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solar panels

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  • March 11, 2012 3:44 AM
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    Message # 855217
    Deleted user
    What solar panels do some of you find to be best for the W32. Brand,size, mounting location. I have no problem finding out what products are out there, but listening to experience helps a lot.            Sam
  • March 11, 2012 11:38 AM
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    Reply # 855411 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Most of the major brands will work just fine.  We have two 35 watt Kyocera panels mounted on the radar/wind generator poles, which are permanent . There are two more 75 watt panels that mount on supports on the boom gallows.  These are only up when we run the water maker. Try not to mix brands, but if you do, make sure they have the same specs. If you mix panels, the ones with the larger rating will be slightly degraded.  A smart charger significantly adds to the charging efficiency.  We've used a Blue Sky solar boost for five years. 

    Our panels are fully adjustable. Adjustable panels can triple your daily output. The biggest advantage of adjustable panels is that we get maximum output at 8:00 in the morning, instead of in the afternoon. We credit this as the major reason for never running our motor once to charge our batteries on our two year cruise in Mexico. We were never discharged more than 10% (45 amps) and fully charged every day. It also helps to have as efficient a boat as possible. We normally use less than 30amps a day for refrigeration, lights (all LED), Stereo, Movies, etc. Every second or third day we ran the water maker for another 30 amps for a daily overall average of 45 amps.

    Friends have told us that a little more solar is needed in the So. Pac. so we will be getting one or two more for the bow while at anchor before our next cruise.

    Pictures;

      

     


     
  • March 11, 2012 11:50 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 855416 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Most of the major brands will work just fine.  We have two 35 watt Kyocera panels mounted on the radar/wind generator poles, which are permanent . There are two more 75 watt panels that mount on supports on the boom gallows.  These are only up when we run the water maker. Try not to mix brands, but if you do, make sure they have the same specs. If you mix panels, the ones with the larger rating will be slightly degraded.  A smart charger significantly adds to the charging efficiency.  We've used a Blue Sky solar boost for five years. 

    Our panels are fully adjustable. Adjustable panels can triple your daily output. The biggest advantage of adjustable panels is that we get maximum output at 8:00 in the morning, instead of in the afternoon. We credit this as the major reason for never running our motor once to charge our batteries on our two year cruise in Mexico. We were never discharged more than 10% (45 amps) and fully charged every day. It also helps to have as efficient a boat as possible. We normally use less than 30amps a day for refrigeration, lights (all LED), Stereo, Movies, etc. Every second or third day we ran the water maker for another 30 amps for a daily overall average of 45 amps.

    Friends have told us that a little more solar is needed in the So. Pac. so we will be getting one or two more for the bow while at anchor before our next cruise.


  • March 11, 2012 2:02 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 855479 on 855217
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Jim:  I've copied your info to the Westsail FAQ's we didn't have a topic on this suject.

    Hope you don't mind...

    Jay
  • March 12, 2012 7:46 AM
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    Reply # 856176 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Jay, glad I could contribute a little.  I was wondering why my first post had the text run off the page. Did you correct this?  I know it had something to do with posting the pictures.

    Jim
  • March 12, 2012 8:36 AM
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    Reply # 856212 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Thanks Jim,    I've got some ideas about fabricating mounts for the panels, but the space on the W32 seems a little limited. I like what you've done. Not sure whether to mount the radar dome on the same tower or on the mast. The boat has a monitor wind vane and no boomkin at this time or I should say not the boomkin I need. If you go to Westsail General Discussion, you can see pics of this boat. The electric systems, where you take the power from the solar panels and wind generator to charge the batteries, where can I find the information I need to assemble the system correctly, and understand the components and there function? Also, do have pics of your tower at it's base?        Sam
    Last modified: March 12, 2012 8:41 AM | Deleted user
  • March 12, 2012 6:33 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 856747 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Samuel, congratulations on your new boat. Great looking boat!!!

