Which Solar Panel(s)

[CaptainBob]

Further to my recent thread re battery maintenance over winter...

Maplin currently sell a B Grade 150W solar panel for ~£700 including a charge controller.

They also sell a "150W Solar Motor Home and Boat Kit" which looks like it uses a different solar panel.

Marlec sell "SunWare" products which they rave about the quality of, but which seem to work out at about double the £ per Watt (~£700 for a 70W panel).

I have room I think for a big panel so my choice comes down only to which is "best" for the money. We do have a huge requirement for power (we will live aboard) so the 150W panel is very appealing. But is the quality so poor we'd be better off with the slightly more expensive Maplin panel - or even the SunWare 70W.

(I will almost certainly get the Marlec HRDi (for its voltage and current readouts, and ability to also accept a wind input if/when we also add that).)

Thoughts, suggestions, product recommendations and supplier recommendations gratefully received.

TY!

 

[V1701]

Don't discount the "cheap" solar panels found on ebay, I've had 3 and all are fine with good output. Do some research on the different types though, the cheaper panels tend to be aluminium framed monocrystalline. Lots of past threads with useful info. IMO Maplins can be useful but not good value for money...

 

[TQA]

Kyocera is the panel of choice in the Caribbean cruising community.

I am certainly happy with mine.

 

[noelex]

I would go for the biggest panels you can fit. The cheap rigid panels still have a reasonably long life, much longer than most marine equipment.
Personally I would prefer some redundancy in charge controllers with a separate units for wind and solar. The requirements for wind and solar regulators are different and a single unit is less than ideal The Marlec HRDi is not MPPT although this only makes a small difference on a yacht.
The display on the Marlec HRDi is appealing, but it will not count AHrs out like a battery monitor.
This looks like a good charge controller , if you want a display
http://www.roguepowertech.com/products/mpt3024.htm

But a cheaper regulator and battery monitor may be better for your application.

.

 

[VicS]

I looked at what Maplin had to offer last time I bought a solar panel.


I walked away and bought a semiflexible panel Spectralite panel from Seateach.

If you buy from an ebay source be sure you get a panel suitable for battery charging. For 12 volts it will have an open circuit volts or around 20volts and a maximum power output at about 16 volts.

 

[CaptainBob]

Ta for the replies!

What about this, remarkably cheap, monocrystalline panel:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/320760858393

It's so cheap it feels worth a punt, rather than paying more than two or three times that for the cheapest of the recommended ones.

 

[longjohnsilver]

You pays yer money and takes yer chance.

I'd rather pay the extra £90 for the peace of mind that I can go back to the supplier if I have a problem.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Ta for the replies!

What about this, remarkably cheap, monocrystalline panel:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/320760858393

It's so cheap it feels worth a punt, rather than paying more than two or three times that for the cheapest of the recommended ones.

I bought the 40 watt version and very pleased. Bought a seperate controller from Ebay as well (ABout £20)

Steve B

 

[BAtoo]

Ta for the replies!

What about this, remarkably cheap, monocrystalline panel:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/320760858393

It's so cheap it feels worth a punt, rather than paying more than two or three times that for the cheapest of the recommended ones.

I bought a cheap ebay one; looks similar to the one mentioned here, and a simple on-off when full regulator - again ebay. Seems to be working well when visited boat yesterday, batteries showed fully charged on regulator & plenty of juice to pump out the water tank for the winter. (Mounted horizontal across hatchway, so shaded by boom for some of the day etc; feeds a 140AH wet lead battery.)

 

[rotrax]

Further to my recent thread re battery maintenance over winter...

Maplin currently sell a B Grade 150W solar panel for ~£700 including a charge controller.

They also sell a "150W Solar Motor Home and Boat Kit" which looks like it uses a different solar panel.

Marlec sell "SunWare" products which they rave about the quality of, but which seem to work out at about double the £ per Watt (~£700 for a 70W panel).

I have room I think for a big panel so my choice comes down only to which is "best" for the money. We do have a huge requirement for power (we will live aboard) so the 150W panel is very appealing. But is the quality so poor we'd be better off with the slightly more expensive Maplin panel - or even the SunWare 70W.

(I will almost certainly get the Marlec HRDi (for its voltage and current readouts, and ability to also accept a wind input if/when we also add that).)

Thoughts, suggestions, product recommendations and supplier recommendations gratefully received.

TY!

Hi, We replaced a knackered Siemens 80w with a BP 80W. Guy on EBAY had seven at £240.00 each. Despite not being in the optimum position its very good. Retail, when I looked it up was about £620.00 plus vodka and tonic. Came with warranty papers too.

 

[V1701]

You won't go far wrong with that inexpensive panel and the Marlec controller works well with solar and wind, I had a 913 & solar on last boat. Only have solar now with PWM regulators from ebay £12 each...

 

[VicMallows]

I agree the EBAY panel looks fine. I have 2 similar 40W panels which together cost much the same and work great.

Just be aware that monocrystalline panels are VERY sensitive to even the slightest shadow, so make sure you can mount the panel suitably.

Vic

 

[pappaecho]

I replaced 2 Maplin 15 watt panels, with a new 80 watt panel which I bought on Ebay in January, and a charge controller from Maplin. The system works very well charging 600 amp hours of batteries. I think the total outlay was about £170.
I have a complex voltmeter which monitors what is going on for each bank, and I highly recommend the panel, which appears to exactly the same as panels installed locally in solar PV projects