Wiring up solar panels

We've been in S. Turkey for the past couple of years where the winds are generally westerly. That means our bow tends to point west when we anchor (all the time in the summer). Unfortunately I installed our tiltable single guard rail mounted panel on the starboard side. Guess what, it is shaded by the mizzen boom more often than not. Port side would have been better where it could catch the southern sunshine - but at the time I did not think about that!

However, soon there will be one on each side, probably connected in parallel (tests currently underway) so we should more than double our charging capability.

Could be an additional consideration when deciding where to site your panel.
 
Hmm, as the tide tends to swirl where I moor the boat it tends to point wherever it feels like, I think I may hedge my bets and install the panel across the roof if it fits, that way part of the panel should be in direct sunlight, for the 20 hours of sunlight a year in Scottish West Coast waters!
 
Yes, we've put ours on the wheelhouse roof in the basis that it is the best compromise. I split 240A over three panels, 80 each to mitigate the shadow effect. We have in mast so the boom is bare and can be deployed to avoid shadow. Anyway my solar meter thingy tells me that I have had 2134 AH's of charge since June so I'm happy.
 
Hadenough said:
Yes, we've put ours on the wheelhouse roof in the basis that it is the best compromise. I split 240A over three panels, 80 each to mitigate the shadow effect. We have in mast so the boom is bare and can be deployed to avoid shadow. Anyway my solar meter thingy tells me that I have had 2134 AH's of charge since June so I'm happy.
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240 watts over 3 panels surely?
 
Cappen Boidseye said:
I have just recieved from Amazon, a 130w flexible solar panel. It cam with the appropriate clever metal box which controls charge rates etc. There are diagrams showing the panel, the battery, the load and the clever box. Great so far. However, I have the added complication of the alternator to consider, as well as the fact that the domestic batteries and the starter battery are on their own respective breakers.

I seek guidance from the great and the wise; how do I plumb the panel in to my boat? I don't see a need to top up the starter battery, it always seems to be well charged, so it is only the domestics I want to top up with the panel (BM1 battery monitor also installed by the way).

The diagrams just show the panel wired into a set of terminals, the battery wired into the centre terminals and the load wired into it's own terminals.
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No one has mentioned wiring the positive. Negative to the shunt end of the BM1 as suggested. Run the positive lead to the furthest battery from the shunt.
Make sure you have the correct diameter cable to avoid voltage loss over the cable run.
 
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