Solar for battery maintenance

[Knott Today]

View attachment 74267 View attachment 74271

I have.
I’m using 2 x 100 watt flexible solar panels and a basic charge controller.
This setup will maintain my batteries all season.

Do you have any photos of how you ran through the cockpit and into the engine room...

 

[Henry Boyd]

Along the same lines. I am removing a rigid solar panel and controller from the Sabre. PO was on a mooring and used it to keep starting batteries up. We are never going back to a mooring so it’s coming off the cabin top. If anyone wants it drop me a pm and I’ll send the details.

H

 

[Handsome Transom]

Has anyone found a good solution for adding solar panels to maintain batteries? Looking for ideas.

Here's the background. I'm on a mooring and have no regular access to shore power for recharging my 2 90aH dual purpose batteries. My #1 battery only lasted 2 years (pretty short I think), and am I getting pretty tired of having the batteries be flat at least 1x a season. Plus if my batteries die there's no sump pump.

I'd like to find some way to mount a solar panel with enough power to keep the batteries topped up. I've found a controller that can charge 2 batteries separately; now I need to figure out how to mount a panel. I've accepted the panel will be sizable. I'd consider either mounting one on the front rail (and removing before going out) or mounting on the bimini / camper canvas via snaps / zipper / velcro. Any suggestions or experience with a project welcome.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/solar-array-install-on-89-268da.93837/

 

[radscoot]

Do you have any photos of how you ran through the cockpit and into the engine room...

I ran the solar panel wires through the Arch to charge controller which was mounted on panel next to Battery switch. From there I ran 2 wires directly to the batteries. I ran them through hole where the main feeder wires go behind the Battery switch.
I don’t have pictures but i can take some next time I’m at the Boat. It was fairly easy to run the wires.

 

[Handsome Transom]

The parts I used to make my solar panel rack came from gemini marine products, there are a few options as far as configuring what you wand and their site is helpful I procurred my tubing locally . I did not find any other source for the concave perpendicular fork mountand I live in a major boating area. The order shipped quickly and arrived without issue even though i am out of country

 

[Riptide III]

Did flexible solar panels this year. I’m on the hook every weekend for at least three days. Only run generator for hot water and blender.

 

[Knott Today]

View attachment 74812 View attachment 74813 View attachment 74814 View attachment 74815 Did flexible solar panels this year. I’m on the hook every weekend for at least three days. Only run generator for hot water and blender.

That's a pro job... I love it!!! thank you

 

[GnrlPatton]

I recently installed a solar bank on mine, my main motivation was to be able to run my ice maker in cooling mode (not ice making mode) for the 3-4 days I would be on the hook before heading back to the dock for refilling ice. First world problems, I know.

The install was pretty straight-forward, I bought 2 100W flexible panels so they would be able to fit my curved hard top and not have a big bulky frame. It's also fairly simple to route the wiring down to the house battery bank in the ER. My only take away is to not buy the cheapest equipment, as it will fail. I cheaped out on the charge controller, and sure enough it failed 3 days in to my 3 week trip to Canada's Desolation sound. I was able to rig up a switch that I could plug the panels directly to the batteries, and be able to turn it off once the batteries were charged, but it did require me to monitor it. I've since purchased a new controller and will get it installed soon, so hopefully will have better luck with it.

Here's the main equipment I used (not going to link to the incidentals like wiring, fuses, etc)

Panels: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013E07FNM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solar Charge Controller (that failed): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07STZSG9J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

New Solar Charge Controller (not yet installed): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BBKTTLG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I splurged a bit and got the Bluetooth add on for the controller so I will be able to check the status of it remotely. I found myself down in the ER frequently to check on the voltages and status of the controller, so thought it would be nice to be able to do the remotely. The new controller also has the temperature and voltage remote sensors, so it should be an all in one solution, time will tell.

Here's a few pics of the panel and controller installation:

Panels from above:


From the side (barely noticeable):


Charge controller:


Charge controller installed:

 

[radscoot]

Here it is on my 260. I had to drill a 1/2 in hole through the arch to hull joint to run wires from top of Arch just above the DC panel under sink. I had removed tv antenna so mounted the external connector cover over that hole and ran wires through there.

In behind the dc panel under the sink there a a hole where the main dc cables run the floor. I fished the wires from the batteries up through there to the charge controller.
My panels are not permanently mounted. I take them off when running. Very easy with the quick connects.