I've got a 300W semi-flexible solar panel on the way. Since I don't have a radar arch on the I think I'm going to install it on the hatch. Those of you that have installed solar on your hatches, how'd you do it? The panel I ordered has stainless grommets on it. I'm reluctantly leaning towards using some self tapping canvas twist studs (bedded with 5200) to secure the panel. The Admiral does NOT want me to drill additional holes in the boat. Thoughts... Lessons learned... please share.
Duquette5 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 18, 2022 5:39 pm
I've got a 300W semi-flexible solar panel on the way. Since I don't have a radar arch on the I think I'm going to install it on the hatch. Those of you that have installed solar on your hatches, how'd you do it? The panel I ordered has stainless grommets on it. I'm reluctantly leaning towards using some self tapping canvas twist studs (bedded with 5200) to secure the panel. The Admiral does NOT want me to drill additional holes in the boat. Thoughts... Lessons learned... please share.
pitchpolehobie wrote: ↑Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:21 am
300watt on a mac19 or a 30w?
Supposedly a 300W - I'll confirm output once it arrives this afternoon and I do a mock setup in the driveway. It may seem like overkill, ok it is overkill, cause I just wanna keep my two 12V batteries topped up.
We added a traditional (rigid) solar panel to the hatch of our 26x a few years ago. Mounted it with small bolts and rubber grommets so that It would be easy to remove if we needed. The roof hasn’t leaked at all with this set up however we don’t get much rain in CA these days…. Works great to charge a 12v battery to run a blender, charge phones, etc.
The hard part of the installation was figuring out a good way to mount the cables/wires so the hatch can still slide open. I’m not happy with our setup but it works. I’d be curious to hear how you are going to run your wires?
HappyHours wrote: ↑Thu Jul 21, 2022 12:10 pm
...snip...
The hard part of the installation was figuring out a good way to mount the cables/wires so the hatch can still slide open. I’m not happy with our setup but it works. I’d be curious to hear how you are going to run your wires?
On the 19 the hatch is hinged, not sliding. I'm thinking about leaving a little play in the wiring so I can pass the wiring through a waterproof gland just forward of one of the hinges and across the cabin top inside of the liner, and finally down and across to the batteries.
Ok hatch it was... I used some 3M acrylic tape and EternaBond to hold it in place. So far it's working out fine. I have the wiring running back down the center of the hatch on the inside and over to my electric panels and the Victron controller.
I think I'm going to install it on the hatch. Those of you that have installed solar on your hatches, how'd you do it? The panel I ordered has stainless grommets on it. I'm reluctantly leaning towards using some self tapping canvas twist studs (bedded with 5200) to secure the panel. The Admiral does NOT want me to drill additional holes in the boat. Thoughts... Lessons learned... please share.
