Photonic Universe Solar kits

sgr143

sgr143

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I was thinking of one of these kits to mount on the cockpit hatch garage cover. This would essentially be for topping-up batteries in the intervals between trips, on a boat that has minimal electrical demand anyway. Any experiences with these? Are they really robust enough to be stood on long-term? Is the controller type OK? Are they easy to fit?
12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
thanks, Steve
 
I have no experience of the kit but I have of Photonic Universe. I needed panels for a 24v system and a seperate 12v system. I asked for advice and was given some good clear advice and options. I carried on a series of questions and they were patient and helpful. So I bought the whole 'system' in the winter of 2019. I have not needed to supplement charge on either system since I installed in the Spring 2020. The boat lives on a swinging mooring in the season and then ashore in a yard. The bespoke design by Photonic was excellent and cannot be faulted. The connections are very simple. I rate Photonic.
 
The only caveat I would have would be that, ordinarily, semi-flexible panels aren't that hard-wearing/long lasting, at least they didn't used to be, but that one seems to have a bit more robust construction. If it were me I'd go for a rigid panel but if you want semi flexible for whatever reason that should be fine and looks like reasonable value for money. I wouldn't be stomping all over any solar panel on a regular basis though...
 
sgr143 said:
I was thinking of one of these kits to mount on the cockpit hatch garage cover. This would essentially be for topping-up batteries in the intervals between trips, on a boat that has minimal electrical demand anyway. Any experiences with these? Are they really robust enough to be stood on long-term? Is the controller type OK? Are they easy to fit?
12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
thanks, Steve
Click to expand...

I have their 60w panel kit. mounted on my hatch garage. The semi-flexible is very robust and have a dimpled surface. It is very stiff so can only take a small amount of bending - mine is almost flat. I have mounted it with six 2x1 inch pieces of double 3m hook tape (like Velcro on steroids) which allows a small air gap underneath, it has been fine for three years so far. I avoid deliberately standing on it though and have never trod on the centre.
 
... and yes, the controller seems fine, going into boost (14.4v) on bright mornings, and then going to float most of the time. I think you link to the single output controller, which is what I have as there is a VCR in my system. The wires with the fitting kit are good quality, and much more length than I needed. It is a shame that these panels use separate +ve and -ve cables though, as a single cable would give a neater on-deck layout.
 
Thank you everyone. That is all very reassuring. We have an alternative placement possibility that I might have a look into: a panel on each side, aft of the rearmost saloon windows. It's a pair of spaces otherwise unused for anything. They wouldn't get stood on there, and wouldn't be in the shade of the boom, though of course at any given time one side would see more direct sunlight (if any available!) than the other. I'll measure up next time I'm down, and see whether that might work.
 
I've also used Photonic Universe for panels etc. I used their dual battery controller for charging house and engine battery. Also fitted Index Marine 'pear shaped' deck glands which can take two separate wires which make a neat installation.
 
Another vote for Photonic Universe. Good quality kit at decent prices and good delivery. You can also find them on eBay.
 
I hate to suggest Ebay from China but they do make a lot of solar PV panels at a good price. Indeed you may find what you are looking at are made in China. The concept of a "kit" sounds nice but essentially all you want is one or more solar panels. These need to be of a type (flexible or solid) and size to fit your intended location. Size is purely a question of cost. I would suggest the biggest you can accommodate or feel like fitting. You can add more later if you want with not such a price penalty. Solid I think cheaper and longer lived. I like the smaller panels all sealed in resin. (no ali)
The next thing you need is a controller to avert over charge of your batteries. If you go less than 10w you can feed solar straight in to a decent sized battery without controller. I have just bought a Victron 10/50 MPPT controller which I am impressed with. (made in India) At as max 10 amps at 12v this gives lots of room for expansion of PV array. My point is rather than buy a "kit" just choose the components that suit you. ol'will
 
sgr143 said:
Thank you everyone. That is all very reassuring. We have an alternative placement possibility that I might have a look into: a panel on each side, aft of the rearmost saloon windows. It's a pair of spaces otherwise unused for anything. They wouldn't get stood on there, and wouldn't be in the shade of the boom, though of course at any given time one side would see more direct sunlight (if any available!) than the other. I'll measure up next time I'm down, and see whether that might work.
Click to expand...
We have one on these kits from PU, it is very good quality. It is to keep batteries topped up and does that well. Good lengths of good quality cables. May be cheaper elsewhere, but you know PU is good stuff.
 
I have bought photonic universe solar panels via ebay as they have been a good price and the output is often higher than cheaper.
Their charge controler appear to be a lot more expensive than the identical ebay ones though.
 
