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Showing results for tags 'solar'.
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Hi all, Another post about solar! I've got my set up sorted I think (2 x 290W panels, all the other stuff..) but I could do with some advice on the solarboxes I'm planning on building myself. I After much reading and looking at other boats, I've got a design I think will work and fit my boat. Boxes: Made from decking as is often the case, with oak supports inside. No hinges, the legs from the lid will support the panel when it's propped open to get more sun. Should allow opening on the log or short side. A chain will be secured into the panel and into the ba
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I've just installed a Tracer 4215BN MPPT 40amp Solar controller from Bimble Solar with a 255w panel feeding 4x Trojan T105 6v batteries. I've set up the user parameters as best I can but there are a couple I'm not 100% sure about... I have set the following which are as close to the Trojan recommended settings: Boost/Bulk Charge: 14.80 Float Charge: 13.50 Equalise Charge: 16.20 Under the section Battery AH should I put 225 or 450? I've currently got it at 225 but think that it should probably 450 as the total for the bank @ 12v? Other setti
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cctv Standalone CCTV (no 12V/shorepower/wifi required)
ronnietucker posted a topic in Boat Equipment
I tried doing a CCTV thing before using an old mobile phone (for wifi) and a USB camera, but that (I think) knackered my battery and had other problems. Anyway, this is version 2.0 using a solar powered Reolink 4G camera: It comes with a Vodafone 4G SIM card (£4/mth unlimited data). You register it using an app then pop it into the camera. Voila! You're online. You then install the Reolink app. Link the app to the camera and you're good to go. TALK - let's you send audio from your phone to the camera. Such as to frighten the bejeezus out -
Hi all - hoping someone might be able to help troubleshoot a solar charging problem. The problem is: it isn't working. The set up has worked perfectly since I installed it 5 years ago, and nothing in this system or any of the electrics on the boat has been changed recently. Yesterday, I noticed the epever xtra MPPT controller was showing the panel had light, but it was not charging. Vpanel = ~12.4v and Vbatt =12.6v at that time. This was around midday, it was working in the morning. I have a second identical and fully working MPPT controller, so first thing I did was r
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Hi all, Spring is approaching and so is all of that glorious sunshine (hopefully). I currently have a presumably very old 80w sony solar panel on my boat. I'd like to move this to the roof bow and have this charge a set of batteries I have going spare in the cratch, which will be hooked up to a 600w inverter for occasional use (a blender mainly! ). I am going to visit the Bimble warehouse next week to with the intention to purchase three of their own branded 100w solar panels, a MTTP controller (undecided which one) and obviously cable. These will charge my
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Hi, I am looking to put solar panels on my boat. I'm in the Milton Keynes area for the next month or so and would like to find a decent solar fitter who could advise on the fitting of panels to my boat. My initial concern is what can be fitted if anything. The boat is quite small with not much room on the roof. Also routing of the wires and gizmos inside the boat. I want the wires routed properly and hidden as much as possible. Any recommendations?
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Hi there, I’m fairly new to boat building and am in the initial stages of fitting out my boat. I did have a look but couldn’t find anything on the following questions. I have a couple questions that I could really use an experienced boaters expertise on: I currently have a 55hp canalline engine onboard with the normal two alternators, the domestic is a 12v 175A alternator. My first question is: does anyone have experience with replacing it with a larger alternator? For example a 24v 400A alternator? If yes, how did it go? How did you mount
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Hi all we have just moved to a new mooring where there is no power hook up , it’s idyllic however so worth that. Looking to add more solar and upgrade my battery bank . Currently we have 4 x 135Ah wet batteries and they are at end of life . I am looking at the following options after taking a lot of advice , 5 x 120 Ah 12 v gel Batteries or 5 x similar rated Trojans wet batteries . Which is best ? Advice please Obv wets need topping up which is a pain in my boat as there is poor access to battery bank but they are cheaper . I am leaning towards the more expensiv
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Morning everyone, Have just completed purchase of our first boat. 56' x 12 built in 2006. I intend doing a reburbishment over the coming 6 months or so but really need advice. 1st - a generator ideal for the boat but initially to run my power tools inc a Dewalt table saw. 2nd (and most important) - PLEASE, can someone recommend roughly what I should fit for solar, batteries and panels, to cover most of our needs as liveaboard continuous cruisers.. Currently have a solid fuel stove and back boiler. Would like to install oil fired boiler.
