Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg. I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail. Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels. Bill
I recommend the Ganze GSP-6 panel. Fits well on the forward hatch. Solar panels in this size bracket are really just trickle chargers that will help top off your battery when it is stored. They cannot keep up with the normal use of most folks when cruising, but they do help some. I do not use a huge amount of power when I cruise. With a group 24 battery ( about 65 amps total charge capacity) I can go 5 or 6 days and only just charge the battery about half or maybe 2/3 capacity. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA :: Former M15 owner On Feb 5, 2015 7:31 AM, "Bill Wickett" <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
Thanks Dave, That is a good size on the Ganz 6. What is the actual hatch size, would you know? We do not use a lot of power either. Bebi LED anchor light. VHF and sometimes depth. Added the tiller pilot 2 years ago, so saw bigger draw down on the battery. Had to motor some distance in calm conditions a couple of times during 2 weeks so was able to top up with the O/B charging circuit. Boat does have shore power connection and charger. Slip we are taking this year is without hydro. So looking for trickle charging while slipped, and some assist while cruising. Bill On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 9:55 AM, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
I recommend the Ganze GSP-6 panel. Fits well on the forward hatch.
Solar panels in this size bracket are really just trickle chargers that will help top off your battery when it is stored. They cannot keep up with the normal use of most folks when cruising, but they do help some.
I do not use a huge amount of power when I cruise. With a group 24 battery ( about 65 amps total charge capacity) I can go 5 or 6 days and only just charge the battery about half or maybe 2/3 capacity.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA :: Former M15 owner On Feb 5, 2015 7:31 AM, "Bill Wickett" <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
That ganz panel is close to the same size as the forward hatch. Exact measurements I can't get to right now, as I'm over 750 miles away from SWEET PEA on my way to Miami. I know of at least one other M17 using this panel with much success. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA :: Former M15 owner On Feb 5, 2015 8:22 AM, "Bill Wickett" <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks Dave,
That is a good size on the Ganz 6. What is the actual hatch size, would you know?
We do not use a lot of power either. Bebi LED anchor light. VHF and sometimes depth. Added the tiller pilot 2 years ago, so saw bigger draw down on the battery. Had to motor some distance in calm conditions a couple of times during 2 weeks so was able to top up with the O/B charging circuit.
Boat does have shore power connection and charger. Slip we are taking this year is without hydro. So looking for trickle charging while slipped, and some assist while cruising.
Bill
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 9:55 AM, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
I recommend the Ganze GSP-6 panel. Fits well on the forward hatch.
Solar panels in this size bracket are really just trickle chargers that will help top off your battery when it is stored. They cannot keep up with the normal use of most folks when cruising, but they do help some.
I do not use a huge amount of power when I cruise. With a group 24 battery ( about 65 amps total charge capacity) I can go 5 or 6 days and only just charge the battery about half or maybe 2/3 capacity.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA :: Former M15 owner On Feb 5, 2015 7:31 AM, "Bill Wickett" <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
It's crucial for sailors to know the difference between performance of the two basic types of solar panel construction: 1) crystalline (mono and poly, difference not relevant here) 2) amorphous Crystalline are made up of many individual crystal-based cells wired together. Usually you can see this just by looking at the panel. Amorphous are made by depositing continuous thin films of the PV material. They are clearly different when looked at - a relatively solid color. You may see a few large areas of material that are distinct, but they will not have the dozens and dozens of individual cells as on a crystalline, nor the obvious 'crystal' looking surface. Crystalline generate the same amount of power in less surface area. In other words, amorphous needs more surface area to generate the same power. So if space is a premium, it would seem that crystalline would be better... HOWEVER - this is the biggie for sailboat installations - amorphous will suffer considerably less power output loss from shading. Shading even a very small area on a crystalline panel will cause major reduction in power output. If you are lucky you will only lose 50%; if not, you will lose 75-90% (depending on where/how the shadow falls on the panel). With amorphous, shadows affect the output much less - it's more proportional to how much of the panel is shaded. A small shadow in one area on amorphous will only cost you a small amount of power output. So if you can't mount clear of shadows, you may do better overall with amorphous. Historically most flexible panels are amorphous. However there are now some "bendable" panels that are crystalline, for example: http://www.directron.com/rng100db.html And not all amorphous panels are flexible - Unisolar made both rigid frame and flexible amorphous panels. Google