Solar panel

[ldbarker]

The boat I purchased has a Uni-Solar flexible panel that is wired through the electrical panel of my boat. Since there are no instructions, I need to know if I need to have the switch to the solar panel in the on position for it to recharge the battery. Do I also need the switch for the battery in the on position. Thanks for any suggestions.
Larry

[acajun]

There is no easy answer to your question. Each solar installation is a custom job, so you may have to look inside your electrical panel to trace the circuit. Solar cells produce power when they are not in darkness, so you don''t have to turn the solar panel itself "ON", but it must have a path to the batteries in order to charge them. Good Luck.

[djmarchand]

I assume by "wired through the electrical panel" you mean that the solar panel is wired to one of the DC circuit breakers- perhaps a 5, 10 or 15 amp breaker. That breaker may also serve something like a cigarette lighter output.

If so, just leave that breaker on all of the time as well as the main DC switch. Unisolar panels have built in blocking diodes, so there is no nead for another diode to protect if from discharging at night.

[windship2]

ldbarker,
If your panel is wired through a breaker, it will then have to be in the on position to close the circut in order to allow currant to pass.
The output from the pannel to the breaker should be wired somewhere directly to the batts. Check and see.You shouldn''t have to keep the batt switch in the on pos to charge the batts.
Remember that the pannel has to be perpendicular to the sun for best performance.You won''t get much on a cloudy day and,of corse,you won''t get anything at night.

Dennis