Power: Solar, wind, lights, towed....???

[Lynx]

Heat problems, Per my understanding heat can lower the solar panel output by 20%. The Mac does not have any flat spaces that big so the entire bottom will not be laying flat so will have air around it. The bottom pieces is closed cell foam so that the solar panels can be palced anywhere without damage to boat, etc..  To much cruve for the suction cups.

There is vinyl on top. This is the top quality that is used in dogers.

The connectors are the ones with the chain hanging off them. The chain is attached to caps. These are for external use. I may take these off if making to much noise at night. I will have to check on the fittings. As I recall they was $ 17 each.

I will be taking them down when underway. Only 1 day out of 4 if lucky.

[BobW]

Thanks for the link to the quick disconnect fittings.  That's not what I got when I Googled for "trolling motor quick disconnects" and I didn't see those at WM.  Truth be told, I stopped looking at WM when I saw the part Google served up, so those fittings you use are probably at the store and I just didn't see them.  I'll look again.

By the way, the fittings you use look more like what I'm after  than the ones I found.

Thanks.

[BobW]

Went shopping for the 3-Prong quick disconnect fittings.  West Marine didn't have them (but they could order them).  Wal Mart had the set for just under $18, so I picked up a set. 

Installation will have to wait until next weekend, what with tomorrow's family holiday get-together.

Thanks for the help.

[AdriftAtSea]

BobW-

Have  a good easter... and look forward to seeing the photos of the setup.

[BobW]

Welcome (belatedly! :o) Ged.

Here's a solar panel question for everyone.  There appears to be condensation under the glass on the lower third of my solar panel.  If that's what it is, is it a problem?  How can I get rid of it?  If it's not condensation, what is it?  Is it a problem.  And how can I get rid of it?   Okay, so that's 5 questions.



The panel is 2 years old and sits out whenever Prelude is in the slip. 

Is it time for a new panel?

Thanks.

[AdriftAtSea]

Most panels have at least a 10 year warranty.  The ones that don't are usually the semi-rigid or flexible panels, which take a lot more abuse than rigid panels generally do.  I'd check with the manufacturer first.  This may be a known issue with the panel, and you might be able to get a replacement for free. 

Are you sure it is condensation?  I've seen panels that looked "foggy" but it was salt that had been left behind on the panel's surface instead.  Try wiping the area with vinegar, which should help remove the salt rime if that is what it is.

[BobW]

Thanks.  No, I'm not sure it is condensation but don't have any other ideas of what it might be.

I'll try cleaning it next week.  If it doesn't clean up, I'll check with the manufacturer.

[pura vida]

Hello all...
I know the solar vs generator has been discussed over and over on several boards. But there is one issue that I need your help with. Currently I am using a single solar panel to keep up with my batteries. In the next couople of months I will spend much more time out on the boat and the energy load will be going up accordingly. I am leary of adding two big solar panels to the bimini because of the way the extra weight will effect the sailing performance of the boat (C&C 27 5500# displacement). This is really a small boat issue. I'm open to any opinion or advice but am interested in hearing from those of you using solar panels. If you could let me know the type of boat, type of solar panels and where the panels are mounted I would appreciate it.

pv

[CharlieJ]

we have a 32 watt flexible panel mounted on the rear half of our bimini. Meridian 25, disp 5300.

That one panel has served our total needs for our cruising so far- however we have now added a tiller pilot and I have no idea how much extra juice that will suck up.

Normally we can cruise close to 2 weeks on a single charge on a grp 27 battery, but we tend to be a whole lot more frugal on electric usage than most people. Before we got the solar panel we commonly did 10 or 11 days.. Now, without the tiller pilot, the 32 watts completely keeps us charged up.

[pura vida]

Thanks Charlie, I may see you soon. I'm just up the coast and can't decide if I'm headed south to Matagorda and points beyond or east to the Redneck Riviera.

