Solar Panels

mikeprojectboat · Post by **mikeprojectboat** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:08 am

Hi all, Who has a solar panel on their boat, are they any good,? Keep seeing them on ebay(ones with a handle on each end,look like a tray) But do they charge the battery,? The specs seem a bit vague on charge rate..?? Hope to have some pics of the boat soon in the water, turning out to be a major prob to get it finished, if its not the boat then its housing my daughter(AT UNI) or other housing issues. regard to all mike in parched norfolk

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:41 pm

I use a 5w flexi panel which I've had for 5 years. I just use it to top the battery up when the boat's moored and use a charging coil when I'm motoring. These are my only power sources over the summer and the only time I've had a flat battery is when I left the gps plotter on for a fortnight. My electrical audit is:
LED nav lights,
2 x 5wcabin lights,
Clipper depth/log,
VHF,
GPS Plotter
Autohelm
Compass light
On occasions, if my hands have been in water for some time I can actually get a bit of a shock from it!

By the way, just to cheer you up, my eldest daughter is 31 this year and has just finished uni and and finally got a joib. With a bit of luck she might just be closing her account with Bank of Mum & Dad.

David mclardie · Post by **David mclardie** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:08 pm

Hi all i have a flexi solar pannel its a 15w one i only put it out when we are on the boat and thats all i have to charge my battery i had a glass pannel one but smashed it while sailing ......so i think the flexi pannel one is best for me ....

Regards

David