effectiveness of solar & wind

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by wind_magic

Hey cam, just a fun/picky technical point, you can actually get more than the rated power out of a solar panel. One way to do it is to put the panel under a giant magnifier and focus a larger area of sunlight on it.

Hmm...don't get me thinking here. Does that mean you could conceivably put some sort of lensing dome over your fixed panels and thus redirect angled sunlight at an optimum angle?

Or keep 'em in the bilges and use a sun tunnel skylight!

VELUX SUN TUNNELâ„¢ Skylights - Welcome to VELUX America

[CosmosMariner]

I think it is the number of photons striking the panel that makes a difference but while solar panels tend to produce better in warmer conditions we might run into trouble with melting parts at some point.

[sailingdog]

Cosmos-

Here are a few suggestions in his price range-

Bristol 32
Westsail 32
Allied Luders 33
Contest 33
Allied Seabreeze 34
Bristol 33 or 34

This list is order of my preference.. hope that helps. BTW, I like the Bristol 32 over the 33 and 34... think it is a bit more comfortable at sea, IMHO. Of these, the Contest 33 is probably going to be the "fastest" of them... but I doubt any of them are speed demons in anyone's opinion.


BTW, solar panels start to get less efficient at producing electricity as they warm up... keeping them cooler helps... which is why the manufacturers often suggest mounting them on brackets...so air can circulate under them.

[CosmosMariner]

I too like the Bristols. I like the Westsail but they are out of the price range. Allied Seabreeze another good one. Now to find one in the price range.

I have my house mounted panels mounted on synthetic 1 x 6 to keep them from getting too hot. They do perform better above freezing though so there must be an optimum temperature range. Again, whatever the details in practical application over the past 8 years I get the performance expected. I believe in the 80/20 rule...you can spend 80%of the cost getting the last 20 % so in all my systems I look for the break even point and if I get that I'm happy.

[sailingdog]

Actually, I found most of the boats I just recommended by doing this search.

There was a Westsail on the list of boats returned in that search. The search criteria had a price range of $20-30k, but I figure that the asking price isn't what your son would be paying for the boat... unless he screws up.

[CosmosMariner]

Hey that site had alot of boats and 2 Westsails! Well, this old man is calling it quits for tonight. fair winds!

[sailingdog]

Glad to help Cosmos..

[tigerregis]

Kumbaya, now folks where has all sh*tflinging gone. This is for another area, i.e.
buying a boat. If you don't have anything nasty to say, go to SA.

[camaraderie]

Cosmos...sounds llike your son has a good plan. I used to own a Catalina 27 so I was shuddering a bit about the thought of him circumnavigating on one!

Wind...you're being too fun/picky technical!! I tried using one of those lenses...


Just kidding!

[sailingdog]

Cam-

Let me guess, you used to torch ants with a magnifying glass as a kid too.. Great...just what we need a solar-powered pyro...