flexible amorphous pv panel ...and you'll get tons of info & sources. Also re charge controllers, the cheap ones that come with portable kits and the like will last a while in freshwater, but for saltwater they will die quickly from internal corrosion. My recommended charge controller for small boat PV (up to 7A) is the FlexCharge PV7D: http://www.flexcharge.com/PV7D.html For up to 25A, and from multiple sources if you have them (PV, wind gen, motor gen) the NC25A is the ticket: http://www.flexcharge.com/NC25A-Product-Info.html Both are completely sealed (resin potted), marine/rugged environment ready. FlexCharge has a patented charging algorithm that is better for your batteries, and more efficient, than any other method. You get more juice from your panel to your battery with less stress on battery. Designed and made in USA no less (imagine that!). My recommended source is John Drake at http:solarseller.com. His web site is a bit of an archaic mess, here is the page for the PV7D: http://solarseller.com/seelye_ses_flexcharge_charge_controllers_controller.h... Here is the page for the NC25A: http://solarseller.com/flexcharge_wind_hydro_solar_charge_controllers.htm I don't make any kickbacks from this...:-) Just sharing my years of experience doing off-grid land, and marine, solar power installations, fixes, upgrades. cheers, John S. On 02/05/2015 06:31 AM, Bill Wickett wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
John, Thank you for the details on the different types of panels. Much appreciated. Bill On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 3:34 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
It's crucial for sailors to know the difference between performance of the two basic types of solar panel construction:
1) crystalline (mono and poly, difference not relevant here) 2) amorphous
Crystalline are made up of many individual crystal-based cells wired together. Usually you can see this just by looking at the panel.
Amorphous are made by depositing continuous thin films of the PV material. They are clearly different when looked at - a relatively solid color. You may see a few large areas of material that are distinct, but they will not have the dozens and dozens of individual cells as on a crystalline, nor the obvious 'crystal' looking surface.
Crystalline generate the same amount of power in less surface area. In other words, amorphous needs more surface area to generate the same power. So if space is a premium, it would seem that crystalline would be better...
HOWEVER - this is the biggie for sailboat installations - amorphous will suffer considerably less power output loss from shading.
Shading even a very small area on a crystalline panel will cause major reduction in power output. If you are lucky you will only lose 50%; if not, you will lose 75-90% (depending on where/how the shadow falls on the panel).
With amorphous, shadows affect the output much less - it's more proportional to how much of the panel is shaded. A small shadow in one area on amorphous will only cost you a small amount of power output.
So if you can't mount clear of shadows, you may do better overall with amorphous.
Historically most flexible panels are amorphous. However there are now some "bendable" panels that are crystalline, for example: http://www.directron.com/rng100db.html
And not all amorphous panels are flexible - Unisolar made both rigid frame and flexible amorphous panels.
flexible amorphous pv panel
...and you'll get tons of info & sources.
Also re charge controllers, the cheap ones that come with portable kits and the like will last a while in freshwater, but for saltwater they will die quickly from internal corrosion.
My recommended charge controller for small boat PV (up to 7A) is the FlexCharge PV7D: http://www.flexcharge.com/PV7D.html
For up to 25A, and from multiple sources if you have them (PV, wind gen, motor gen) the NC25A is the ticket: http://www.flexcharge.com/NC25A-Product-Info.html
Both are completely sealed (resin potted), marine/rugged environment ready.
FlexCharge has a patented charging algorithm that is better for your batteries, and more efficient, than any other method. You get more juice from your panel to your battery with less stress on battery. Designed and made in USA no less (imagine that!).
My recommended source is John Drake at http:solarseller.com. His web site is a bit of an archaic mess, here is the page for the PV7D: http://solarseller.com/seelye_ses_flexcharge_charge_ controllers_controller.htm
Here is the page for the NC25A: http://solarseller.com/flexcharge_wind_hydro_solar_charge_controllers.htm
I don't make any kickbacks from this...:-) Just sharing my years of experience doing off-grid land, and marine, solar power installations, fixes, upgrades.
cheers, John S.
On 02/05/2015 06:31 AM, Bill Wickett wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
Had a phone call yesterday with the hatch sizes. Thanks for the message Bob Eeg. Forward hatch is 19 wide x 23 fore/aft Companionway hatch is 35 wide x 15 fore/aft On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 9:31 AM, Bill Wickett <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Makin' Time is under the winter tarp, with a snow topping to boot, so not accessible
Can anyone provide the hatch covers sizes for the companionway and forward hatches? Boat is a 2003 model, built by Bob Eeg.
I am looking at mounting a flexible solar panel on one or the other. Probably the forward one, less shadow from the boom or sail.
Thanks if you can provide this info, or any experience you have had with mounting or using solar panels.
Bill
participants (3)
-
Bill Wickett -
Dave Scobie -
John Schinnerer