Solar panel mounting.

Contest1

Contest1

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Just bought 2 new 100ah batteries and a 20w solar panel with 5amp regulator on amazon.
I plan to connect the solar to the house battery via crocodile clips and alternate house /start monthly via 1/2/both switch,
Would appreciate any advice, particularly on method of securly mounting panel on the pushpit rail.
Thanks.
 
Last edited:
centaur1 said:
Just bought 2 new 100ah batteries and a 20w solar panel with 5amp regulator on amazon.
I plan to connect the solar to the house battery via crocodile clips and alternate house /start monthly via 1/2/both switch,
Would appreciate any advice, particularly on method of securly mounting panel on the pushpit rail.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

need to know what sort/size of panel is it? do you want permanent or removable mounting? pushpit mountings look cumbersome and can really get in the way unless you have an A frame or goalpost. what about on the hatch garage or coach roof?

For the wiring I would not recommend croc clips as they will soon corrode and aren't really safe or secure. why not hard wire the panel in with some quality cable and crimp fittings and a deck gland for the cable.

I use one of these regulators it has 1 input and outputs to 2 battery banks giving charge to whichever needs it most. I could not recommend it more and its hardly expensive (looks like free delivery too if you order online):

http://www.maplin.co.uk/dual-16a-solar-charge-regulator-266145

you should also make sure you fuse the outputs of the regulator as close to the batteries as possible. something like this would be good and is popularly priced:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blade-Fus...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c1f727ecf

once we know what the panel is like we can discuss mounting it. pushpit on a adjustable bracket would be useful for when the boat is moored. you could wire it in with a deck plug. then angle it eastwards. but you would't want to sail with all that junk on your pushpit.

for permanant mouting you are really looking at horizontal. its a compromise as it will never be pointing the right way and you have to watch out for boom shade etc, but if you look around you will see hard panels on things like hatches/garages and flexible panels (thats what I have) bonded to deck or coachroof where they can be walked on.

enjoy!
 
Thanks, like the NOA mounts, but cost more than panel kit.,probably make some thing simelar to the center rail pivot model.
May also hard wire to the house terminal though this will make the monthly rotation more complex, might go annual as batteries have 4 year warrantry.
 
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