What to buy? Solar project.

solar

solar

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Hi.
So far had no solar on my boat.
Planning to add a 100W solar panel this season.
Can anyone make me a list of "what to buy" for this project and maybe a "where to buy" list too?
2 batts 130x2 AH for service 1 55AH starter batt
Many thanks.
 
Need a 2 output controller to keep both battery banks topped up plus fuses and wire and crimp fittings. There are lots of places to buy items but I do like the spectralite panels that seemed to be supplied by quite a few companys. 12 volt planet seems to have a good range of fittings as well.
 
Boathook said:
Need a 2 output controller to keep both battery banks topped up plus fuses and wire and crimp fittings. There are lots of places to buy items but I do like the spectralite panels that seemed to be supplied by quite a few companys. 12 volt planet seems to have a good range of fittings as well.
Click to expand...

Given the minimal battery drain on starter batteries and how quickly they are recharged from the alternator, I question why you need to charge them from solar? I would prefer to put the whole solar output into the domestic bank.
 
Depends what you want to do ... just keep the batteries charged at a mooring or run the fridge and electrics 24/7 with no need for shore power?

I wanted to run the boat without any need to use shore power ever, first do a power consumption evaluation ... here's my project from 2018.

calc.JPG

Here is the system I ended up with.

SolarAfter.JPG

Victron Energy have fantastic tools on their website and loads of info.

https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/...ar-modules-to-the-new-mppt-charge-regulators/

The excel sheet available for download on the above page is great for matching MPPT chargers and panels.

Costs ....

costs1.JPG

... plus another €450 - €500 for instalation, wires, clamps, etc. etc. etc. (it all adds up).

.. and it cost me a few hundred to get the Bimini modified to take the flexible panels.

I can now sit at anchor until I run out of water with the fridge runing 24/7 and making normal use of lights, pumps, entertainment system etc. Overnight my batteries drop to around 90% and they are fully charged again by lunch time (in the med).

If you want any additional info then PM me.

This is a good place to start.

https://www.victronenergy.com/markets/marine
 
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I use a Victron MPPT charge controller, and one of their battery combiners, which prioritises the start battery but will charge house bank too when appropriate
 
neil1967 said:
Given the minimal battery drain on starter batteries and how quickly they are recharged from the alternator, I question why you need to charge them from solar? I would prefer to put the whole solar output into the domestic bank.
Click to expand...
My twin battery controller charges the engine battery first because I regard it as being the most important one. In the event of a problem - alternator failure or whatever, I'd sooner be able to start the engine than use the cabin lights.

You're right that it should never get much of a discharge, even my VP2003 on a cold day doesn't raise a sweat from an 85AH battery but, equally, it doesn't take long to top it back up and get on with the domestic battery.
 
neil1967 said:
Given the minimal battery drain on starter batteries and how quickly they are recharged from the alternator, I question why you need to charge them from solar? I would prefer to put the whole solar output into the domestic bank.
Click to expand...

+1
Starter battery does not need a sophisticated solar system. If you leave the boat for more than a month a cheap 10W panel without regulation works well. Just returned to my boat after 5 months with this arrangement and the starter batt is in tip top order.
My repeated personal experience of permanently mounted panels exposed to sea water is that the connector block will corrode and fail within a year, regardless of how much sealant is pumped into it. My current strategy is a folding 100W panel (£90) plus MTTP controller (£60 for 20A to give the option of adding a second 100W panel) which I only deploy at anchor or on settled passages. This also has the advantage of being orientable(?) to the sun for maximum efficiency. It's my first foray into MPPT and very impressed with the performance over PWM.

Controller https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EPEVER-1...444593?varId=621747707051&txnId=1029399296022

Panel https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beautifu...r-Alu-Frame-/254120820420?txnId=2409241262015

Both vendors delivered as specified and items were as described.
 
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PaulRainbow said:
What connector block ?
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Various, all of which comprise two ribbon conductors emerging from the panel which are soldered to a terminal block to which the MC4 conductors are soldered via a diode. The plastic box containing these gubbins is flooded with sealant. No pics, I'm afraid but similar to this with sealant.
solar-junction-box-6.jpg
The problem I have had with my 4 panels (of varying quality) over 5 years is sea water accesses the ribbons and they corrode. The only way to reconnect them is to excavate the panel surface which is way too much faff.
 
Also try Sunshine Solar. Superb quality products and great customer service.

They are very responsive and helpful.


Tony
 
Quiddle said:
Various, all of which comprise two ribbon conductors emerging from the panel which are soldered to a terminal block to which the MC4 conductors are soldered via a diode. The plastic box containing these gubbins is flooded with sealant. No pics, I'm afraid but similar to this with sealant.

The problem I have had with my 4 panels (of varying quality) over 5 years is sea water accesses the ribbons and they corrode. The only way to reconnect them is to excavate the panel surface which is way too much faff.
Click to expand...

I wonder if you've been fitting cheap panels ? I have some Solarex panels on the coach roof that the previous owner fitted in 1988 that still work OK. The two 100w panels i fitted at the stern 2-3 years ago are as good as new.
 
Sorry for jumping in this topic but what about a flexible panel that you take outside when permitted (i sail in Holland and i am hooked up to the marine main most of the time) so this will be a plus to make my stay at anchorage a bit longer.

Thanks,

Gary
 
I bought the cheapest panel I could find on eBay, nearly five years later still working perfectly, no corrosion anywhere. Have I been unusually lucky?
 
Thanks guys for a lot of great info.
Will need time to go over all of it...
Question...Is it a problem to connect shore power charging together with solar? Will it harm the batts by over charging?
 
solar said:
Thanks guys for a lot of great info.
Will need time to go over all of it...
Question...Is it a problem to connect shore power charging together with solar? Will it harm the batts by over charging?
Click to expand...

No problem connecting shore power and solar at the same time. You will likely find that the mains charger will charge the batteries and leave nothing for the solar panels to do.

My advise, fit top quality equipment, it last for years and years. Fit cheap, fit over and over, as you can see from some of the posts in this thread. Photonic Universe are one of several quality suppliers, i usually fit Victron controllers.
 
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PaulRainbow said:
My advise, fit top quality equipment, it last for years and years. Fit cheap, fit over and over, as you can see from some of the posts in this thread. Photonic Universe are one of several quality suppliers, i usually fit Victron controllers.
Click to expand...

I've taken a chance this time by buying 2 x 160w Chinese panels from them but, they say they are reliable. 4 x Kyocera 43w panels just removed are still outputting fine and no corroded terminals after 11 years. Victron controllers as you say are excellent.
 
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