Neat and tidy solar installation.

[Oscarpop]

I have saved all my beans and will be heading to the boat show to pick up some semi flexible deck mounted solar panels.

I think that 6 30 w should do the trick. However i know that I am going to have 6 cables that will need to feed into a deck gland.

I don't really want to mount a junction box on the roof, so am open to alternatives. However I am kind of resigned to a 6 cables being routed through the deck.

I really want the panel wires to look as neat as possible, so my question is; what is the best way to keep the wires neat? should I sikaflex cable tidies in place or is ther some specific product that will do the job?

My final question is for recommendations for semi flexible ones. The Solara ones look good but would like to compare and consider another brand

Cheers

 

[Ric]

I use Glomex deck glands for mine. The cable passes through parallel to deck and they don't leak.

 

[NB Willawaw]

Have you considered wiring them in series with an MPPT controller? More efficient and less cables.

 

[alan]

Neat and Tidy Solar Installation

Before you spend a load of dosh on Solara, have a look at Chinese panels on E-Bay. I have found Solara not to be particulary reliable and Chinese panels are less than half the price.
You can get Chinese panels that are already in Europe (UK or Austria) so you don't have an unknown customs charge to allow for.

If you mount the panels on the deck I don't believe that there is any really neat way to route the cables; you will have to live with the cables being visible at least for some part of the run!

Alan.

 

[gasdave]

If you can bring all your 6 cables to the same point I can strongly recommend routing them through the deck via a Cableport (available from Salty John - no connection, just a satisfied customer ). This is very strong to stand on if necessary, very waterproof and only requires one hole in the deck. You should easliy be able to run 3 cables through each end.
You can then have your junction box dry and sealed and unobtrusive below deck.

http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/cableport_boat_product.htm

 

[Graham_Wright]

FlatGland. P.m. me and I'll send you one to play with.

 

[Blueboatman]

Well I would not go drilling holes anywhere until you have lived with em for a while, sailing and harbour?
6 panels is a lot of lost underfoot. At deck level too-or do you mean on top of a raised salon?

 

[Caladh]

I have saved all my beans and will be heading to the boat show to pick up some semi flexible deck mounted solar panels.

I think that 6 30 w should do the trick. However i know that I am going to have 6 cables that will need to feed into a deck gland.

I don't really want to mount a junction box on the roof, so am open to alternatives. However I am kind of resigned to a 6 cables being routed through the deck.

I really want the panel wires to look as neat as possible, so my question is; what is the best way to keep the wires neat? should I sikaflex cable tidies in place or is ther some specific product that will do the job?

My final question is for recommendations for semi flexible ones. The Solara ones look good but would like to compare and consider another brand

Cheers

I would not mount (or purchase) semi-flex panels at all and concur with the comments about Chinese panels at half the price. See this from Marlec about a four year old panel I had. So don't believe that you can actually walk on them for any (even) short period. FYI mine was not mounted where it could be walked on.

"The only way to verify if a product failure is owing to a manufacturing defect, fair wear & tear or damage sustained in use is first hand inspection.
.....Likely causes of delamination usually come from either; an over flexing of the panel, especially if the bend spans the junction box at the highest point or most commonly from a small indentation on the panel where tiny grit in deck shoes can pierce the clear top material. Over time water will ingress and eventually take the panel out of service."

 

[Boreades]

I'm happily using panel kits from Renytek. They are a trade supplier to chandlers as well.

See http://renytek.ascendtesting.net/c/30/12v-semi-flexible-panels

I'm also using their rigid panels at home for DC lighting and charging the lawnmower battery.

http://renytek.ascendtesting.net/c/33/sungold-solar-power-kits

Just negociating with my Managing Director about using their 240W panels as well.

Geoff is the person to speak to. He's got lots of sailing experience as well.

 

[ianfr]

If you can bring all your 6 cables to the same point I can strongly recommend routing them through the deck via a Cableport (available from Salty John - no connection, just a satisfied customer ). This is very strong to stand on if necessary, very waterproof and only requires one hole in the deck. You should easliy be able to run 3 cables through each end.
You can then have your junction box dry and sealed and unobtrusive below deck.

http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/cableport_boat_product.htm

+1 VERY happy with my cableport (satisfied customer only)

Regards

Ian