kathyloraine
New Member
Our boat will be left in Tunisia this year. We have two solar panels, last year we left them uncovered which did not seem to do any damage. Any advice on what is the best thing to do, cover or leave uncovered?
Solar Panels
- Thread starter kathyloraine
- Start date
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
I would leave uncovered and ON. It will trickle charge your batteries and is much healthier for them and safer for the boat than being left on shore power.
Talbot
Well-Known Member
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I would leave uncovered and ON. It will trickle charge your batteries
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That depends on the size of the solar panel! Decision is really dependent on size of panel, output, capability of regulator, size and type of load available to dump excess power (only relevant if large output panel)
I would leave uncovered and ON. It will trickle charge your batteries
[/ QUOTE ]
That depends on the size of the solar panel! Decision is really dependent on size of panel, output, capability of regulator, size and type of load available to dump excess power (only relevant if large output panel)
mithril
Well-Known Member
Small panels (<30 watt) can be wired to the batteries and left to operate normally but bigger panels are best used with a regulator. That way the installation ensures the batts only rec'v a charge when they need it. With wet cells I use a rule of thumb, C/100 or less can be left on. By this I mean the total bank capacity in Ah divided by 100 is an acceptable constant over charge rate. OK they might gas but top up accordingly. With maintenance free cells I'd go to C/250.
I paid £555 for a panel and 11 euro for a regulator, so why do without a regulator?
I paid £555 for a panel and 11 euro for a regulator, so why do without a regulator?