MacGregorSailors.com

Salt Water Environment
I got to wondering after contemplating 'Marine Quality' in sound systems wether or not one should consider 'Marine' when choosing a solar powered charging system. It seems every year there is a bigger, better and less expensive solar panel on the market and I am considering aquiring one for next season. The main issue for me is that I sail & slip exclusively in the salt water environment. The latest one I saw was at Canadian Tire Stores on sale and at first glance appeared reasonable enough. Thing is I don't really know very much about them nor do I know what I need to just keep the house battery charged. I am not looking for anything elaborate, just want to have a trickle charge going to the one battery so that I can use it more. It can be a portable unit that I put out on the top of the hatch while I am not there to charge the battery until I return at which point I can stow it below while I go out sailing and then put it back in place upon return when I go home. My concern is that they advertise them for use on the RV units, motor homes, fifth wheels etc., but in these circumstances there is little or no exposure to the salt air. Has anyone had any experience with solar panels in the salt air environment and if so, how well do they hold up?

http://www.partsonsale.com/campers2.html


I bought my Solar system for THIRD DAY from the above site. They market for the RV and boat world and there isn’t a difference in the Top Grade Commercial panels. These panels are designed to sit out in the elements for 25 years. The cheap units are the ones where you may have a quality difference but in the big 100-130W panels…RV is the same as Marine.

Interesting Question.. That exact one was raised this week on http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au/fo ... php?t=1568

Before I put two 50 Watt Kyocera 50T panels on the stern arch of my X, I considered if corrosion would be a problem if I cruised a long time in salt water, which is in my future plans. I researched dozens of cruising boat's logs online and never found a mention of solar panel corrosion. It might be interesting to ask a Coastie buoy crew about the ones that power nav aids and weather stations year round in the sea.

I'm very happy with the results of my installation as far as performance goes.

Kyocera warrants their panel's output for 25 years. It doesn't mention the anodized aluminum frame. I did take care in mounting them to my stainless arch, that the aluminum frames are insulated from the stainless arch by plastic.

Night Sailor wrote:I did take care in mounting them to my stainless arch, that the aluminum frames are insulated from the stainless arch by plastic.

EXACTLY....good job. If you didn't do this, they the Al will start to show signs of corrosion within year.

do solar panels work efficiently in the Northern parts of the US/Canada?
im currently leaning towards wind power as opposed to solar due to the limitations of the UK climate

We live in southwest Michigan, which is often overcast inwinter.
My 1988 26 D fix-mounted a 5 watt solar plate horizontally on the lazerette lid for a decade and it kept the battery up year-round. The motor was manual start with no alternator. Primary draw was cabin lights and sometimes the VHF or running lights.
My 2001 26X carries a similar 5 watt plate on a manually adjustable, swivel mount. Usage is the same except the OB is electric start with an alternator, and I replaced the stock cabin lites with DIY LED swivel fixtures.
The boat batteries have never gone flat.
Also on the X, this summer I bot a cheap ($40) 5 watt plate which only drives, thru a 12 watt voltage regulator, a computer fan fixed on a settee cover, todraw air thru the bilges and hopefully limit mildew build up. Fan does not work at nite or on heavy overcast days.....Ron

ronacarme wrote: Also on the X, this summer I bought a cheap ($40) 5 watt plate which only drives, thru a 12 watt voltage regulator, a computer fan fixed on a settee cover, to draw air thru the bilges and hopefully limit mildew build up. Fan does not work at nite or on heavy overcast days.....Ron

That sounds like a great idea! I am working on doors and drawers and if I have the talent / ability I will have cane /wicker center panels in them to air in air circulation. I Like This Fan Idea....

12v fans from computers are great to use on RV or boat systems. I've kept four from previous computers to use to aid cooling in the RV refrigerator, and on the X to pump fresh air into the bilges and the head, remove hot air from the galley. Very low amps running at constant speed. In my case, .15 to .28 amps. for approximately 3" and almost 4 " fans. Big advantage... very quiet!

In view of the interest expressed above, I got my computer fan from www.hosfelt.com....800-264-6464. Have been ordering resistors, shrink tubing, mini SPDT toggle switches, voltage regulators, etc. for DIY projects from them for several years with good service.
They have 12 volt fans from $1.49 to $4.95 plus shipping.
My fan is 12v, 160mA, 45 CFM, $4.95.

On the other hand, I use www.superbrightleds.com for 20mA LEDs and Future Electronics for Luxeon 350+ mA LEDs, if you have any interest in DIY LED cabin lighting or hand torch projects.

Ron

The best bang for your boating buck is to put your money in a switch to LED Lights and cut the power use off instead of putting money into Solar and replace the power.

My 260W system puts out a max rated 14.1AMPS and on our recent trip to Mexico, I saw 15AMPS a few times! On average, I was getting 60-80AH a day, which is great, but still didn't make up for my daily usage. Now considering my Solar system cost about $1500 that is a high price to pay per AH. Granted, the panels are quite, and will make this "free energy" for years, they do take up lots of space and then what happens on a cloudy day?

If you don't have an Amp hour Meter....you should get one....because when see the meter jump up 2.5 AMPS with every light you turn on and then do the math of how many lights you have and how long they run...you will soon be looking for LED replacement Bulbs.
I installed a LED/Photocell Anchor light and have ordered some replacement lamps that will turn a 2.5AMP draw light into 0.2!

Now if I can get my ice Box power usage down...I will be happier!

I was playing with the Toucan this weekend and remembered this thread on solar panels and the marine environment. Thought I'd snap a picture and pass it along.



These panels were on the Toucan when I bought her. They've been in place for more than 7 years in the salt air of San Francisco Bay and Mexico (the Toucan has done the Ha Ha 3 times I think).

They were producing 3.8 amp at 4:30 pm Saturday on a reasonably sunny Alameda day.

I leave the 12 volt refregerator and automatic bilge pump on durning the week and when I arrive on weekends the batteries generally ready about 12.7 volts.

Like most things on this boat, the manufacturer of the panels is a mystery. Almost surely not "marine". The previous owner had disconnected the wires because he thought they overcharged the batteries. I adjusted the charge controller and haven't seen a problem.

Only thing is, does anybody know how to make them all pretty and blue like the new ones are?

is that a 12volt refrigerator with a small, insignificant freezer?

I'm contemplating a 3 battery system with solar for my Venture 25.

I need to(for my sanity), take a few weeks off for sailing on Lake"erie" Erie.

Are you talking Ice sailing !!!!!!!!

John

John;

You are in no position to anybody about winter - - - but I am .

PS Last time I was in Ontario I froze my tuckus off

PPS I look funny without a tuckus

Rick