jddevel Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I know this topic has been written about on numerous occasions however can some one please just for stupid me list how I should approach getting a panel/panels to help maintain my leisure batteries when at home? I read of flexible panels -which I like the idea of- I read of MTTP (what ever they are?) and their importance etc etc. Basically will I buy a kit with instructions or do I continue to try and understand it along with all else I`m trying to get to grips with by scouring the Forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Try Bimble solar others on here swear by them I bought mine from a puter company american ones very cheap on ebay and luck of the draw as I paid about a quarter of their cost! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) 5 minutes ago, jddevel said: do I continue to try and understand it along with all else I`m trying to get to grips with by scouring the Forum? This in my opinion, if you like to know and understand your system and perhaps install it yourself. Otherwise just hand over a wad of money for someone else to do it for you. Edited April 28, 2017 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Payne Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Do you mean keep your batteries topped up when moored and you are not on it? How big is your battery bank, what do you have running when you are not on the boat, how much power gets used when you are not on the boat? How much space on the roof do you have? How much do you want to spend? Fitting is easy by the way, its just deciding how much you need and how much you want to spend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 MPPT controller - Maximum Power Point Tracking. A solar panel will have a voltage at which it is outputting its maximum power. This voltage will constantly change through the day with temperature and sunlight. What an MPPT Controller does is to allow the panel to operate at its optimum voltage, thereby extracting the maximum power available to charge the batteries. This is as opposed to a PWM controller which is less efficient. The difference is generally in the region of 20% in the real world. Not all MPPT controllers are created equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Payne Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Can recommend Bimble, got my kit from there and was very happy wit the service and kit. http://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/12v Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jddevel Posted April 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 How big is your battery bank, what do you have running when you are not on the boat, how much power gets used when you are not on the boat? How much space on the roof do you have? How much do you want to spend? Yet to get the batteries (jury out) but space built for 5 leisure so anticipate 500+ Apart from Mushrooms a pole/plank rack 57foot semi trad-about 12mtrs roof Spend - value for money like us all without getting something unnecessary. It`s will be a leisure craft used say 7 months of the year out cruising most days and in a marina the remainder or when at home. Reluctant to connect to landline if I can avoid due to Galvanic corrosion/erosion -can`t remember what you all told me it was called but you know what I mean (will have an isolator) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Payne Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 If you have nothing running (fridge?) when in the marina then i wouldn't go big, of course the bilge pump is worth thinking about if you have a leak/leaky prop. If you moor up for a day or two when out cruising then you need to decide if you want the panels to assist with keeping the batteries topped up, less engine running? You need to work out power usage and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 With a 450Ah bank, useage of about 80Ah a day for 4 days a week, and an existing 100W panel, I'm about to buy 2 x 245W panels and a 40A Epever Tracer MPPT controller. Im hoping that will be more than enough to get/keep them topped up after a bit of genny charging each day. I haven't done any scientific calculating, just a reasonable gut feel based on roof space and cost, (about £400-£500 I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 50 minutes ago, jddevel said: Reluctant to connect to landline if I can avoid due to Galvanic corrosion/erosion -can`t remember what you all told me it was called but you know what I mean (will have an isolator) It's "Corrosion" If by "isolator" you mean an isolation transformer then you need have no qualms about shore power. With an IT you are (in electrical terms) not connected to the shore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 1 hour ago, jddevel said: Reluctant to connect to landline if I can avoid due to Galvanic corrosion/erosion -can`t remember what you all told me it was called but you know what I mean (will have an isolator) If shore line is available, in winter it's the cheapest method of getting electric. Even in summer if you can be on shore power for the majority of the time then even getting solar isn't that attractive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 27 minutes ago, Robbo said: If shore line is available, in winter it's the cheapest method of getting electric. Even in summer if you can be on shore power for the majority of the time then even getting solar isn't that attractive. Without any doubt, this ^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter-Bullfinch Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I'm no electrician but I found it very easy to install ours from Bimble. It has all worked really well for us and we are out from the end of March to the end of October . Then the fridge is off and the solar just keeps the batteries constantly topped up. Some will say my switch is in the wrong place but if I have needed to disconnect the panels then I cover them with a blanket and then disconnect. I jotted this sketch down to remind me for reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jddevel Posted April 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 So if a leisure cruiser with a limited period in the marina what sort of wattage solar would the ideal starter system be. Boat will have one starter battery. Two thruster batteries total about 175amps and five leisure at 110amp each. Not expecting solar to keep batteries at 100 percent more really to keep topped up when away. Am I expecting to much with the number of batteries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 10 minutes ago, jddevel said: what sort of wattage solar would the ideal starter system be Not easy to answer. Some solar is definitely better than non. A lot will depend on your daily power demand an daily charging regime and budget. As a minimum I would say 250W. You could always get an oversize controller and add further panels at a later date (although it will wont be as efficient) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip King Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 If 12v you want to do it in parallel trust me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 1 hour ago, Catnip King said: If 12v you want to do it in parallel trust me. ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 Hmmmmm : 16 amp output 10 Amp switch 20 amp fuse Which melts first in the event of a problem, or even a sunny day ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said: Hmmmmm : 16 amp output 10 Amp switch 20 amp fuse Which melts first in the event of a problem, or even a sunny day ? It's a dumb place for a switch anyway. But if you feel that you must have one then... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip King Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 38 minutes ago, WotEver said: ??? ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) On 4/30/2017 at 16:13, Catnip King said: If 12v you want to do it in parallel trust me. I don't trust you What do you think MPPT controllers were invented for. Edited May 15, 2017 by RichM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip King Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 From experience I have mppt and mine were in series but much better in parallel simple. series not great on a boat only takes a bit of shade on 1 panel to ruin performance across the whole array Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip King Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 and matty i wasn't giving you advise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) Series for me. (don't trust me though, find out for yourself) Edited April 30, 2017 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 1 hour ago, Catnip King said: ??? Helpful post. Not. You write something that made no sense and respond like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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