Solar panels on pushpit rail

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pcatterall

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Still head scratching trying to find a good position for 80 watts worth of solar panels and currently considering 2x40 watts.
The usual issue of course; where to mount where they are out of the way and out of shade.
I have considered an arch of some kind, I can't site this on the stern for various reasons but could just fit one right in front of the mizzen with the panels just out of the way ( above) the mains leech.
It seems a complicated way ( and probably expensive) to just mount two panels and I wondered if I could put them on hinges on the pushpit rail with a clip on support leg so that the panels could be lowered down flat to the lower rail.
No doubt they would be more in the way than on an arch but it seemed to have some merit in simplicity and cost.
Has anyone done/seen this and what do you think.
Boat is a Neptunian with a pretty high transom so the panels would not be ( normally) be pooped!
 
Thanks guys, well at least the 2 clamps shown would indicate that the concept is feasible!
Both those products seem pretty pricy though.
The DRB one looks well finished but I was suprised that the tilt apperared to be only in one direction/ if the swivel bit was round at 90 degrees then tilt could be acheived in one plane with the top swivel and in the other by the rail clamp?
I guess I could feed a waterproof connecter tail to a point between the panels so that they could be removed pretty quickly.
 
pcatterall said:
Thanks guys, well at least the 2 clamps shown would indicate that the concept is feasible!
Both those products seem pretty pricy though.
The DRB one looks well finished but I was suprised that the tilt apperared to be only in one direction/ if the swivel bit was round at 90 degrees then tilt could be acheived in one plane with the top swivel and in the other by the rail clamp?
I guess I could feed a waterproof connecter tail to a point between the panels so that they could be removed pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

You could knock up something much cheaper using bimimi type fittings and some anodized aluminium bar.
 
On a smaller scale I mounted my panel on a board and attached it to a barbecue mount. I can unclamp the panel in a few seconds to put it away and can tilt it in any direction to suit the position of the sun and the direction I am moored in.

Resizeof2011_05290017.jpg
 
Common problem, I finally decided that the best of the bad options I had were on coachroof but able to slide over to either side or hang on guardrails with props.

Both bad one way or another. Guardrail fitting only OK at anchor and coachroof will often get shade when sailing.

I ruled out the pushpit as I thought it would get as much shade as on coachroof (person helming, windgen, cockpit cover support etc.). SWMBO didn't want an arch and it would have been expensive and difficult to fit due to existing hardware in that area.

S/S link above seems useful so I'll look at that.

I'm looking into Buccaneer Waterproof fittings to allow me to connect panels to 2-3 different points. I've heard that they are well sealed and do panels with caps so might be better than the ordinary solar panel connectors (don't know if they can be sealed when not in use).

http://www.yachtbits.com/kme/buccaneer_waterproof_flange_mounted_socket_2_way.php

Only thing I haven't found out so far is if they only connect in one polarity. I would only use them if they were idiot proof. But reverse polarity protection would seem to be a good idea on any 2 pin socket so good chance they will be OK. Has anyone else in the formum used these?
 
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