(Cheapish) Solar panel 20-30 W for battery charging

[slawosz]

I need to buy solar panel to charge my 75 Ah battery. There is lot of them on ebay ranging 30-60 quid. Or in chandleries up to 150 quid. I will do mostly day sailing, using only deepsounder, maybe radio. In few years I might do some shorter passages up to 60-100 miles. Could you recommend something suitable?

 

[peteK]

Where are you going to mount it?Buy a panel to fit the space, the aluminium framed panels seem a bit more durable than the semiflexible.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I bought the 10W version of this one, with the same controller. I also bought a low volts protection module, but didn't need it because the controller does it for me. Works well.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25w-PV-S...221834?hash=item467981360a:g:CxgAAOSw42dZMVLT

 

[Stemar]

I got a pair of 20W panels and a controller from here https://www.sunstore.co.uk/. I mounted them on a frame pop riveted together from angle aluminium fitted it above the hatch garage, as that was the only place to put them. Because I have two batteries, starter and domestic, I got a twin battery one. It's less efficient than an MPPT controller, but it's also less than half the price.

They keep up with my day to day use at anchor provided I don't overdo it with the (cheap and inefficient) cold box, and ensure my batteries are fully charged. whenever I come to the boat, even in the middle of winter.