Temporary solar panel

[Aege]

On my previous boat I connected a 20W solar panel, via a regulator, directly to the battery on leaving the boat. I would like to transfer the system to my current boat, but the routing is a bit of a faff. When I purchased this boat, it already had a connector in the cockpit for a tiller pilot, which has a separate switch on the switch panel which I guess goes directly to the battery. There are only a +ve and -ve wires to the cockpit connector.
Can anybody suggest any reason why I cannot connect the solar panel to the auto tiller connector with the switch on the switch panel left on when I leave the boat?
Thanks,
Aege

 

[peteK]

You could do that but it wont be going through a charge controller,depends how large your battery bank is if a charge controller is required.

 

[Bobc]

With a 20w panel, you'll be fine going directly to the battery.

 

[Aege]

You could do that but it wont be going through a charge controller,depends how large your battery bank is if a charge controller is required.

Thanks for the reply Pete. Although I didn't mention it in my post, it is my intention to include a controller in a waterproof box between the solar panel and the auto tiller connection.

 

[Bobc]

Thanks for the reply Pete. Although I didn't mention it in my post, it is my intention to include a controller in a waterproof box between the solar panel and the auto tiller connection.

I'm not sure that'll work as most controllers have diodes in to stop battery energy going the other way,

 

[LittleSister]

I'm unclear if this is what Bobc was referring to, but I've read that some (all?) controllers have to be connected to a power supply before the solar panel is connected. If the controller is between the panel switch and the solar panel, and the switch was turned off, even momentarily, at any time, you might have to disconnect the solar panel from the controller and reconnect again to make the controller work.

Other than that, I can't see any reason it wouldn't work, but I'm not sure it's a very good long term solution.

 

[William_H]

I would suggest yes OK to use the power socket in the cockpit however best if you disconnect tthe positive at the fuse or CB at the switch panel so that you can take a separate wire directly to the battery. This will give a connection to the battery when battery is disconnected (switched off) when you leave the boat. best also if you fit a fuse at the battery connection for this wire. You could also connect in the controller at this point. ol'will

 

[Aege]

I'm unclear if this is what Bobc was referring to, but I've read that some (all?) controllers have to be connected to a power supply before the solar panel is connected. If the controller is between the panel switch and the solar panel, and the switch was turned off, even momentarily, at any time, you might have to disconnect the solar panel from the controller and reconnect again to make the controller work.

Other than that, I can't see any reason it wouldn't work, but I'm not sure it's a very good long term solution.

Thanks LittleSister. I guess I could cover the panel before connecting and wait until the controller had booted up before exposing the cells.
Aege

 

[LittleSister]

I guess I could cover the panel before connecting and wait until the controller had booted up before exposing the cells.
Aege

Alternatively, put the controller on the battery side of the switch, so only the solar panel itself is switched.

 

[Aege]

Thanks all for your useful replies.
Aege