Solar Panels

[Tugw]

Anybody know what i would need to set up a solar panel battery charger? i mean what sise panel and how to wire the thing? I have 2x85ah Domestic and 1x85ah start batteries.If there are any folks out there who could guide me i would be very gratful.

 

[Moonshiners]

How much charge do you want to generate and/or how much do you want to spend?

 

[Taffy]

1. First calculate your total daily consumption. How much you are taking out. There are lots of links and ecxel tables to help with this.
2. Choose suitable sized panels and a charge regulator. Look at flexible or solid panels and the different regulator technology.
3. Adjust your choice to suit you mounting limitations and budget.

 

[Tugw]

[ QUOTE ]
How much charge do you want to generate and/or how much do you want to spend?

[/ QUOTE ]

All iwant is to keep them charged when im not onboard. i.e.when the boat is sat on the mooring for a couple of months

 

[sarabande]

Have a word with the guy at Aire and Sun.

He's very user friendly and advised me on a set up about a year ago. Good prices, too.

http://www.aireandsun.co.uk/

 

[Tugw]

Thanks for the info,ill give em a go

 

[Moonshiners]

5 watts should be fine to keep them topped off. I'd try maplins doesn't need to be rocket science, if your only trying to keep them topped off. Make sure they have a diode (non return) and a regulator (usually a little black box on the panel). then wire straight to battery with good clean terminals.

It only needs to get complicated once you start trying to re-charge your useage as mentioned above. 5 watts will trickle charge your batteries no prob and shouldn't break the bank.

 

[VicS]

A 5 watt panel connected to an 85Ah battery does not need a regulator. I have been using a 5 watt panel for years, originally with a 45Ah battery now with 60Ah. If the battery was less than 45 Ah it would and it is usually recommended that panels over 10 watts are used with a regulator regardless of the battery size.

If one panel is to supply both the starter battery and the domestic bank then a split charging system will be required.

If space permits I might be tempted to use separate panels for the starter battery and domestic battery rather than using a splitter. Although all that is need is separate diodes in the feed to each bank rather than just one in the panel output but panels supplied for battery charging do often/usually have a diode incorporated into them.

A 10 watt panel for the domestic bank would give a small but maybe useful recharging ability.

Volts drop across diodes is not a big issue with solar panels because the actual EMF produced is relatively high but Schottky diodes have a significantly lower volts drop than silicon ones.

Don't forget to fit fuses, as close to the battery connection as possible, rated to protect the wiring to the panels.

 

[Tugw]

The 5watt panel seems to be the idea ill go for,the other systems ive looked at are to complicted for what i want,As i said im only looking to keep them charged not to recharge them

Thanks Troops for the info and help

 

[DavidJ]

I have two 10W solar panels. They came with plugs and sockets which I connected directly (and separately) to my two battery banks. (There is an inline fuse) I just plug in when I leave the boat and keep the panels under the screen (which isn't covered)