If you're going to buy semi-flexible panels, make sure they are ETFE panels, not the cheap PVC ones.
 
William_H said:
I hate to suggest Ebay from China but they do make a lot of solar PV panels at a good price. Indeed you may find what you are looking at are made in China. The concept of a "kit" sounds nice but essentially all you want is one or more solar panels. These need to be of a type (flexible or solid) and size to fit your intended location. Size is purely a question of cost. I would suggest the biggest you can accommodate or feel like fitting. You can add more later if you want with not such a price penalty. Solid I think cheaper and longer lived. I like the smaller panels all sealed in resin. (no ali)
The next thing you need is a controller to avert over charge of your batteries. If you go less than 10w you can feed solar straight in to a decent sized battery without controller. I have just bought a Victron 10/50 MPPT controller which I am impressed with. (made in India) At as max 10 amps at 12v this gives lots of room for expansion of PV array. My point is rather than buy a "kit" just choose the components that suit you. ol'will
Click to expand...
Thanks Will. I'm always looking to save money, of course; but also I balance that against customer service. With stuff like PV, I think the quality of cells and construction can be variable, so I'm happier to buy from a supplier with a good reputation who I'm sure I can get a good response from; and in this case it's hardly a huge expense anyway (at least in the context of owning a boat!). Point taken about kit / build it up yourself - in this case though, if I go for the simple single unit on the hatch garage, the kit has what I need. I'm unlikely to ever add more panels than that; it's not that sort of boat (and there's not much room for them anyway). The only electrical items are the lights and the instruments. No fridge, no automatic bilge pump, no water pump, no radar...
If I go for the panels either side, instead of on the roof, they'll total the same sort of wattage. "Top-up" is all I'm looking for.
I'll have a look at the Victron controller - just in case I change my mind!
 
I have two solar panels from Photonic Universe and had no problems from the panels. Their service and advice is good.
Be very careful about siting the controller though. It must be in an absolutely dry spot. I've had two fail when located in my engine bay. First had an obvious leak over it, fair enough. Second was in a place I thought was well protected but still failed. I couldn't see any water ingress but they said there was evidence of water when looking under a magnifying glass. Can't argue with that, but be sure it's in a dry place.
 
tillergirl said:
I have no experience of the kit but I have of Photonic Universe. I needed panels for a 24v system and a seperate 12v system. I asked for advice and was given some good clear advice and options. I carried on a series of questions and they were patient and helpful. So I bought the whole 'system' in the winter of 2019. I have not needed to supplement charge on either system since I installed in the Spring 2020. The boat lives on a swinging mooring in the season and then ashore in a yard. The bespoke design by Photonic was excellent and cannot be faulted. The connections are very simple. I rate Photonic.
Click to expand...
I have also had great experience of Photonic Universe. Our 3kw inverter charger got water in it. The charging bit stopped working. Their engineer was able to remotely diagnose the problem and they supplied a new pcb at very reasonable cost. Great service
 
Another vote for photonic, the controller I ordered was O/S despite being on the site. I got an apologetic phone call and offered the next size up FOC. Particularly impressed becasue they called and didn't just send it, wanted to check the larger box would fit my planned location site
 
I installed a 20W panel and a 2-output PWM controller from Photonics Universe a few years ago. I set up the controller to prioritise the house battery, and when that’s at float it starts to top up the engine battery. It all works and I’ve never gone out to my mooring to find the batteries at anything less than fully charged.
20W isn’t a lot I know, but the driver was the space available and I just wanted the batteries kept topped up.
 
I curious as to how the cable from these panels runs below to the battery ? I assume it’s permanently fixed so not through a hatch or porthole ? For the price it looks like a useful entry package to the market without the costs of arches or rear rail mounted frames etc. Do you propose to run through existing mast wiring holes for example ?
 
My boat has a minimal electrical system..22ft trailer sailer with 75ah leisure battery and hatch cover mounted solar panel with a charge controller of considerable age. The original solar panel was a classy looking German labelled unit, but was knackered by corrosion through water ingress. I replaced it with a dirt cheap semi flexible unit off eBay for less than £30. I think it's 20w. The only thing I had to modify was to wrap the cable as the red/positive was clearly not UV resistant ( I did say dirt cheap). It has kept the battery topped up for six or seven years now and its just screwed onto the hatch cover.

I think the answer is to make sure you have a reasonable charge controller...not necessarily an expensive one, but one that has reverse charge protection and overcharge protection, and just keep it all connected and the battery will not go flat. I know my battery gets minimal use, but it's been in since 2007 and only cost me £35 at a motor factors in Lincoln. Last time I saw it ( last october) it was still fine as far as I could see. The little green ball still clearly visible and voltage check spot on.
 
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