Solar Panels For Homes

If you moor your boat on the hard, on a trailer, or on the water at a marina you may have been confronted with having a dead battery when you turned the key to start the engine. And it always seems to happen when you have perfect boating weather with calm seas. A battery charger comes in pretty handy for times like these as it can keep a floating charge to keep the batteries topped off. With marine solar panels you can avoid these situations as they are a environmentally practical choice to maintain a full charge on your batteries. 

As a rule of thumb, marine batteries dissipate an average of 1% of their charge on a daily basis dependent upon the weather conditions. So in order to maintain a float charge on the battery, a 100-amp battery would require a solar energy system that would be capable of 1 amp/day output.

Since a solar power system is actually rated in watts, to figure output amps, simply divide the wattage rating of the panels by 15. So a typical 5-watt panel would give you a maximum output of .33 amps a day. Because of the fact that the highest rate output occurs when the sun is directly overhead, expect an average rated output of about 5 hours a day. Thus, the 5-watt panel would give approximately 1.65 amp hours (5 x 0.33).

When designing a system for your boat, use 3.5 watts per 100 amp hours of battery capacity taking into account cloudy days as well as running essential systems like bilge pumps if you are in the water. As with normal battery maintenance, check your water level regularly! 

Regardless of the panel size you decide to go with, make absolutely certain that you have a minimum of 33 cells. Fewer than 33 cells will be insufficient to charge the batteries. If cruising in an area where cloudy days seem to outnumber the cloudless ones, you may want to research thinner filmed panels versus the normal crystalline ones as this type deal better with low light conditions.

Mount the panels in an area that will be allow them direct access to the suns rays keeping in mind that as the boat moves (especially on anchor) you want to be able to angle the panels accordingly to maintain contact with the sun. Usually this would be the highest point on the boat like radar arches or rigged to sail masts. I have however seen a number of deck mounted installations but keep in mind that the panels do produce heat so leave room enough under the panels so that the heat can be dissipated.

Wire it all together with marine-graded wire. The positive (+) terminal from the panel will connect to the positive battery post and consequently the negative (­-) terminal from the panel to the negative post on the battery. Although panels with a max output of no more than 1% of the battery power do not require a regulator, I would certainly advise for a regulator as a precaution and give you peace of mind when the boat is unattended. Essential will be an in-line fuse that is close to the battery this would protect against a short and prevent potential fires. If your boat has both a starter and house bank, you can have a solar electrical system that is dedicated for each one wired separately.

There you have it. As an avid boater I have been in situations where my voltmeter wasn’t working properly and I realized that I didn’t have enough charge from either of my battery banks to turn the engine over. Fortunately I had a portable genny with me but God forbid if I didn’t have that because I had no bars on my cell phone and my radio was dead because everything was tied directly to the batteries. Having a power system that consists of your boat batteries, inverter, and marine solar panels is both practical and environmentally friendly. For additional information on solar electrical systems go to http://www.altenergysolutions.info as a start. Happy boating!

Mitsubishi Electric solar panels for gridtie array

Energizer Rechargeable Batteries ...

Tenergy High capacity NiMH Rechargeable battery package: 8 AA 2600 mAh + 8 AAA 1000 mAh $16.93 Features and Benefits * High quality AA and AAA Size rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery top of the line. * Ultra high capacity batteries: AA 2600 mAh and AAA 1000 mA * Economic package of 8 AA and 8 AAA provides huge saving * Exact replacement for standard AA size battery in all the devices * Provides ultra long use time per charge * Advanced Ni-MH technology means twice as long us...

5th Anniversary Special (8 pack AA) 2nd Gen 1500 cycle eneloop in Glitter colors $25.95 SANYO is celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Eneloop by releasing Eneloop glitter, a new limited edition pack of Eneloop in size AA. Just as the classical Eneloop, the Eneloop glitter batteries get pre-charged at the Japanese factory with electric power, which is generated from solar energy. For this reason the batteries are ready to use directly after being purchased. Thanks to its low self discha...

Kiwi U-Powered Portable Power Source - Black $46.74 KIWI U-Powered is the most Powerful, Versatile, Compatible and Environmental portable power source. You can charge it from Any power source: the Sun, USB port, USB Car Charger(not included) or USB Wall Charger(not included). It then holds to its power for at least 6 months, and with a 2000 mAh capacity and 1000 lifecycle, it can charge all your mobile devices on the go. As added features, it has a...

Booster PAC ES5000 12V Portable Battery Booster Pack $120.00 Bring on the power! With a high performance battery and up to 1500 Peak Amps, the ES5000 is the Booster Pac for professionals who need serious starting power. Multiple jumps between charges and 43" cables make the ES5000 as convenient as it is powerful. 360 Cranking AmpsIdeal for: garages22 amp hour batteryLED battery status indicatorAutomatic recharging43" Heavy-duty cables cold weather rated to...

Sunforce 7 Amp Charge Controller $17.41 The Sunforce 60012 7 Amp Charge Controller prevents overcharging of 12-volt batteries. It is intended for use with 12-volt solar panels, and can handle up to 7 amps of array current and up to 100 watts of solar power. The controller is easy to use with a charging light that indicates that your battery is charging, and a green light that indicates a fully charged battery. The 60012 measures 4 x 1 x...

Duracell DPP-600HD Powerpack 600 Jump Starter & Emergency Power Source with Radio $169.95 The Duracell Powerpack 600 features an internal sealed, non-spillable 28 amp-hour AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery for reliable power delivery and recharging capability. This heavy duty power source operates multiple 120-volt AC household power applications and 12-volt DC applications (charging portable electronics devices) simultaneously with ease. Offering 280 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of startin...

6/12V Digital Battery and System Tester $217.77 Features and Benefits: 6 and 12 Volt Battery and System Testing Operating Range: 1.5-15V; Testing capacity: 40-2000 CCA Compatible with multiple battery types: Conventional, AGM, Gel Cell, Spiral Wound, Deep Cycle, Marine Starting Tests against multiple ratings systems Ergonomic design for easier, more natural use during testing and transport The ADROIT-PRO (BA44) Digital Battery and System Test...

6/12V Digital Battery and System Tester-SOLBA44 Features and Benefits: 6 and 12 Volt Battery and System Testing Operating Range: 1.5-15V; Testing capacity: 40-2000 CCA Compatible with multiple battery types: Conventional, AGM, Gel Cell, Spiral Wound, Deep Cycle, Marine Starting Tests against multiple ratings systems Ergonomic design for easier, more natural use during testing and transport The ADROIT-PRO (BA44) Digital Battery and System Test...

Mr Beams MB360 Wireless LED Spotlight with Motion Sensor and Photocell - Weatherproof - Battery Operated - 140 Lumens $19.99 Mr. Beams Intelligent LED Battery-Operated Lights Motion Sensor LED Spotlight Features MB360 Spotlightat a Glance: Battery-powered, wireless LED spotlight Attach anywhere Designed to work in all weather conditions Motion sensor with a range of up to 30 feet A...