Solar: power cable through-deck recommendations

laika

laika

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Thought this would have been done to death but not much from the past year on the first couple of pages of google so....

Knowing my tendency to dither on anything involving fabrication (i.e. an arch or guard-rail hung panels) I'm considering, cognisant of issues with shadows from stays and guard rails, to buy a few smaller semi-flexibles to mount on the deck. Questions:

1. How are people doing the same feeding power through the deck? A thread from a couple of years ago was recommending deck glands which are all good tucked away under the pushpit, but seem a bit unwieldy and sticky-uppy in the middle of the deck
2. If you're leading wires across the deck to aggregate several into one gland (which I'm disinclined to do as it's a slip/trip hazard), how do you secure them down?
3. These things seem to come with about 1m of cable with an MC4 connector on the end: Are people cutting these off and connecting to a longer cable below deck?

Your experiences appreciated. I'm not expecting the output I'd get from properly angled rigids, but hopefully deck-mounted semi-flexibles will be good for *something*.
 
I've used CT1 to glue down cable gland box (& corner mounts) & it's well up to the job. Had a 60w rigid panel on hatch garage on one boat, a 40w semi flexible on hatch garage & a 20w rigid on lazarette on another boat & 2 x 80w rigid on the roof of my campervan. The semi flexible began delaminating from the edges after not very long, I much prefer the rigid panels & they're significantly cheaper. The bottom edge of the gland itself is about 7mm wide (can measure it for you if you like, I've got a double one left over), enough to fix it securely & it's like the ones linked to below. Hope that helps...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-pan...2&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=190720890197&rt=nc
 
V1701 said:
The bottom edge of the gland itself is about 7mm wide (can measure it for you if you like, I've got a double one left over), enough to fix it securely & it's like the ones linked to below. Hope that helps...
Click to expand...

Thanks: good info.

Re: rigid vs. semi: I'm aware that rigid is the superior option but I'm wanting to preserve walkable deck space. I'm not expecting them to last forever either but hope solar will be cheaper/more efficient by the time I come to replace them.
 
I had the same problem a few years ago and discovered that Index Marine had recently brought out a Side Entry Gland. None of the chandlers stocked it but one did order one for me as I was in a bit of a rush. It worked very well and is still in use with no leaks. The cable comes out flat and it is much less of a tripping hazard than an upright one. I was able to fit it slightly under the cover for my halyards and so it's pretty much out of the way.

Have a look here: http://www.indexmarine.co.uk/deck-glands-se-series.php

I think that I bought the SE6 as I'm using pretty chunky HO7 RNF UV resistant cable.

I do have a few metres of spare cable coiled under each panel to allow them to be moved. I have a 65W rigid and 2x40W (bolted together) on deck. I haven't found the excess cable to be a tripping hazard as it remains coiled under the panels most of the time. The last part leading to the gland happens to sit nicely beside a grab handle.

I did find it handy to be able to move the panels. Last year in the Guadiana we flipped direction each time the tide changed and could predict the best position for the panels. This happened to be well off the centreline.
 
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I'm interested in this thread, but wonder if anyone has looked into the idea of having moveable panel/panels that can be located at various positions to take best advantage of the prevailing conditions, and which can be stowed away when not in use? This would require not a deck gland but a through-deck waterproof plug and socket, with the panel/panels having appropriate leads. I am thinking of this because I can't really see anywhere that I could permanently mount panels so that they would not be seriously shadowed at some time, or where they would not interfere with the working of the boat.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I'm interested in this thread, but wonder if anyone has looked into the idea of having moveable panel/panels that can be located at various positions to take best advantage of the prevailing conditions, and which can be stowed away when not in use? This would require not a deck gland but a through-deck waterproof plug and socket, with the panel/panels having appropriate leads. I am thinking of this because I can't really see anywhere that I could permanently mount panels so that they would not be seriously shadowed at some time, or where they would not interfere with the working of the boat.
Click to expand...

Yes, I had a flexible panel for several seasons and connected it to the boat using a Dri-plug at the mast base. I find these to be excellent, the one in the cockpit AFAIK is original, still good after 30 years. I also have one in the anchor locker, almost permanently wet but has given no trouble in 10years+.
 
I have one flexible 32 Wp panel that I can move about from top of the boom to rear deck. I fitted a waterproof connector just inside the cockpit where it sees little sea or rain water. The panel used to live under one of the saloon cushions when under way and a sealing cap on the socket. It worked, but since getting two 75 rigid panels on the push pit rails, the flexible panel remains tried down on the rear deck. (where its summer heat is doing mischievous things to the deck surface).
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I'm interested in this thread, but wonder if anyone has looked into the idea of having moveable panel/panels that can be located at various positions to take best advantage of the prevailing conditions, and which can be stowed away when not in use?
Click to expand...

Actually I have a 100W suitcase-type rigid panel which can be moved around the deck (although it's a bit bulky). I connect it via a dri-plug near the companionway hatch. Problem is I can't use it when moving and don't like to leave it unattended. Hence looking at something I can attach to the deck.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I'm interested in this thread, but wonder if anyone has looked into the idea of having moveable panel/panels that can be located at various positions to take best advantage of the prevailing conditions, and which can be stowed away when not in use? This would require not a deck gland but a through-deck waterproof plug and socket, with the panel/panels having appropriate leads. I am thinking of this because I can't really see anywhere that I could permanently mount panels so that they would not be seriously shadowed at some time, or where they would not interfere with the working of the boat.
Click to expand...

