Solar panels for hatch garage

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syvictoria

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Hi. I plan to add some solar panels to my (slightly offset) hatch garage. I appreciate that this is a poor location due to potential shading from the boom, but space is very limited. Victron BlueSolar panels would seem to be a good option, and the choice at present comes down to either:

2 x 30W-12V Poly 655 x 350 x 25mm series 4a, or
1 x 90W-12V Mono 780 x 668 x 30mm series 4a ?

I had hoped to find a two panel solution to help mitigate potential shading problems, but the lure of an additional 50% in wattage has caused something of a dilemma! Which would you pick?

As always, thanks in advance!
 
Just to throw another hat into the ring, I’ve just fitted an 80 watt panel from Photonics Universe (https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en...-durable-ETFE-coating-German-solar-cells.html) which is doing very nicely thank you... For simplicities sake, I’d tend to go for one panel and one set of wire in what can be a fairly high traffic area of the boat.
As to shade, I take a line from the boom to the midships cleat and use that to secure the boom well off centre so as to minimise shade. Sometimes need to move the boom to the other side of the boat as the wind and sun change positions.
 
Consensus would therefore appear to be to go larger rather than putting in a pair of panels. I will look at the other options suggested. Many thanks!
 
syvictoria said:
Hi. I plan to add some solar panels to my (slightly offset) hatch garage. I appreciate that this is a poor location due to potential shading from the boom, but space is very limited. Victron BlueSolar panels would seem to be a good option, and the choice at present comes down to either:

2 x 30W-12V Poly 655 x 350 x 25mm series 4a, or
1 x 90W-12V Mono 780 x 668 x 30mm series 4a ?

I had hoped to find a two panel solution to help mitigate potential shading problems, but the lure of an additional 50% in wattage has caused something of a dilemma! Which would you pick?

As always, thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

we have a panel on our hatch garage and to be honest although the boom shades it (ours is central) it does charge the batteries and provides a decent amount of power, the losses from shading are marginal on the battery monitor, also if your sailing it tends not to be shaded, and equally its only ever fully shaded at midday if at anchor / moored up.

its a space on the boat that otherwise does nothing, so any power it produces is a win in my eyes, of course there are better placements etc but i've not touched or altered the panel since fitting it, its a permanent fixture i dont have to faff with before or during sailing.

personally i would fit the largest panel i could in that area so if you can fit 90W go for it - in hindsight i wish i had tried to squeeze more wattage by going for mono panels and maximizing the hatch garage space because i currently have a wasted ~10cm around each edge not doing anything! when its time to replace i will deffo fit larger.
 
Around 7 years ago I was advised to fit a pair of panels wired in parallel to avoid shading issues, but this was with a PWM controller. Am I right in thinking it's less of an issue with an MPPT controller?

On my little 24 footer, the hatch garage was the only place to put the panels and, from memory, rigid panels are or, at least, were less efficient, so I mounted my pair of rigid panels in an angle aluminium frame.

So far, the setup's worked well.
 
Well said cactus. I agree with you philosophy. Shading is an issue but not as serious as some would have us believe. I would have two panels though to help reduce losses. Also I agree with the fixed approach, moving panels around to catch the rays better is not for me - too much effort! As for only deploying panels when anchored as some advocate what on earth is that about? You're missing half the day and probable the most productive hours. Admittedly I haven't got a fridge or radar and don't do ocean crossings, if I did I'd have to have a rear mounted gantry.
Cactus Sailing said:
we have a panel on our hatch garage and to be honest although the boom shades it (ours is central) it does charge the batteries and provides a decent amount of power, the losses from shading are marginal on the battery monitor, also if your sailing it tends not to be shaded, and equally its only ever fully shaded at midday if at anchor / moored up.

its a space on the boat that otherwise does nothing, so any power it produces is a win in my eyes, of course there are better placements etc but i've not touched or altered the panel since fitting it, its a permanent fixture i dont have to faff with before or during sailing.

personally i would fit the largest panel i could in that area so if you can fit 90W go for it - in hindsight i wish i had tried to squeeze more wattage by going for mono panels and maximizing the hatch garage space because i currently have a wasted ~10cm around each edge not doing anything! when its time to replace i will deffo fit larger.
Click to expand...
 
syvictoria said:
Hi. I plan to add some solar panels to my (slightly offset) hatch garage. I appreciate that this is a poor location due to potential shading from the boom ...
Click to expand...

Shading is a much overstated problem. To have a really bad effect you need a complete (umbral) shadow over the full width of a constituent cell, and that happens surprisingly infrequently. In your case I'd go for 1 x 90 over 2 x 30 - you'll almost always do better that way.
 
Cactus Sailing said:
we have a panel on our hatch garage and to be honest although the boom shades it (ours is central) it does charge the batteries and provides a decent amount of power, the losses from shading are marginal on the battery monitor, also if your sailing it tends not to be shaded, and equally its only ever fully shaded at midday if at anchor / moored up.

+1

Have a 100w panel and have had a yield of 480wh during the current long days/good weather despite being in the boom's shadow
its a space on the boat that otherwise does nothing, so any power it produces is a win in my eyes, of course there are better placements etc but i've not touched or altered the panel since fitting it, its a permanent fixture i dont have to faff with before or during sailing.

personally i would fit the largest panel i could in that area so if you can fit 90W go for it - in hindsight i wish i had tried to squeeze more wattage by going for mono panels and maximizing the hatch garage space because i currently have a wasted ~10cm around each edge not doing anything! when its time to replace i will deffo fit larger.
Click to expand...
 
When leaving my boat I always disconnect the topping lift and drop the boom down onto the cabin top to one side of the hatch. This is because hanging the boom on the topping lift and centred by the main sheet and traveler every wave rocks the boat and swings the boom a bit so tries to move the traveler resulting after some years in a worn out traveler and track. Yes it looks untidy I have even had people ask if there is a problem. But this habit would also get your solar panel away from the boom and in more direct sunshine. ol'will
 
I was in a similar dilemma. I spoke to Photonic Universe and their 60w panel which I was interested in is internaly wired as two sets of cells in parallel, so effectively the same as two panels. Other panels are possibly the same.
 
syvictoria said:
Hi. I plan to add some solar panels to my (slightly offset) hatch garage. I appreciate that this is a poor location due to potential shading from the boom, but space is very limited. Victron BlueSolar panels would seem to be a good option, and the choice at present comes down to either:

2 x 30W-12V Poly 655 x 350 x 25mm series 4a, or
1 x 90W-12V Mono 780 x 668 x 30mm series 4a ?

I had hoped to find a two panel solution to help mitigate potential shading problems, but the lure of an additional 50% in wattage has caused something of a dilemma! Which would you pick?

As always, thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

For a previous boat we used Photonic who were very helpful - try asking the supplier?
 
ithet said:
I was in a similar dilemma. I spoke to Photonic Universe and their 60w panel which I was interested in is internaly wired as two sets of cells in parallel, so effectively the same as two panels. Other panels are possibly the same.
Click to expand...

That's extremely helpful, thank you. I will investigate further!
 
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