I purchased a 65watt mono panel with charge controller and cables from these guys: http://stores.ebay.ca/solarenergydcinc/ All told IIRC it was $250 CAD, maybe $300. Not a lot of money when talking boat stuff.
That was back in 2013. The setup has served very well. People are right to recommend a quality MPPT charge controller but I found the return on investment when dealing with sub 100 watt panels to be minimal and not worth it. At the time a cheap PWM controller is what came with my kit and it has been fine now for over 2 seasons. It also has useful features like an LCD screen that shows how many amps I'm generating, the entry level morningstar controllers don't do that. I spent money on nice fittings for my bimini to mount the thing and I'm glad I did because take down and setup in fall and spring are easy and the mounting is very secure. Suhana was on a wet mooring since I first launched her in 2012. It was important to maintain the batteries somehow. Our consumption is low enough that the 65 watt panel served very well on a three week cruise. Last thing I'll mention is that the batteries are an unknown age, ie; older than 2011 when I purchased her. I believe the solar panel has a lot to do with them still being alive. New Trojan T-105s are on the menu for spring and we'll have shore power now for the first time :) Steve Suhana, C&C 32 Toronto On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 9:49 AM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Someone asked me about my solar panel setup. > > I have one of these – a 50 watt panel: > http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Solar/dp/B00DVPPFDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456843564&sr=8-1&keywords=renogy+50+watt > > I have this controller - > http://www.amazon.com/SunGuard-Charge-Controller-Regulator-Morningstar/dp/B000O3O0W2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1456843683&sr=8-3&keywords=morningstar+solar > > I have the panel on a long cord and plug it in to a trolling motor plug > when using it. It does a good job with the batteries when I am on my > mooring. > > Joe > > Coquina C&C 35 MK I > > > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > >
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