I spent a lot of time debating whether to go for solar as an aid to charging before heading to the Baltic for 6 months. The challenge was whether it was worth spending a lot on solar panels, gantries etc.; or small amount on moveable panel; or rely on a bit of engine charging which could deliver many more amps in a short period.
My eventual decision was for
(i) a smallish panel (50W semiflexible) which could be hung from guardrails around the boat to best effect even with a bit of tilt; this worked well as the sun doesn't get so high in the Baltic. We could also store it below when not needed.
(ii) a decent sized regulator in case I fitted bigger panels later.
(iii) a plug on the panel lead plus a socket in the cockpit locker (both waterproof) and the cable going through the drainage slots.
This all worked well and cost ~£150.
 
vyv_cox said:
Yes, I had a flexible panel for several seasons and connected it to the boat using a Dri-plug at the mast base. I find these to be excellent, the one in the cockpit AFAIK is original, still good after 30 years. I also have one in the anchor locker, almost permanently wet but has given no trouble in 10years+.
Click to expand...

laika said:
Actually I have a 100W suitcase-type rigid panel which can be moved around the deck (although it's a bit bulky). I connect it via a dri-plug near the companionway hatch. Problem is I can't use it when moving and don't like to leave it unattended. Hence looking at something I can attach to the deck.
Click to expand...

RAI said:
I have one flexible 32 Wp panel that I can move about from top of the boom to rear deck. I fitted a waterproof connector just inside the cockpit where it sees little sea or rain water. The panel used to live under one of the saloon cushions when under way and a sealing cap on the socket. It worked, but since getting two 75 rigid panels on the push pit rails, the flexible panel remains tried down on the rear deck. (where its summer heat is doing mischievous things to the deck surface).
Click to expand...

bobgarrett said:
I spent a lot of time debating whether to go for solar as an aid to charging before heading to the Baltic for 6 months. The challenge was whether it was worth spending a lot on solar panels, gantries etc.; or small amount on moveable panel; or rely on a bit of engine charging which could deliver many more amps in a short period.
My eventual decision was for
(i) a smallish panel (50W semiflexible) which could be hung from guardrails around the boat to best effect even with a bit of tilt; this worked well as the sun doesn't get so high in the Baltic. We could also store it below when not needed.
(ii) a decent sized regulator in case I fitted bigger panels later.
(iii) a plug on the panel lead plus a socket in the cockpit locker (both waterproof) and the cable going through the drainage slots.
This all worked well and cost ~£150.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming it's not a completely batty idea! I already have a Marlec HRDi regulator for my wind generator that will accept solar input, and can easily (and neatly) locate a socket that can feed into that.
 
I've just ( a couple of weeks ago) finished installing a 150w semi flexible panel.

I used the side entry deck glands as detailed above. Bear in mind though that it's recommended to mount them so that the wire enters from the rear, as that's sheltering the wire from the prevailing wind / weather. So I looped my wires round to enter from the rear.
Not a problem as my panel is mounted on the sliding sunroof, so I needed a curve or loop anyway to guide the wire as the sunroof is slid open (backwards).

I've used spiral wrap around the cables and MC4 connectors to shield them from uv and provide some mechanical protection.
 
V1701 said:
I've used CT1 to glue down cable gland box (& corner mounts) & it's well up to the job. [...] The bottom edge of the gland itself is about 7mm wide (can measure it for you if you like, I've got a double one left over), enough to fix it securely & it's like the ones linked to below. Hope that helps...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-pan...2&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=190720890197&rt=nc
Click to expand...
+1 - semi-flexible on foredeck (20ft boat) doesn't seem to get in the way......yet!
 
I have a roll-up panel which I connect using a Bulgin Buccaneer 2-pin plug. I've swapped the inners over so the flying lead has the socket and the deck has the plug. That removes the risk of inadvertently shorting the panel and prevents anybody trying to draw power backwards through the regulator.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Thanks for confirming it's not a completely batty idea! I already have a Marlec HRDi regulator for my wind generator that will accept solar input, and can easily (and neatly) locate a socket that can feed into that.
Click to expand...

I gave up with my flexible panel, a 32 watt roll-up type, because it was a complete PITA when sailing. I needed to tie it down with six lines, almost certainly to move it once we had arrived. Replaced it with an arch and much bigger panels, definitely the way to go.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I used one of these when installing my semi flex panel. The only problem is if your deck thickness is too great. I havent been able to find any longer ones. http://cpc.farnell.com/1/3/ip67-cable-glands
Click to expand...

I used one like the first in my link above. Deck thickness not relevant within reason.

2390.jpg


but if I'd seen them, as indicated I'd probably have chosen the side entry type from Index marine

170067.jpg
 
ghostlymoron said:
It depends where they are. In an exposed position, the ones from Index marine look the DBs.
Click to expand...

Yes, very satisfied with the one I fitted in 2012. I was lucky to find it as none of he chandlers were stocking them. I think that they were new to the range and I did eventually see one online, but they only stocked the smallest one. I did have to fit it with the entry facing forward as that gave the best run for the cable. The cable used was very flexible and quite large, so only just fitted. Never had any leaks and I can walk around without fear of tripping on raised cable, still possible to step on the cable but not much different to the lines running up the channel next to it.

Pretty certain I'd be forever tripping over a raised loop of cable with an ordinary upright deck gland.
 
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