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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Solar charging system

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David Latimer
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2009 : 15:30:12

Our Catalina 250 is located where no shore power is available. We want to implement a solar charging system for one or two batteries, and are considering the Sunsei SF-1200 flexible panel with 0.9A output. We get a lot of sun here in Central Oregon, so while the panel output is minimal, we can recharge all week to replenish weekend use of lights and stereo. Any suggestions from those having implemented solar charging systems.

David Latimer
2005 C250 WK #831 "Impulse"
Bend, OR

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2009 : 17:09:57

David,
Welcome to the forum. Where do you sail? We bought our boat from a guy in Bend, OR who sailed on a lake at 6000 feet up.

Regarding your solar panel install, you should have no trouble keeping your battery(s) charged during the week. We have an 18x18 panel (roughly) that keeps our battery well charged (generally, with some caveats, here's my recent thread on "[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19493"]new battery questions[/url]"). We have power on our slip, but we generally only use it to heat the boat. In case you're wondering who makes our panel, I have no idea, it came with the boat, and the only thing I've done to it is to rewire where it connects to the boat (nothing to do with the panel itself.

What type is your boat? Wing or water ballast? What's your hull number? If you include these in your signature, it'll help folks answer your questions more readily.

Again, welcome to the forum, we look forward to hearing about your boat.

Edited by - on

David Latimer
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2009 : 18:20:46

Hi David;
We sail at Elk Lake, nestled between Mt. Bachelor and the South Sister. Lake elevation is around 4,900 feet. While not the greatest sailing lake, the beauty cannot be beat. We have around 30 sailboats at the marina (no power boats allowed!). Our 250 is a wing keel version with wheel steering. Hull number is 831, built in 2005. We bought it new last year -- it had not been in the water, believe it or not. We love the boat, and the Elk Lake Resort is our weekend escape all summer long. By the way, last year's sailing season was delayed to the end of June due to a record 22 feet of snow accumulation at the resort! We hope to be in the water by the end of May this year, weather permitting.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2009 : 23:13:53

David, so does that mean you can't have an outboard on your 250?

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 01:08:07

David, I would also like to welcome you and thank you for joining.
My C250 is a 2003 WK. I have shore power and no solar but was considering it as an addition. My 2 batteries have been supplying power for all my gadgets, even when on a 4 or 5 day cruise. The highest my shore power bill has been $.50 for a month. So the solar has not been a high priority.
But love to hear and see(pics please) what you do.

Steve A

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David Latimer
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 10:08:39

Outboards are fine. There is a speed limit on the lake, so the power boaters go elsewhere. We charge the battery off the alternator, but we don't use the motor much, so that is the reason for the solar charging system.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 11:23:33

I recommend looking for a panel that accumulates charge and then pulses juice into the battery. The primary advantage is that it still charges the battery slowly even in low light. My small panel from Coleman has a red light emitting diode that flashes when charge is delivered to the battery. I connected a digital voltmeter to it and confirmed that it is indeed building up a charge and then delivering a pulse. It pulses slower in a low light than in direct sunlight.

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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2009 : 17:16:18

I think jbkayaker is speaking of a shunt controller that pulses an LED light when fully charged. Here is a circuit diagram if anyone is feeling adventurous... most parts are probably avail from mouser.com for pennies apiece.

http://www.solorb.com/elect/solarcirc/shuntreg1/index.html

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2009 : 20:30:12

Wow, I didn't know my under $40 Coleman solar panel was that sophisticated.

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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2009 : 22:51:40

$40 is a good deal for a small panel and controller. To build it yourself is only like 15 parts each around 20 cents... there are directions to upscale it to handle wind generators and larger panels as well which are not easily gotten for $40. I build guitar amps for a hobby... so when I read this at work yesterday, I started putting together a parts list that anyone could click on and place an order through mouser to follow along and build. I intended to order it myself and put it together with pics, etc... but my darn job kept getting in the way yesterday.

I will eventually get around to it because my boat came with a small solar panel that is not hooked up. I have three big irons in the fire on my boat right now I'm trying to get done by the end of the month, though... (install wheel steering, remove centerboard and fiberglass it and rework lifting mechanism, convert to single backstay, oh yeah and remove barnacles and bottom paint it) ... so I better wait on this. I'll start a new thread when I do it.

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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2009 : 13:20:36

I take it back.... http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200265524_200265524?xsell=true& cm_sp=Xsells-_-T%20and%20T-_-Product%20Page& cm_vc=C5202

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2009 : 23:00:44

Essen -
That's the exact charge controller I have in <i>Passage</i>. I have two 15W (~1A) panels, so that handles the battery fine. I don't connect to shore power while on the slip, and have kept the panels connected with the battery in the boat all winter.

Whenever I use the battery to run the cabin lights and the battery discharges a little, after a few days on the charger, the battery is all topped up again. The system works great and is perfect for solar panels that deliver more than 10W.

I did notice a few flaws in the advertisement, however. It says "Weatherproof, so it can be used with all types of models and solar chargers, even wind generators" I don't dispute it is weatherproof.

I would not use this particular regulator on a wind generator. This is because in order to regulate using a solar panel, it cuts the power on and off, or modulates the power. Since a wind generator uses a conventional alternator, using the 7A solar panel regulator would subject the alternator to switching the circuit on and off.

As I and many other people have found, this is the fastest way to blow the diodes in your alternator - by switching off the charging circuit while it is putting out power. This was the apparent cause of death for the Honda 12A regulator circuit in the 8HP outboard last year.

Another problem with the statement is that windmills can produce between 200W and 400W. This, it is safe to say, is a lot more than 7 Amps.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2009 : 13:18:49

Hi David,
I would suggest a little over kill on the panel, and the flexible ones break and wear out faster although I've heard from some folks that say nothing but good things about them.
But I just wanted to caution you because I bought a small Sunsei and it wouldn't even keep up with the presets on my Stereo.
Welcome to the Association!

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