Tilting Solar Panel Ideas?

[macd]

But it makes a difference which way you are travelling/facing. A 30° tilt benefits if its towards the sun but reduces input if the boat turns in the opposite direction. I, on my swinging mooring, have always had panels at a slight angle to shed water but accept that they will not be at the optimum angle. The position had partial shading at times but didn't seem to affect the overall output much.
Unless you have a motorised tilt/swivel system, or are continually adjusting them, you have to accept that a fixed position is a compromise but still produces valuable output.

+1 My preference is definitely the lazy one, but then I've just about room to have the excess of panels that requires and have made efforts to be thrifty in electrical consumption.

However there is perhaps a virtue in having a degree of adjustment, perhaps over-cumbersome for routine daily use but fine for longer periods. Otherwise, the user is bound to have to decide when he wants the panels most optimal: when under way, or when anchored...and bearing in mind that he'll spend a great deal more time parked than moving.

Downwind in the N hemisphere Trades, the choice is fairly easy: for under way the panels should slope down to port; opposite for parked at anchor. And opposite to both, obviously, S of the equator. Similar considerations might apply in deciding on which corner to site any sources of shade, particularly wind generators.

 

[PotatoNavigator]

What about a fixed angle solar panel on a rotary mount, controlled by a sensor detecting which direction the sun is coming from?

 

[GHA]

But it makes a difference which way you are travelling/facing. A 30° tilt benefits if its towards the sun but reduces input if the boat turns in the opposite direction. I, on my swinging mooring, have always had panels at a slight angle to shed water but accept that they will not be at the optimum angle. The position had partial shading at times but didn't seem to affect the overall output much.
Unless you have a motorised tilt/swivel system, or are continually adjusting them, you have to accept that a fixed position is a compromise but still produces valuable output.

You don't need to continually adjust them, a few times a day can make a big difference to the amount of power going into the batteries, so from the point of view of spending time onboard as opposed to sitting empty on a mooring then it's well worth the effort.

 

[GHA]

but curious if there are other ideas out there?

I hinged mine at the radar arch and fitted adjustable braces down to the push pit top rail. Nice and solid.

 

[Russ the Diver]

This is taken from my catamaran, we had the frame made especially.
The panel are "fixed" in three positions, forward facing, flat or rear facing.
Must say, it works very well
Russ

 

[Heckler]

Why tilt them?
If they were solar water heaters then, yes, tilting them according to the latitude would make sense. However, photo-voltaic cells depend on the light that falls on them, not the heat from the sun. I would say that leaving the panels horizontally would be just as efficient as tilting them.
The only advantage that I can see for tilting them (on land) is to allow for hosing down of bird droppings or other dirt.

Just done mine in the side rails, a diff of 10 to 15 deg means a couple of amps!
S

 

[ianabc]

Mounbted the 3 60 watt Kyocera panels

on hatch garage

on spray hood (aluminium spray hood custom design by me after 6 attempts in thin ply)

aft as part of bimini type support

ALL COVERED in 1/2 clear acylic bolted to al. frame

No problem walking on them or dropping a winch handle!

 

[Petronella]

I agree that this is an over complex solution in a harsh environment where simple, robust solutions are the preferred way forward. Tilting in one direction is usually easy to achieve. In two directions it's much more difficult and usually less robust.

You may have already done these things but before attempting the fancy double direction tilters I would:

1. Do everything I could to reduce my consumption. Fridge insulation/timer, LEDs throughout, minimise use of chartplotters/radar/radios, use tablets rather than PCs. I would monitor my current usage constituents and work to minimise them. I would get hold of chargers that utilise my 12v system rather than inefficiently stepping up and down again with an inverter using the 220v system.

2. Possibly increase battery bank size so when I was able to fill more up I had more there to fill.

3. Replace my short, thin solar panel cables with thicker ones and ensure all connections are good.

4. Buy one or more flexible/movable panels with thick cables that I could always move into the sun. I wouldn't need many watts of panel to make up for what I was missing by not having the double tilt mechanisms and I could ensure they were not shaded.