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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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solor panel question

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clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/14/2005 : 13:39:01

I Have noticed that most boats on our docks just throw a panel on the hatch after a weekend of sailing. I understand we all have diffrent power needs, but maybe I could have a little better feel if I knew what you all use. How many amps? do you need a regulator? I am a weekend sailor mostly house lights maybe GPS or even a bit of 110 if my laptop battery doesnt make it through a movie.

Clay

Kamalla 1980 C25 SK/TR

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2005 : 01:27:50

I've had this 5w (I think) for two years and finally got around to installing it.
It charges a group 24 & 27. I'll let you know after this weekend how it works. Fleet 25 is doing a trip to Cumberland Is. and I have installed a new 4 pin deck plug so my spreader light is working properly. It should get a good workout this weekend.

PANEL UP

PANEL DWN

PANEL PLUG

I also rebedded my starboard chain plate as it had a slight leak.

CHAIN PLATE

And I installed a new 4 pin deck plug for my mast lights.

DECK PLUG

Edited by - Ben - FL on 11/15/2005 01:30:26

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2005 : 08:21:00

I have a Kyocera 50 watt panel mounted on the stern pulpit, wired with a voltage regulator to a size 24 and a 27 battery. It has proven to be sufficient to keep the batteries up. I use the nav lights for maybe an hour a day (3 amps), the cabin light (3 amps) maybe 3 hours, and a laptop computer for up to 3 hours if I am watching a movie in the evening (6 amps). I also run a VHF radio and GPS unit pretty much continually when I am on the boat (2 amps), and a stereo for several hours a day (that's about 1.5 amps). I don't try to run any "big" loads off the boat's batteries like a microwave oven or refrigerator. Running even a small fridge would be more than a single 50 watt solar panel could keep up with, I think. I occasionally use a Navico tiller pilot, that's 6 amps under load or 0.5 amps on standby. So far this year I have never run the boat batteries below about 11.8 volts. I used to have a 30 watt panel and that proved to be not quite enough on extended cruises, like our annual 2 weeks in the San Juans. The outboard I had on that boat didn't have a generator, either, so the solar panel was the only charging source I had unless I spent a night in a marina with shore power.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2005 : 12:35:28

I use a Siemans 10 amp panel with in-line regulator to one of my two house batterys. I generally run depth, speed, chart plotter, vhf, and somtimes an auto-pilot, when sailing. I also use a Davis mini-light at night on my mooring. I do not have on on-board charger and normally do not have to charge batterys during the sailing season.

This is the first year I've experienced any problems. I accidently left the boat with my panel main switch on and everything running. We had a week of rain and overcast. I lost one battery, a 5 year old group 24.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2005 : 18:15:35

PS to my previous post: Was out to Chick-a-pea today and the solar panel is 15watt. I have it wired through the off-1-all-2 switch so I can charge either or.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2005 : 12:44:07

Ben,

I forgot to mention the nifty panel mount idea. What with the lack of rails for mounting "stuff", we should have a tech tips with similar mounting ideas.

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clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2005 : 13:04:41

Thank you for your help. the more I thought about it the more Questions I would come up with, so I got Casey's saliboat Electronics Made easy. I really needed more Information about how much power I need and how to replace it. Another big Question that came up is what the hell Are we doing planning a three day Thanksgiving cruse around Utah Lake, with frezzing temps every night, When if I had planned my life a little better I could be crusing with you Ben, in FL.
Thats the real Question

Clay C

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2005 : 16:58:23

The weather is far from perfect here in N. FLA. Had lots of wind this past weekend on our voyage to Cumberland Is., GA with Fleet 25. But it was from head on and made it very rough. And yesterday we had lots of Florida liquid sunshine!

I think we need to give Arlyn the credit for the panel mount. I seemed to remember seeing his mounted pretty much that way. I was concerned about jib sheets and other lines fouling on it but not so last weekend. We logged 140 nm and never a problem with the panel. I did have to tie in the down position because the 25k wids were making it swing quite a bit. I want to put a small connect plug to the wire so I can remove it when not in use.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.