Solar Panels

[Sea Devil]

I am having 2 65w solar panels attacher to my bimini... If I don't complete the wiring run to the battery for a few weeks will it damage the panels having nowhere to 'send' the charge to?... Leaving the two leads unattached to anything??
Thanks
Michael

 

[Aeolus]

No. Can't explain the physics of it but essentially: no circuit, no current. The panel may warm up in the sun but it should be designed to cope with that anyhow.

 

[dslittle]

I had the same worry when I changed my regulator mid winter. I had to leave the panels with no connection for a couple of months before getting back to the boat. I had asked the same question and I was reassured that no harm would come to the panels.

I fitted the new regulator (Victron Smart Solar - only relevant as it has Bluetooth and I can now see the power going in) and all is fine, so don’t worry - as long as you make sure that the ends are insulated…

 

[Sea Devil]

No. Can't explain the physics of it but essentially: no circuit, no current. The panel may warm up in the sun but it should be designed to cope with that anyhow.

thank you

 

[Sea Devil]

thank you

No. Can't explain the physics of it but essentially: no circuit, no current. The panel may warm up in the sun but it should be designed to cope with that anyhow.

thak you

 

[Sea Devil]

I had the same worry when I changed my regulator mid winter. I had to leave the panels with no connection for a couple of months before getting back to the boat. I had asked the same question and I was reassured that no harm would come to the panels.

I fitted the new regulator (Victron Smart Solar - only relevant as it has Bluetooth and I can now see the power going in) and all is fine, so don’t worry - as long as you make sure that the ends are insulated…

thank you

 

[ashtead]

Which panels did you choose for the Bimini?

 

[colind3782]

The instructions that came with mine said don't connect the regulator to the solar before the regulator is connected to the battery as the regulator can be damaged.

 

[Sea Devil]

Which panels did you choose for the Bimini?

2 x 65w flexible for 150 euros the two. Most attractive thing was the price... All part of preparing the boat for shipping to the Caribbean this November

 

[RupertW]

2 x 65w flexible for 150 euros the two. Most attractive thing was the price... All part of preparing the boat for shipping to the Caribbean this November

I’m a fan of flexible panels and have them on my bimini but long lasting flexible panels come with a hefty price tag. Mine were £900 per 100W (Sunware TX) and chosen because a neighbour’s boat had had them for nearly a decade and still working fine and they were fitted to a few boats in the marina. The issues with cheaper ones seem to be clouding and connections breaking but you will hopefully find out that manufacturing has now become so standardised there is less of a problem.

We are hopefully also on the way to the Caribbean but probably not setting off until early January.

 

[Sea Devil]

See you out there... Because I will be marina based and go off sailing to the other islands only when the mood takes me, I do not feel very reliant on solar power and just want a power source when on anchorage .... I am keen to keep auxiliary equipment as simple as possible... and as inexpensive as possible until I've spent some time there... Last time cruising these islands was 30 years ago so it will be interesting to see what has changed ,.... or not!

 

[RupertW]

See you out there... Because I will be marina based and go off sailing to the other islands only when the mood takes me, I do not feel very reliant on solar power and just want a power source when on anchorage .... I am keen to keep auxiliary equipment as simple as possible... and as inexpensive as possible until I've spent some time there... Last time cruising these islands was 30 years ago so it will be interesting to see what has changed ,.... or not!

That makes sense - we used to spend the majority of our time at anchor in the Med and expect the same in the Caribbean - probably leaving the boat on a mooring for most of the year in between trips so solar is important to us for everything from autohelm to hot water.