Solar Panel Choices

[K9Kampers]

I'm curious about anyone's experience / opinions / feedback with solar panel choices. West Marine has ICP Global Tech & Sunforce products. Any other brands to reccomend?

[kmclemore]

I have a Kyocera 40W panel mounted to the top of my hatch. It produces what it is rated for, and strong enough for this 180 lb. man to occasionally step on (by accident, of course!). My research led me to understand that Kyocera make the best panels in terms of efficiency - at least they did when I got this one. I have it attached to a Morningstar "SunGuard" solar controller.

Suggest you search on this forum for 'solar panel'... you'll get lots of hits, and lots of advice already given.

[markh1f]

I had 2 Siemens 75W panels on my last boat for about 14 years and was very satisfied with them, knew a number of cruising boats that were using Kyocera panels and happy with them. I also used small panel similar to this - http://www.altestore.com/mmsolar/others/M_DURAlite.pdf that I flush mounted on deck as this type has no frame and used it more as a trickle charger before I got the bigger panels.

Mark

[K9Kampers]

Thanks Kev & Mark.
btw, I have been thru the archives on "solar panel"...lots of stuff...still thought I needed to ask. Thx

[KayakDan]

Here'sthe setup I'm planning on installing. 2x65w panels mounted on the side stanchions. Flip up to charge,(picture wings on a Mac!),flip down to tow. Probably not the best setup to sail with,but I'm planning more for time on the hook in Bahamas.
http://www.emarineinc.com/products/moun ... chion.html

Supposed to be some enormous strides being made in solar efficiency this year-like 40% vs 12-13% Light spectrum multi layer panels.Stay tuned....

[Clemo]

KayakDan, I have reached the same conclusion. Panels on a horizontal rod, fore & aft, between staunchions.

I see them well out of my way. So they go on the cabin top.

We are deep in winter here (Australia), so not a lot happening actually on my boat right now, which is in storage, about 1h30m down the coast.

Here is my question, is there any chance of roof top staunchion mounted panels interfering with either a big genoa or a cruising spinnaker?

I just have a bit of difficulty picturing where a hard sheeted genoa comes along the side of the boat.

I'm thinking the panels will extend outside the shrouds.

Tks
C ya.

[oldman]

I even hate to admit it, Just wanting something to keep my batteries charged up in the slip I bought a cheap one at Harbor Freight $40-60 probably about 15" square mounted on stern to right of transom ladder with a 45o flange and some 1" ss pipe, driilled ahole all the way through flange and pipe and wired it to my battery. If you don't want to use it, pull pin and turn over. If you want it to charge both batteries turn the pergo switch to both. So far this summer it has done great. I amsure that as new technology comes and prices come down I will upgrade to better as that is a great way to have power.

[Rick Westlake]

I posted my "Hatch-top solar panel" mod in February - that shows how I mounted a Sunsei 1500 panel from West Marine. Ran the cord up under the headliner to the aft end of the galley, to one of the small Sunsei controllers.

Back in May, when I installed my SailCaddy, I managed to put a crack in one corner of the panel - but it was small and localized, and the panel is still supplying watts to my batteries. As long as it's working, it stays ... but when it stops charging, I will replace it with a more durable panel.

Two that appeal to me are the GoPower Duralite, mentioned by Mark, and another called the SunWize SolCharger. These are built on a sturdy fiberglass base, with a polymer-coated top instead of a glass face, so they're more likely to take the "accidental abuse" that is the lot of cabin-top accessories. (Sunwize says their panels are "ideal for areas where vandalism is a concern ....")

Mark's link (above) works for the GoPower Duralite -
SunWize has their data at http://www.sunwize.com/info_center/pdf/ ... ec2_06.pdf

Hope this helps - Rick