How to attach solar panels to sprayhood and/or teak decks

[dunedin]

I have seen reference to solar panels mounted on a conventional canvas sprayhood. Any suggestions how best to achieve this - presumably with semi flexible panels as rigid would be the wrong shape and too heavy?
I see one forumite was planning to go this route but not sure if this happened.

Alternatively we could mount a couple of smallish semi-flexible 50W panels on deck - but as these panels seem to have a short working life, how would you mount to the decks to avoid wrecking the decks if need to swap them out.
Screws through the GRP/foam underlay could cause long term damp/delamination issues (the decks themselves are glued), and glueing down could presumably damage the teak when removing ?

Stern gantry etc not an option, though do plan to augment the fixed ones with a removable panel - perhaps using dinghy davits to hold and allow tilting.

Thanks as ever
(PS I have done a search of the various panel posts on the forum which are very helpful, but not seen this info)

 

[lpdsn]

I've been considering putting solar panels on a sprayhood but haven't actually done it yet. Maybe in the summer.

Ideas I've considered so far are to slot them into pockets (I have a picture of the pocket I want, basically three sided with the fourth side velcroing into place - not sure I can easily convey that). My concern is that edges of the pocket might easily overlap active parts of the solar panel and shade them.

The second idea is to simply velcro multiple very small panels directly to the sprayhood. Velcro glued to the back of the panel. I bought a cheap 2.5W solar panel from a Chinese website, but haven't got around to playing with it, due partly to the cold, rain and distinct absence of that round yellow thingy in the sky in recent months. If it works, it would mean I'd be paying less than £1 per nominal Watt for the panels.

This approach would mean multiple small cables, which I assume I can cover over with a velcro'd canvas flap. However I'm also concerned that the panels could be lost in strong winds (which have been distinctly present in recent months).

So basically I'm just at the thinking about an experiment stage.

I should also say that my sprayhood attaches to the gantry that supports the mainsheet, so it is well supported and it gives me an easy-ish route for leading wiring down below.

 

[gregcope]

I have attached solar panels to my coach roof deck. Basically covers over channels that lines run in. Took station PU40 Polyurathane glue (similar to sikaflex) and bolts although self tappers would have worked. Bidding the cabling took ages. These panels are in permanently.

I am also planning a 100W semi flexible panel on the spray hood. I have had Patches fitted to it to attach bungee. This is a temp fitting as I only plan this at anchor / moorings / marina. Ie a top up panel to run / keep up with fridge.

Pictures / write up soon. Need to get ready for launch.

Some ideas;

semi flexible panels are quite light and quite flexible

This site has some ideas on mounting you might want to copy;

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_panel

 

[gregcope]

This is the 100W one I plan to temp mount on the spray hood;

http://www.lensunsolar.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=33&product_id=53)

Things to note;
- You can get them cheaper than this.
- ETFE covering which is claimed better than PET (and used by others)
- 22% efficiency which is quite high
- Quite flexible, ie on a thin/light GF base which can bend quite a bit.

 

[Tucepi]

A forum member on here have a blog and website http://rumsodomyandthelash.com/onboard/
In the fit out section they mention buying the flexible panels and requesting they come with zips which they then asked a local sail maker to sew onto their Bimini but could also be applied to spray hood. I am looking into this and will most likely fit 2 large panels with zips to my Bimini and anywhere else I can. Zips sound strong and if conditions are bad easily removable.

 

[Tucepi]

One other thing to consider is that the solar panels may or will get hot so attaching them to the spray hood without some insulation may not be best practice. Not difficult to add but worth considering it.

 

[gregcope]

Got to boat today and took some photos.

My design is supposed to be temporary, ie at anchor/moorings/marina.

Here is a picture of the sprayhood;

This is how it is attached. In retrospect I would have had the re-enforcement patches made 4x bigger.


Also mounted ontop of the boom, this gave allot more power due to less shading;

 

[gregcope]

Pants. No idea why the photos are not the right way up! Sorry.

 

[dunedin]

Thanks all - very helpful

 

[SimonFa]

Thanks all - very helpful

Indeed, I've just been researching this subject and have just changed my mind, again.

 

[ianhandel]

We have two 50W flexible panels in fabric surrounds. There was just enough inactive margin to glue 20mm (I think) Velcro to the panel with a bit of a fiddle around the connection box - the fabric wraps over and attaches to the Velcro. I glued foam to the lower edges of the panels to reduce wear on the spray hood from the edges. At the corners I've sewn webbing so tying the whole thing locks the fabric envelope closed. Currently they are tied to the spray hood frame aft and deck eyes forward. Plan is to sew reinforced tie points to the spray hood for the four corners and two middle points. The panels just tuck into the curve of the spray hood fabric which somewhat protects them from boom/topping lift mistakes. Fabric surround was mainly to protect spray hood as I was worried that panel edges would abrade the spray hood fabric.

Cheers

Ian