SteveB_Sigma33
Well-Known Member
What sort of ampage should you look for to top up your batteries whilst sailing with say a GPS and instruments most of the time?
Any idea?
Any idea?
Solar power ampage
- Thread starter SteveB_Sigma33
- Start date
trouville
N/A
at least 25w and it depends where!! In the med 18w gave me enough power the same panel in the Baltic left we without light in the end!
If your in the UK i can only guess but 36 w should be enough or buy a 25w try it if its to little buy a second. there a handy size.
When i put my 85w on it was to much for my curent needs,and that size can damage your battery as i dont have a regulator. Just try the 25w panels are not to expensive and you have a goog choise i wouldent recoment the flexi ones but the one with a stainless backing.
If your in the UK i can only guess but 36 w should be enough or buy a 25w try it if its to little buy a second. there a handy size.
When i put my 85w on it was to much for my curent needs,and that size can damage your battery as i dont have a regulator. Just try the 25w panels are not to expensive and you have a goog choise i wouldent recoment the flexi ones but the one with a stainless backing.
William_H
Well-Known Member
I agree with trouville the choice of solar panel may come down to space on the boat and budget. Be aware that a 20watt panel will give about 1amp because they calculate not from 12 volt battery you want to charge but the 20 volts the panel produces. If you want to be able to power a boat continuously you would need to expect sunshine charge for 40% of the time depending on season weather etc and expect about 50% efficiency of power into the battery to power out. Which calcullates at about 5 times current from solar to continuous or average consumption.
If of course you sail your boat onnly at the weekends then it has all week to recharge then it is much less. My boat runs on 2watt solar power for radio, occasional Nav lights, GPS for use about 3 hours racing once per week but that is no indication really.(oz summer) As trouville says get a mid sized panel and see how you go as you can easuily and conveniently add more panels..
If of course you sail your boat onnly at the weekends then it has all week to recharge then it is much less. My boat runs on 2watt solar power for radio, occasional Nav lights, GPS for use about 3 hours racing once per week but that is no indication really.(oz summer) As trouville says get a mid sized panel and see how you go as you can easuily and conveniently add more panels..