[CharlieJ]

Oh come on down. We call THIS the Redneck Riviera too. In fact Laura and I normally host a 4th of July cruise on Matagorda and Espirtu Santo bays that we call the "Redneck Riviera" cruise. Last year we had five boats, the year before, six, including Chuck Lienweber from Duckworks.

We are bypassing this year because the 4th falls on a Weds and people can't get 4 days off as easily.  But Larry Joe Taylor's "Doing It On the Deck" concert will still be held July 3rd at Nautical Landings Marina in Port Lavaca. we have several people coming for that anyway, without boats I'm afraid.

[pura vida]

I'll give iit some serious thought. to date I have not spent any time on MB.

By the way the Lone Start Cruisers Party is this weekend at Watergate on clear lake. Bit party, Latts and Atts is sponsoring.

come on by

[CharlieJ]

Laura works on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun nights. So I work on those days also. Our weekend is Monday, Tuesday and Weds, although I usually spend a good bit of Weds in the shop working. Got a Core Sound 20 to finish for a customer in Baton Rouge.

When we get a chance to sail. it's on those three days. Sounds like a blast- I met Bob up in Chicago when I had boats on display at Strictly Sail one year. DIFFERENT dude to say the least.

[s/v Faith]

FWIW,

  Have not been posting as much lately, been busy getting the boat ready.

I swapped out the single group 31 battery for a pair of Trojan T-105's. (6v golf cart batteries.)

  They are rated at 225 ah, and of course in series you must have the pair to get 12vdc.  Their footprint is less then a pair of 12v batteries might have been, but they are somewhat taller (couple inches).

  Some in slip testing has been encouraging.  I ran the Engel (700ma) and the radio (?) all weekend with no appreciable voltage decrease (the old battery would drop below 12v over night).

  There are lots of 'golf cart' type batteries out there, US batteries seems to dominate the market, and I looked at theirs at Sam's club for $30 less then I paid for the Trojans.  Probably would have been ok, but the ah rating was lower.

  Trojan also makes a T125 golf cart battery that have a slightly higher rating.  The price for the increase was not acceptable in the shopping I did (all local, since shipping batteries is so pricey).

 

   

[s/v Faith]

Kurt,

  I saw in the 'Fuels' thread that you had said;

Ships power is provided by a 50W solar panel mounted aft, battery bank is 2 x 12V (one grp 24, one grp 27 at present, changing that soon to a 2x Trojan T105 golf cart battery setup). I would like to get one of the quiet, fuel sipping Honda/Yamaha 4 stroke 1kW gensets eventually, so that'll be "Gas" too.

  Did you get a 'round tuit' yet?

[Gus]

I have 1 single marine battery. I can run the anchor light and a cabin fan all night without a problem. To charge it, I have to run the outboard for a little while. I have a small solar panel, and I'm looking for a regulator so I can install it, but I'm going to wait 'till next season for that.

Gus

[AdriftAtSea]

If you want a fairly decent, but small and inexpensive regulator, I would recommend that you look at the FlexCharge NC25A. 

[rtbates]

You might like this method mounting solar panels http://www.atomvoyages.com/projects/solartracker.htm

[AdriftAtSea]

IMHO, solar makes more sense than a small generator, since a generator will require fuel—the solar panels won't.  I have two rather large 130W solar panels on my boat, but I do have a bit more space to work with in terms of mounting them.

[Fortis]

We have a 75 solar panel...but have never permanently mounted it...I am seriously thinking of getting rid of it, as the size is kind of large and what it provides, even under ideal conditions is still less then what I would like.

I am more tempted to install a generator/alternator off the prop, so that you can opt to have your prop spin freely while sailing and that way generate rather large amounts of electricity for your battery bank. It costs a little boat speed...but so does haveing honking great sheets of solar panels all over your boat!

Now when they can build a photovoltaic set of sails...that converts light from BOTH sides and that costs about the same as a set of regular laminated sails and weighs the same too.... Then I think solar will win.

Alex.