Nasa solar panel

[doug748]

I am thinking of getting a Nasa 10 watt panel to help my windgen keep the 110 amp battery up a bit in light wind conditions.

Anyone used one? It is not intended to power a fridge and associated champagne lifestyle but to keep things ticking over between daysails.

As I shall not be fitting it but using it loose, I am not looking at the bulkier, framed units, which seem a good deal cheaper.

 

[seumask]

Plenty of 10W solar panels out there, and most are cheap an cheerful which makes the Nasa one nothing special in my opinion and really quite expensive

 

[doug748]

Thanks. No it's not cheap but most of the inexpensive ones seem to be metal framed and quite heavy. I intend to put the thing on toggles on my fabric cockpit cover which is nicely inclined towards the midday sun.

I have read (extrapolating from figures for 100w units) that I can expect it to put about, roughly 3 amp hours ish back into the battery on an average UK summer day.
Does this sound about right?

 

[VicS]

Thanks. No it's not cheap but most of the inexpensive ones seem to be metal framed and quite heavy. I intend to put the thing on toggles on my fabric cockpit cover which is nicely inclined towards the midday sun.

I have read (extrapolating from figures for 100w units) that I can expect it to put about, roughly 3 amp hours ish back into the battery on an average UK summer day.
Does this sound about right?

Nasa do not seem to publish a full tech spec but a bit more than 3Ah on a good day perhaps. Expect about 0.65 amp maximum current

On a fabric cover why not use a fully flexible panel?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Plenty of low cost semi-flexible panels out there, the NASA price is completely ridiculous. A really quick Google turns up tons of them, such as https://www.ecopowershop.com/10w-flexible-solar-panel-kit

 

[doug748]

Good shout, yep, that does look much better value.

It's just an experiment really, I think the semi flexible panel may be better if it ever ends up fixed to the hatch garage, Vic.

 

[ithet]

Plenty of low cost semi-flexible panels out there, the NASA price is completely ridiculous. A really quick Google turns up tons of them, such as https://www.ecopowershop.com/10w-fle...olar-panel-kit.

I have this panel used in exactly the way the OP wishes, i.e. positioned on the forehatch when boat on mooring. Maintains (240Ah) batteries OK. Now in its third season and seems to have kept very well.