MacGregorSailors.com

Okay grady, your my newest best friend. Between you and Kadet and kurtz I think I have the right three person brain-trust to figure out all issues MAC related.

This is by far the best solar install I have ever seen on a sailboat. I want one.

I am completely ignorant on solar systems but I can install anything if somebody tells me what to buy and how to hook it up. When you have fully evaluated your testing it would be great if you gave us a list of the products to purchase.

This is a great solar install - I really like it.

Its brutal truth, but that factor of 4 'devaluation' really works.

That shiny 100 Watt panel you pay great money for will give you 25 Watts real world charging power all said and done. If you are on the ocean, you probably degrade even more.

Yeah Catigale, whatever you say - but really you gotta admit this is the best looking solar install ever, right? So it may not be as efficient as others but really, I just want enough power to keep my auto pilot from draining my batteries - that's should do it, don't your think?

Without refrigeration, or a 5 bazilian watt stereo. Yes that will do it for day or weekend sailing. It may get behind if you run everything for weeks on end.

And don't forget what mastreb said - you can run your motor for about 20 minutes at idle and it will charge the batteries right up. That would take care of any unforeseen problems like a cloudy day or such.

A conservative estimate for an autopilot would be about 2 Amps in standard usage, and 4 amp in either heavy or light air.

2 Amps times 12 volts is a 24 Watt draw, so your 100 Watts of panels would keep up with that load with the factor of 4 derating. If you cruised for 6 hours and had 12 hours daylight you would be fine.

That was a very neat install - nicely done Grady.

Thanks everyone!

I also figured if I ever need more power I could ad one more panel to the sliding hatch or could ad more panels fwd. I was considering buying the individual solar cells and building the panels directly to the boat then clear coating over them. This way was a lot easier.

Ok Boat here you go......

Sorry I did not take any pictures during the installation. Was busy worrying about gettin it done without mistakes.

I purchased 2 of these.

http://www.amazon.com/KINGSOLAR-trade-G ... olar+panel

I wanted back conectors so there were no visible wires after installation. After buying them there is a big box on the back where they have the connections and a pass through diode. I took the cover off and cut the wires and diode out. Then carefully cut the solder tabs that come out of the panel. After that you tear the box off. It is only held on with RTV. Now you have a panel that has two flexible solder leads coming out. They are delicate so be careful. I taped over them to protect while I figured out the placement.

I measured where the wires would need to go into the cabin in the overhead compartment. Drilled a small hole for each wire so when you put the panel down the wire went directly in. Masked around the panel and the edge of the panel.

Then I verified + and - on the panel wit a VOM and then I soldered 18gauge wire to them.

Then I used about a 1/2 tube of RTV and made a good perimeter bead and then a zig zag bead in the center. Was looking for a 100% bond around the perimeter and at least 50% bond in the middle. Then I did coat where the wires were with 5200. Placed them down and then put 2 sand bags on top while they were bonding down. Also put my weight on top of them to get initial seat. Then ensured I had a nice bead around the pulled the masking tape off and let it sit. Left the sand bags on for a day while the RTV was setting up.

I finished up by using a Tinnerman washer, #10 sheet metal screw and 5200 at each grommet to ensure they stay in place.

Since I did not have any 14ga wire I used the 18ga wire from each panel to the solar controller. Place a 5a isolation diode in each positive lead. Since they are in parallel did not need to reinstall the pass through diode.

The rest was just securing wires and controller to the battery.

Hey Grady (our solar power guy!) I found some stuff and I was wondering if you like it. It's solar panels that claim to be "Peel and Stick":



On Amazon they show them powering a boat! :



And I saw the ones you use too and they are so rugged you can drive your car on them! :



Here is the Amazon link for "Peel and Stick" solar Panels:

http://www.amazon.com/Uni-Solar-PVL-136 ... em_1p_5_ti

What do you think?

We've got one although not peel and stick, it can be rolled up like a chart for storage. We use it to keep batteries topped up, seems to do the job, but did have a lower output than a rigid panel of the same size.

BOAT wrote:Hey Grady (our solar power guy!) I found some stuff and I was wondering if you like it. It's solar panels that claim to be "Peel and Stick":



On Amazon they show them powering a boat! :



And I saw the ones you use too and they are so rugged you can drive your car on them! :



Here is the Amazon link for "Peel and Stick" solar Panels:

http://www.amazon.com/Uni-Solar-PVL-136 ... em_1p_5_ti

What do you think?

That one is large. It does put out a decent amount of power. However since it is a 24v you would need to get a MPPT controller to utilize the higher voltage. Also looks like the conectors are on the front I would be concerned that if someone kicked them they could break off.

grady wrote:
That one is large. It does put out a decent amount of power. However since it is a 24v you would need to get a MPPT controller to utilize the higher voltage. Also looks like the conectors are on the front I would be concerned that if someone kicked them they could break off.

. UH, okay, whatever you say - i never tried to control a MPPT before - (is that some sort of wild MUPPET?) like cookie monster? ANUWAYS - - I thought you might have some ideas or something but if you think I should pass on the "Peel And Stick" solar panels I will forget about it. (I tried looking for "Scratch And Sniff" solar energy stuff too but all I got was links to "Methane Gas Generators" and stuff so I stopped on this one.

I guess it's a non-starter, huh? okay - I was just askin'.

Thanks!

I saw those peel and stick ones and thought about sticking them to each side of the hull just under the rubrail. However they probably aren't that waterproof.

Ix

I am very surprised to hear that there are still any Macs around, without All Lines Lead Aft.. IMHO ... You will enjoy your sailing time all the more, with that project done and out of the way...

tewharaunz wrote:That looks fantastic grady!

I'd love to do that but that is exactly where I stand to raise the mainsail on our . I wonder how much "standing on" they can take?

IMHO.... You cannot make blanket statements like this , if for no other reason than amperage output varies greatly from motor MFG to motor MFG and HP.. Battery and Batteries? Discharged how far? The Alternator on my 50 HP EFI Merc is NOT producing Maximum output at idle even with "the bump"

BOAT wrote:And don't forget what mastreb said - you can run your motor for about 20 minutes at idle and it will charge the batteries right up. That would take care of any unforeseen problems like a cloudy day or such.

what's "the bump" ?