Solar Charging?

[AndCur]

I am planning on fitting a 10 watt panel to my Achilles to keep the battery topped up. I dont do much motoring so don't think that its worth fitting a charging kit to
the outboard. I don't use a lot of power as i only have to feed an Autopilot,VHF,GPS,Log,sounder,Nav and cabin lights. Is Solar charging the
way to go?


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[Guest]

I have two batterys ..... one a HD Diesel job for starting the engine, the other an ex Truck job at about 120 A/Hr.

The Truck job is linked to an auto bilge pump and a Car Access. Shop 5W trickle solar charger. It is the best bit of kit I put on .... it keeps the battery topped up, even though the pump may run at times etc. I return to the boat after extended trips abroad and bingo - no problem. The Truck battery will also start the engine - so I always have something to turn it over .... and once going I can charge the engine battery. The Solar is on croc clips and easily stowed away etc.
I am planning to actually mount this one and another on the aft rails to charge each battery separately without need for relays etc. Just a switch to isolate panels when engine/ shore is charging them.

Go for it ..... like I say ,...... mine are only 5W and they work.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[LORDNELSON]

Interesting - Can you use the solar panel inside a pilot house relying on sun through the windows? And is Car Access. Shop the name of the supplier? The price of quite small panels from Ampair etc., seem very high each time I feel that I must fit some panels so your solution seems attractive.

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[Guest]

They are available in nearly all Car Accessory Shops in UK ..... 24.99 each.
They are designed for plugging into cigarette lighter socket and placing on the dashboard at the windscreen.

I actually use one on my UK car ...... as the panel is also usually supplied with adaptor to allow direct croc clip to battery. I croc clip to battery, carefully have lead going in the car via the door and the panel sitting in the window. Within seconds the LED is blinking showing its working.

On the boat I have one sits on top of the cabin tied to the handrail, lead drops in via the washboards and then croc clipped to the battery.

QED

Like I say ..... most car shops have them ... mine were 24.99 each with velcro strips, clips and all sorts to fix, connect etc. etc. I have left my boat one out in all weathers and its fine ....

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[VicS]

I rate my solar panel as one of the most useful bits of kit that I have bought, and its only 5watts. If you've got the space for 10w go for it, I dont think you will be disappointed.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[charles_reed]

As with apple-pie and motherhood, I'm totally in favour of solar charging.

However to express an opinion one needs some measurable facts - like the amps drawn and the period of usage.

A 10 watt solar panel is more than adequate to keep batteries charged up, but if it's your only means of battery charging it's almost certainly inadequate (unless you use shorepower or only sail 3/365 days).

I have an 85 watt panel at about 40N which keeps 200ah going for about 5 days when I'm at anchor. Daily usage is about 80ah, most into the fridge.

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[extravert]

It depends on the type of sailing you do, but a 10W solar panel sounds like too little to me. The biggest problem you may encounter is what you do if you are out at night and your battery goes flat. Your nav lights will be the biggest power users out of that lot, and the worst one to be without. You can switch off your interior lights and VHF, steer by hand, run the GPS on internal batteries, and other instruments generally use very little. But nav lights are essential for safety and legality, and are your biggest consumer. If you have no engine charging you don't have the option of running the engine to keep the lights on.

I run my boat's electrical system which is similar to yours using the following...

A 30 Watt solar panel
6 Amp outboard charging
3 Amp 3 stage mains powered charger for when I'm connected to mains (£40 from RS)

This may be more than you need, but I would recommend a bigger solar panel, and one other means of generating electricity. Does yout outboard have any output? Even if it is unregulated AC, a regulator/rectifier is cheap and easy to fit.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I hope to own a real boat.

 

[AndCur]

The engine is a Mariner 6hp 4 stroke. Charging is a option but the output is 3amps max. I currently charge the 90amp hour battery every 4 weeks and have not had any problems so far.When anyway i plug into shore power when ever possible to charge the battery. I take ure point about the nav lights

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