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Hi all. I have just installed 2x150w panels solar in parallel with a bn series mppt and mt 50 control panel. So far it has been ok, however, after running engine for a while this morning, in hot sun, the domestic alternator charge warning light came on bright. Thought the belt had broken to start with but it was ok. The light was going off and coming on sporadically. sometimes flashing. batteries were showing full-ish on the mt50. I disconnected the panels and all back to normal! so it appears some type of feed back? could it be a dodgy diode in the alternator? or something else? too much
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I'm planning on mounting a couple of solar panels on roof boxes, and while im familiar with the common 45 degree tilting mounts, i've been thinking about the possibility of mounting panels using widely available tv wall mounts. Does anyone have any experience with these? the main (possible) benefits I can see are that 1. These mounts are cheaply and widely available 2. They enable panning and tiltling 3. panels can be easily raised and tilted, and then lowered back down for cruising. 4. Many mounts include cable routing. the main issues i can see are 1. These are designed to be us
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Hi all, We currently have 3 x 125ah leisure batteries powering the fridge, lighting (mostly LED) and water/waste pumps. The bank is charged by a single solar panel through an EPSolar MPPT charge controller. This was fine during the summer but with winter fast approaching we are finding that come the morning there isn't enough juice to power the pumps for a shower. We are mostly marina based so would like to add in a mains charger to top up the batteries once night falls. Electricity is metered so would only want to charge from shore power when necessary. Currently we achieve this by a
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Hi all, I have 2 x Trojan T105 6v batteries producing 12v with a capacity of 225 amps. I also have a solar panel that is now actually becoming useful now the sun has come out to shine! What settings should I set it at? Bearing in mind the table listed by Trojan below: Daily Charge: 14.8 Float: 13.2 Equalize: 15.5 The settings on the solar controller are: Load On (Voltage): Presuming this is the "Daily Charge" setting? Load Off (Voltage): Presuming this is the "Float"? PV Off (Voltage): No idea what this is PV: Showing the current amps the solar panel is producing Thanks
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Does anybody have any helpful tips on powering our 60 by 10 wide beam to make us as off grid as possible. I need advice in all aspects and I'm not sure where to start. any websites, phone numbers or general advice will be gratefully received.
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School boy question. I want to fit some solar panels to my boat but want to check that I'm going about it correctly as I'm pretty new to working with 12V electrics. Do I or can I connect the cables from the Solar Charge controller directly to the + and - terminals on my battery bank or to the isolator terminals? I know that the best way should be to have the batteries connected to bus bars but my system doesn't have these at present, the batteries are connected to the isolator with an Adverc battery management system and a constant feed to the fridge. See photos. Also is it ok to run the 12V c
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Hi everyone, Can anyone recommend a good, well-designed ventilation fan for a bathroom that works both on solar and battery back up? Are solar fans powerful enough, do you think? Or would it be better to get a fan that connects to the 12v system? If so, any suggestions for this also? Thanks, everyone, for your advice. Alan
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Hi all. I purchased a 2nd boat which came with 4 solar panels (unconnected) , with the following specs (see image). Do you know what controller I should buy to connect them to 12V batteries ? Many Thanks.
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This has just come up on Facebook looking for money to fit solar panels https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pillingslocksolar?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Yimbyprojectpage&utm_content=pillingslocksolar&utm_campaign=projectpage-share-owner&utm_term=ZWz4ZzmpP
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Hi everyone, I have just moved onto a canal boat and am looking to update my electrics and install some solar panels. I am a newbie so really appreciate any advice you can give. I have been attempting to do an electrical audit (using a template I found online) Firstly I wonder if someone could have a look over it and see if I have made any glaringly obvious mistakes?? I have done my best but I must admit I do find the electrics a little confusing !! I am continually cruising and my boat is 57x10 I am looking at installing: - 3x 260w or 305w solar panels (with the plan to add a -
Hi there, I’m wondering if someone can help me. I’ve just installed 2 solar panels (in series) and they don’t seem to be charging my batteries. 2 x 320w panels (mono crystalline) 1 x 60A outback MPPT charge controller 4 x 6v Trojan t-125 240AH batteries in series and parralell connection giving 480AH in total. Ive checked all the connections. Seems fine. Battery monitor is saying the voltage from the charger is what the batteries are at. However the perctage on the monitor has stayed the same. Can someone please help?! I thought I’d
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4 amps of solar? In Scotland?! Well, I'll be...
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Hey so I have recently got myself a boat which is a norman 27 fibreglass boat. I am currently pondering how I am going to install solar panels onto this boat, I have heard that the best way is to drill them on but I dont really want to do that as I have heard fibreglass is fragile. These panels are big (1.6M X 1M) so the only 2 places for them are the front cabin roof and the back cabin roof. So is there any alternative way to get the panels onto the boat roof, I was thinking maybe there is some super strong industrial glue or even some sort of metal wire rope that anchors it at 4 poin
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Hi All, I am getting mixed messages regarding solar panels not connected to a drain (i.e. a source to dump power ) is there any body here that can shed light ? I discovered my panels got disconnected ? Not sure how or why, my question is are my panels no good now ? I have heard rumours that if a solar panel is not connected then they will be no good after. I am struggling to find any thing to back this up via the web, any body have personal experience ? I found out yesterday PM, removed panels and stored in boat, ordered an new pre terminated cable. Just hoping panels are n
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Hello Bonus is in and it gives me just enough to install some solar on the roof. Based on my usage needs I can do with pretty much all I can get . Although I'm all low power & LED I do have a few luxuries that it would be good to power with solar when/where possible and off grid (Currently on hook up but don't see that as necessarily lasting forever) I've started coming up with a plan to help me identify what I don't know. My first pass is below and I have already identified a few questions that I need to answer. I've spent a little time reading up on the forums and have experience -
Hey guys, I've got an issue with my solar system. At the moment, I can leave my solar panel charging for 2 days, even with sun, and it won't go over about 70%. Even that will only last 2 hours watching tv or running 1 laptop. I'm now not sure if I got a controller that's too cheap (eBay job), if I don't have enough batteries, (2 x 110amp leisure batteries with 2 more on standby), or whether the panel isn't powerful enough (Highly doubtful) Maybe I might have not set up the controller properly such as setting the cut off voltage etc but I'm not sure what the settings should be.
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