solar panel recomendations please

[ribrage]

Thanks to yet another faulty solar panel to be replaced under guarentee I have decided to replace the pair that I have and possibly up grade to a more efficient panel and what id really like is a recomendation of manufacturer .

The ones I had were rigged as 24 volt and 37 watt flexible panels, I dont really have a location to fit permanant rigid panels , so these are fitted into pockets on my bimini and stored when not needed ..ie no sun or Im sailing.

The batteries are standard lead acid and total around 600 amps - all new last summer- I have a wind generator and all is regulated via the rutland charge controller i bought with the wind generator which also takes solar.

so what makes would be recomended by other live aboards before i waste more money

thanks in advance

ian

 

[multihullsailor6]

Ian,

I went for the flexible panels from Solara and they seem to be doing a good job.
I have no experience of other makes of flexible panels.

Have you considered the option of the fold-up framed panels fitted to the guardrail?

 

[tri39]

I have used pricy Sunware cos you can walk on them and they are slightly flexible.
They don't last for ever though and obviously you need deckspace, easier on a multi.
So many monos fit arches for their windmills and panels, perhaps you should plan one!

 

[outtametree]

Just refitted my rigid to the aft pushpit rail. It swivels around the top rail to sit flush with & above the transom, when on the berth.
Apparently rigid are more efficient & last longer.
Come & take a look if you're around any time soon.

 

[SeamanStaines]

If you have the space buy one or two domestic solar panels, 250w of panel is about £200 then use an MMPC controller (I have a morning star) to convert the 50v output to the 12v for the batteries. The big advantage here (apart from the cost) is that you are producing a high voltage that means you start charging earlier and finish later. I have two 250v panels in series and see about 20v half an hour after sunrise rising quickly to 70v. I get about 250ah a day from mine in the med.

The down side is they are physically large (1.6m x 1m).

 

[BoyBlue49]

I bought mine (70watt) from Rutland with their wind gen 913. Seems ok.

 

[ribrage]

Ian,

I went for the flexible panels from Solara and they seem to be doing a good job.
I have no experience of other makes of flexible panels.

Have you considered the option of the fold-up framed panels fitted to the guardrail?

Thanks Ill take a look

 

[ribrage]

I have used pricy Sunware cos you can walk on them and they are slightly flexible.
They don't last for ever though and obviously you need deckspace, easier on a multi.
So many monos fit arches for their windmills and panels, perhaps you should plan one!

Unfortunatly my mizzen boom and hydrovane are fighting for the space already and dont really permit any space for an arch, hence i bought expensive flexible panels, unfortunately they keep failing and im now getting a refund ...sigh

 

[ribrage]

Just refitted my rigid to the aft pushpit rail. It swivels around the top rail to sit flush with & above the transom, when on the berth.
Apparently rigid are more efficient & last longer.
Come & take a look if you're around any time soon.

Im not local any more or Id have been around for a mug of tea and a look around your new boat, I am considering fitting rigid panels on frames to mount on the guard wires when anchored, but worried the weight will make it more difficult with the large solar panels.

I should nt have fixed the fridge !

 

[gavin_lacey]

I have just removed my Solara semi flexibles (stainless backing) after 7.5 years. They were vastly more expensive than the glass and aluminium variety and delaminated presumably due to being walked on. I am replacing them with monocrystal framed panels despite the inconvenience of mounting them because I cannot justify the cost of semi flexibles spread over 7 years.

 

[CLEMMY]

I have just removed my Solara semi flexibles (stainless backing) after 7.5 years. They were vastly more expensive than the glass and aluminium variety and delaminated presumably due to being walked on. I am replacing them with monocrystal framed panels despite the inconvenience of mounting them because I cannot justify the cost of semi flexibles spread over 7 years.

I also have solara in a non walking area they were purchased from barden. after 4 years they also started to delaminate and losing output. I complained to barden and solara and they were replaced free, costing only the shipping costs to portugal.

 

[OldBawley]

Over the years we had a variety of semi flexible panels. Among others ware Webasto, ( Bought in Germany ) and Solara.
Although we never walked on them they did not have a long life. As directing to the sun is important they ware moved a few times / day and together with flexing by heat of the sun broke the little conductor strips between the different cells. It is possible to repair those broken strips by opening the covering layer, soldering and sealing the little hole but once five or more repairs ware done finding a new break became to nerve wrecking so the panel was dumped.
These semi flexible panels ware twenty years back even more expensive then now but had remarkable good cells and productivity.
We now have rigid cheap Chinese panels, how long they will last is to be seen.
Cheap means rely cheap, although a Turkish imam who was a friend of me became the same panels from the same chandler for half the price I had to pay. The panels together with my old batteries ware to light his prefab mosque and to be able to use a modest sound system. Fortunately this muezzin could sing and was more a farmer than a preacher. Maybe the fact that the panels ware for a mosque helped to bring the price down. After all the chandler had now a ticket to heaven.
The cheapo Chinese panels ( No brand, no manual, no nothing ) have a good output in bright sunlight, very poor if clouded or hazy. ( Max 5 A, hazy 2,5 A )
Furthermore they discharge the battery’s with 0,5 A/ H pro panel at night. Before I used a regulator I had to disconnect them at night.

