Quote:
Originally Posted by hellosailor
CD, is that a solar panel aray or the Disco Dancing Deck of your ship? < g >
Do you get any problems from seagulls and the like partying up there and leaving little deposits that shade the cells?
More important, you've got 520 Watts of panels up there, versus 100 Watts for one SolarStik, or 200 Watts for a pair of them. If we pulled a random number out the air and said a SS could provide 60-70AH in a day from the 100W panel set...You are getting 176AH out of a 520 W array.
Hmmm...they're going some 65% efficiency (comparing AH to W, crudely and incorrectly but still meaningful for the comparison) while you're getting about 30% efficiency from the huge flat panels. You've spent less, and you're getting enough power, but you're still using twice as much panel (and real estate) to get the same wattage out of them.
Of course you don't have to fuss with the flat panels, just hose 'em down once in a while, that's worth something too.
(That's a BIG BOAT you've got there!)
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First of all, that is NOT a disco dancing deck. Come on, you are losing credibility here. That IS a very high-tech sun-tan bed. Don't believe??? Come lay out on it and see what happens (smile).
Ok,
THere is NO way that those panels sitting flat on that oversized roll-bar are going to compete with the constant rotation and adjustment of adjustable panels. Anyone that thinks so is crazy (smile). However, I do not know what the max I can get out of my panels is. I have not depleted the batts enough to know yet. I am topped off by the time the day is over. Did that make sense?? But I can tell you that 60-70 ain't gonna cut it with my kids!! Still, I doubt they will get a whole lot more than the max I have seen (176).
Also, I am not picking sides in anything here, but I will say that in my experience, we are off of our boat a good percentage of the time when anchored. THere is no one on board to move the panels. THis mimicks what Cam said. As I have said in many threads before, we are out messing around in the dink, walking the shore, snorkeling, have a hook in the water (I hate to call what I do fishing), etc. The exception is rainy days, which is another story.
THus, some of the practicalities of rotating the panels I find unrealistic in how WE cruise. Others without kids may be different (lucky dogs). I honestly will not speak for them. But I will say our experiences mimick Cams.
On another note... as I have two worthless mutts on board, we never have had much of an issue with birds, in general. It is not that my dogs could in their dreams catch one, but I think they bark enough to make even an irritating bird want to switch islands!!
BTW, I will say again Hello,
thanks for taking the time to do that. I know you did it for your own curiosity too, but your time has helped a lot of people out there make good, informed decisions... and those are the only decision worth making.
- CD