    The solar mounts are made by Svendsen's boat works in Alemeda Ca.  They rotate 360 deg. around the pole they are mounted on, then the panel rotates on the mount. I don't know if that's clear in the photo. The more you can articulate the panel towards the sun the more you can get out of them. This is especially important when there is limited room for panels like on the 32's.  We run the boat on only 210 Watts.

    I've had radar's mounted on the mast and tower, but prefer the tower.  Our's is mounted on a Gaurhauer tower with the outboard motor crane. We also have a monitor and have Bud's 
    SS Bomkin. I have installed a radar tower on two 32's with the wooden bomkin similar to the way our's is mounted.

    Get Nigel Calder's electrical and mechanical manual and you can get information on Blue Sky charger here.


    After years of using junk deck plugs like Perko, we've settled on Hella brand which have o-rings and are quality made, but are pricey.

    Sorry, we don't have any pictures of the base and are not sure when we'll return to the boat.

    Jim



     
  • March 12, 2012 7:05 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 856762 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Yes Jim    I spotted how your panels are mounted. I was going to do something simular using a knuckle pivot as to rotate the panels facing any direction. What did the tower cost to have it fabricated ? I was going to build my own. I've been in the steel fab business all my adult life and can make anything for these boats. I'll check that link. Thanks;    Sam
  • March 14, 2012 8:10 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 858694 on 855217
    Deleted user
    Sam, I don't remember what everything costs as it was 8-10 yrs. ago.  I have made several radar/wind gen towers and remember I couldn't make a radar tower and hoist anywhere near the price or quality that Garhaur could.  The Garhaur items were purchased at a boat show for about $700, it's a lot more now,

    Jim
  • March 14, 2012 9:19 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 858754 on 855217
    Anonymous member
    Regarding brands, I'd like to put a plug in for Kyocera solar panels.

    I have two Kyocera 125 watt panels mounted on a HD stainless tube mounted between the boom gallows and the 1st stanchion forward of the gallows.  The panels are mounted to the tubing with friction locks so I can rotate them out.  I use a couple of simple dowels of different lengths to 'prop them out' to adjust the angle of the panels to the sun. One panel also has an extra 25' of cable so I can dis-mount the panel and move it forward to the foredeck.   Moving the panel forward allows me to catch the morning or afternoon sun (depending) on both panels regardless of my 'heading' due to the prevailing wind at anchor.

    (jeeeze.. how do you insert a simple pic on this board?)

    Due to my reefer insulation being less than adequate when I'm on the hook I usually have to run my engine about an hour every 3 or so days for the batteries to 'catch up'.

    Last year, I began to notice I was needing to run my engine more frequently.  Although my panels were putting out the correct voltage, I discovered I wasn't getting the expected amperage.

    I emailed  Kyocera describing the problem thinking that even though the panels had a 20 year warranty (I purchased them 6 years ago) I would likely need to jump through some hoops anyway, especially as I did not have the sales receipt.  As it turns out, the serial numbers established manufacturing date and therefore whether they were still in warranty.

    Within a couple hours I got a reply advising me to contact their warranty department for an RMA.  Within an hour or so of contacting their warranty dept I received the RMA form. I filled it out and was advised the next day that two new panels would be shipped to me via FedEx with all duties paid.  I was to pack up the old panels in the box the new ones came in and return them (shipping pre-paid) using the supplied fedEx packing slip.

    I was astounded... It was an almost 'no questions asked' warranty policy.

    Bear in mind I live in Guatemala.  Had it not been for Guatemalan customs disputing their value (despite it being the manufacturer itself claiming their value) and denying the fact they were simply warranty replacements and not intended to be sold in Guatemala (the point of paying import duty to begin with) I would have had the replacements in hand within a week.

    While I cannot speak for other manufacturers warranty policies having such a positive experience with Kyocera means they have my business for life.

    Last modified: March 14, 2012 10:37 PM | Anonymous member
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