 

[ribrage]

Over the years we had a variety of semi flexible panels. Among others ware Webasto, ( Bought in Germany ) and Solara.
Although we never walked on them they did not have a long life. As directing to the sun is important they ware moved a few times / day and together with flexing by heat of the sun broke the little conductor strips between the different cells. It is possible to repair those broken strips by opening the covering layer, soldering and sealing the little hole but once five or more repairs ware done finding a new break became to nerve wrecking so the panel was dumped.
These semi flexible panels ware twenty years back even more expensive then now but had remarkable good cells and productivity.
We now have rigid cheap Chinese panels, how long they will last is to be seen.
Cheap means rely cheap, although a Turkish imam who was a friend of me became the same panels from the same chandler for half the price I had to pay. The panels together with my old batteries ware to light his prefab mosque and to be able to use a modest sound system. Fortunately this muezzin could sing and was more a farmer than a preacher. Maybe the fact that the panels ware for a mosque helped to bring the price down. After all the chandler had now a ticket to heaven.
The cheapo Chinese panels ( No brand, no manual, no nothing ) have a good output in bright sunlight, very poor if clouded or hazy. ( Max 5 A, hazy 2,5 A )
Furthermore they discharge the battery’s with 0,5 A/ H pro panel at night. Before I used a regulator I had to disconnect them at night.

Thank you everyone for your input, I'm annoyed with mine delaminating as they were in plastic pockets in the Bimini so never walked on and not moved around..hey ho

Still researching what to replace them with !

 

[macd]

Sorry to hear of your trouble, Ribrage, but in my experience it's typical of semi-flexible panels. I've bought and used four different brands over the years and all have decayed eventually, usually through delamination. None were ever walked on, so you can forget that as the cause: it's simple UV damage, so far as I can tell.

Rigids are far more durable in my experience: often a pain to fit, but cheaper, both in absolute terms and in Watts per buck. There are some particularly good deals to be had in Greece at present (from non-marine suppliers, natch).

 

[ribrage]

Sorry to hear of your trouble, Ribrage, but in my experience it's typical of semi-flexible panels. I've bought and used four different brands over the years and all have decayed eventually, usually through delamination. None were ever walked on, so you can forget that as the cause: it's simple UV damage, so far as I can tell.

Rigids are far more durable in my experience: often a pain to fit, but cheaper, both in absolute terms and in Watts per buck. There are some particularly good deals to be had in Greece at present (from non-marine suppliers, natch).

Agreed rigids seem cheaper and more reliable.... just wish i had somewhere to permanantly rig them without it being a pain in the ass

thanks all

 

[chuckr]

Kyocera Panels

We have had 2 Kyocera 130w panels on now for 5 years and added a third 135w 2 years ago - they are excellent - working like a charm and no sign of rust, corrosion or anything else

they are mounted on top of our bimini - our boat is a 2001 jeanneau ds40

just our opinion
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season

 

[sailinglegend420]

I also have solara in a non walking area they were purchased from barden. after 4 years they also started to delaminate and losing output. I complained to barden and solara and they were replaced free, costing only the shipping costs to portugal.

Our two 68 watt Solara semi-flexible panels delaminated as well and were replaced FOC after 4.5 years, even though their warranty is only 2 years.

 

[fliti]

I have Solaras and a week ago, I would have sworn by them. However, coming back from a 2 month break, I find they have stopped charging. The panel says my batteries are 100% charged and are producing 15.2 V, which is certainly not the case but is presumably why the panels are not charging. I notice that a couple of correspondents have good experience with Solara's after sales service. Please can anyone give me an idea who to contact as there is no support address on the Solara web site and (surprise, surprise) my installing engineer is not answering my e mails. Appreciate any help...

 

[Gypsy]

Chuckr - I too am looking to change/add solar panels. I have 2 x Uni-solar thin film mounted on my bimini which are in frames but can flex with movement of the bimini. I am thinking of the Kyocera rigid as replacements but worried the glass face might crack if the bimini flexes too much.
Clearly your have been ok. Do they flex a little? Any issues?

Sorry for the slight thread hi-jack but still really on the subject.

 

[grafozz]

Solara

I have just removed my Solara semi flexibles (stainless backing) after 7.5 years. They were vastly more expensive than the glass and aluminium variety and delaminated presumably due to being walked on. I am replacing them with monocrystal framed panels despite the inconvenience of mounting them because I cannot justify the cost of semi flexibles spread over 7 years.

Yesterday I also removed a Solara semi flexible panel that has delaminated and am contacting Solara for a replacement .
Will you be approaching them too ? Mine are about the same age as yours and when they were bought I was told they had a 25 year guarantee, so I want it replaced under those terms .
It has delaminated 50% and gives 0 power , two were fitted at the same time and the other one is fine ,so IMHO it is a manufacturing fault , and I hope Solara will stand by their warranty . They cost £ 360 each , not cheap .
Any one else have Solara solar panel delamination trouble ?