[PaulinVictoria]

I want to get a solar setup to keep my batteries topped up - mostly to make sure the bilge pump works. Anyone used these kits? Watt Mobile Flexible Standard Solar Kit - Marine Outfitters - Ontario Canada
I was thinking of the 50w panel. Is this something suitable for a two battery setup? Would the charge controller automatically keep both batteries topped up, or would I need to add in a charge combiner such as the Blue Seas ACR unit?

 

[Markwesti]

To answer your question no , however I'm thinking about getting some panels myself , here are some ones I have been looking at .
https://www.emarineinc.com/40w-12v-solar-fixed-frame
Also this is a good read .
Installing A Small Marine Solar System Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com

 

[capta]

I don't know BC that well, but if it's anything like Seattle, I doubt that a, or even two solar panels are going to be much help in your sunless part of the world, if you are away from shore power. You must consider that the 50 watts is only with full, direct, unobstructed sunlight. Any shadows, clouds or sun angle will give you much less wattage.
Most solar or wind charge controllers have outputs for multiple batteries, so no charge combiner is necessary.

 

[PaulinVictoria]

I figure on 20% output. Should still be plenty to keep my batteries topped up. I'm not living aboard.

 

[tdw]

Some time back there was a discussion on small solar chargers. I have to say I think they are a great idea, for us primarily to keep individual items charged rather than as part of our ship's battery setup. I'd figure one or two of these things would keep a notebook or two, tablets and phones humming along quite nicely without having to draw on the main supply.

Admittedly we are in Australia not the PNW.

 

[Faster]

I think a 50W panel with a good controller will keep up with typical minimal loads of a boat left unattended - ie the occasional bilge pump run.. even in Victoria's less than full-on sunshine.

And Capta.. before you 'dis' the PNW don't forget in summer we get 50% more daylight hours per day than you do.. so solar can certainly contribute.

 

[Markwesti]

I know this isn't in your back yard , but I think it's a good deal for someone .
Siemens SP-65 12 volt solar panels

 

[capta]

I think a 50W panel with a good controller will keep up with typical minimal loads of a boat left unattended - ie the occasional bilge pump run.. even in Victoria's less than full-on sunshine.

And Capta.. before you 'dis' the PNW don't forget in summer we get 50% more daylight hours per day than you do.. so solar can certainly contribute.

I'm sure there are sunny days, but it's not like here where solar works well about 85% of the time. 50% more overcast and drizzle is still not a lot of amps over a day. Develop a small leak that increases slowly and you could be in some trouble, if the solar isn't giving enough power. Obviously, if the pump isn't running, anything will be fine. You could probably run an LED anchor light, too.

 

[Langlo06]

I've also been looking at solar panel set up for our boat. Been checking these two sites Solar Panel Kits | 12v Solar Panels for Sale | 100w Solar Panel Kits out of California and Make A Solar Boat.com. out of Ontario.

Good luck on your choice

SV Winged Spirit
CS 36 Merlin
ON812471

 

[hellsop]

I'm sure there are sunny days, but it's not like here where solar works well about 85% of the time. 50% more overcast and drizzle is still not a lot of amps over a day. Develop a small leak that increases slowly and you could be in some trouble, if the solar isn't giving enough power. Obviously, if the pump isn't running, anything will be fine. You could probably run an LED anchor light, too.

He might not get enough power to cope with a leak unattended. But the alternative is being unattended, having that leak, and having ZERO power to cope with it instead of SOME. Advocating for doing nothing because the solution might not cover all possibilities is foolish.

 

[TQA]

Flexible panels do not have a great rep among cruisers as far as longevity is concerned.

Especially if moved and flexed on a regular basis.

Kyocera is the favoured brand. Not sure if they go small.

 

[hriehl1]

There is no pat answer. Get a boat electrics book and do an electrical budget.
1. What is your battery storage capacity in amp hours?
2. What is your worst case consumption use case between charges?
3. After that worst case, how long before you will use the boat again?

These answers will tell you what your recharge options are.

I run a moored 28 footer with a single 90 amp hour deep cycle battery with a 30 watt panel. But I daysail with no extended cruises, no refrigeration, my most taxing use case is two successive overnights running a couple lights each night, some tunes and some instruments, maybe consuming 25 amp hours over two days between charges. My 30 watt panel gets me back to full charge in 3+/- days.

 

[PaulinVictoria]

I figure 50w is probably enough based on the scientific finger in the air. I currently never charge the batteries from shore power, so anything more than nothing is an improvement.

 

[jhock]

This probably won't be a popular answer, but we bought one of those Coleman solar panel kits from a local retailer last year because it was 75% off. Not what I was planning on buying, but it was so cheap that it was worth a try.

The control module (simple on/off) is definitely not the best quality, but for the price, it has worked much better than I would have expected. We have a 22 foot boat with two group 24 batteries, one for starting the outboard (which has an alternator), and one for the house. I've been using the solar panel for the house battery while cruising (we don't have shore power) and it kept the battery topped up without any trouble. Of course, I always had the comfort of the fully charged motor battery to switch over to just in case.

Our bilge is always dry (knock on wood), so I don't know how well it would keep up with a pump, but ours easily kept up with a chart plotter and depth meter (on almost all day at the brightest setting) and all the other electrical needs.

For me, the worst case scenario would be having to replace the controller in the future, as I've been very pleased with the panel.

 

[Faster]

I figure 50w is probably enough based on the scientific finger in the air. I currently never charge the batteries from shore power, so anything more than nothing is an improvement.

Our 100W panel (with a less-than-ideal PWM controller) and full sunshine coverage will keep ahead of our fridge during daylight. Loads from instruments, propane solenoid, stereo and summertime lighting needs are pretty minimal compared to the fridge.

Assuming your bilge pump doesn't run often, a 50W panel should do you well, even in less than full sunny days.

A good controller, though, is a good investment. We saw a max of 5.7A last summer, my understanding is that a good MPPT controller would boost that.