels cable to the new panel box ... what's the 'bodge' ? The Box can be treated with Corrosion X to waterproof it and keep contacts good. Doing that saves disturbing what is a good through deck seal etc.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I think 'bodge' is a bit iffy term for it ?

The existing panel has a cable sealed through deck into same style junction box as the new panel. If I can open both boxes and transfer the existing panels cable to the new panel box ... what's the 'bodge' ? The Box can be treated with Corrosion X to waterproof it and keep contacts good. Doing that saves disturbing what is a good through deck seal etc.

An 80W panel is usually fitted with 4mm cable, that 2 core cable doesn't look anywhere near that ?

 

[Refueler]

An 80W panel is usually fitted with 4mm cable, that 2 core cable doesn't look anywhere near that ?

Don't know .... will check when I next go to boat ...

 

[NormanS]

The existing cable looks very small for an 80W panel. Just fit a decent deck gland, for example Horizontal Cable Seal Power Boat

Cut the connectors off of the new panel, feed the cables through the gland and make the connection inside the boat, using suitably rated cable to the controller and from there to the batteries.

I'm confused. How do you know what size of cable has been supplied with Refueler's new panel?

 

[PaulRainbow]

.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'm confused. How do you know what size of cable has been supplied with Refueler's new panel?

I didn't mention the size of the cable on his new panel, i said the existing cable looked small for a 80W panel.

The existing cable looks very small for an 80W panel. Just fit a decent deck gland, for example Horizontal Cable Seal Power Boat

Cut the connectors off of the new panel, feed the cables through the gland and make the connection inside the boat, using suitably rated cable to the controller and from there to the batteries.

 

[potentillaCO32]

Solar panels should be a long term investment, unless you buy cheap and nasty, as this thread demonstrates. The 100W panels shown in post #6 (shocking quality) are listed on their website at £75, good quality 100W panels start at around £200.

Refuelers "80W" panel was peanuts, but it's nowhere near big enough for an 80W panel. Plus, open circuit voltage of 15.8V is low, it should be close to 24V.

I only fit panels from Photonic Universe, in the last 10 years i have had one fail, at 3 years old. Buy cheap, buy twice (or more)

I can second this. Paul fitted my old boat, presto, witha photonic universe 60w panel and mppt many years ago and it still works perfectly. I've just bought the same to fit to my new boat and it also comes with a matched fitting kit.

 

[NormanS]

I didn't mention the size of the cable on his new panel, i said the existing cable looked small for a 80W panel.

OK. My mistake.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

6 amps, you’d get away with a lot less than 4mm unless its a very long run. My home solar has 5mm cables and it’s 3 kw per array, with a run of 15m. That is what the tables suggested for a 2% maximum loss.

 

[PaulRainbow]

6 amps, you’d get away with a lot less than 4mm unless its a very long run. My home solar has 5mm cables and it’s 3 kw per array, with a run of 15m. That is what the tables suggested for a 2% maximum loss.

How many volts is each array ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

How many volts is each array ?

250, plus or minus, so 15 amps covers it. That’s about 4 times as much as you’d see from an actual 80w panel, at 20 odd volts.

 

[PaulRainbow]

250, plus or minus, so 15 amps covers it. That’s about 4 times as much as you’d see from an actual 80w panel, at 20 odd volts.

So about 1/12 of the voltage drop of the typical 80W panel.

4mm is good for 15m, but if you go down to 2.5mm it's only good for about 10m. 1.5mm is only good for 5m. This is why a decent 80W panel is fitted with 4mm cable.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

So about 1/12 of the voltage drop of the typical 80W panel.

4mm is good for 15m, but if you go down to 2.5mm it's only good for about 10m. 1.5mm is only good for 5m. This is why a decent 80W panel is fitted with 4mm cable.

It’s a big boat if the run from the panel is more than 10m. I’m lucky that my batteries are under the forward berth, and my panels are on the foredeck. The run is 1.5m to the controller. My cables are 4mm. They just don’t need to be.

 

[PaulRainbow]

It’s a big boat if the run from the panel is more than 10m. I’m lucky that my batteries are under the forward berth, and my panels are on the foredeck. The run is 1.5m to the controller. My cables are 4mm. They just don’t need to be.

Nothing you have said changes the fact that decent 80W panels are fitted with 4mm cable though.

 

[Refueler]

The Controller that connects to end of solar cable is in the toilet compartment ... cable is max 3m...