On the flexible solar panels. Global Solar also sells the flexible 'thinfilm' panels and one of their promo photos [ http://www.globalsolar.com/start.htm ] shows a small panel being used by Military, draped over the ground. I've also seen other video promos where they fold it like a table cloth for moving around or nail it to a roof like Composition roofing (to get 5000Watts?), then connect to the Voltage regulator. It appears pretty forgiving 'and' able to withstand harsh conditions. fyi/Gordon
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rik Sandberg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "MC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 2:16 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: more on electric drive on M17 > MC, > > My panel is a "Unisolar" FLX-11. I can't really say how well it works yet, as > It is still leaning up against the wall right behind me :-) I've only had it > since last week. It is warranted for 5 years though, so Unisolar must figure > they are pretty tough. I don't plan to mount the panel permanently.....yet. I > will just either set it on the cockpit seat(s) of bungie it to the sliding > hatch, or maybe somewhere else on deck that works out better, for now. > > We did have a pair of, 10 watt I think, rigid solar panels mounted on the > cabin top of our Rhodes 22. In three years, I never put a battery charger on > that boat, but I didn't have an electric motor on that boat, just lights, > radio etc. Stan Spitzer, who is the owner of General Boats, took us out on > his R 22 once. It had an electric trolling motor on it. He had a panel > similar to mine, just sitting on the seat, charging the two batteries he had > for his motor, when we got to the boat that day. He just unhooked it and > stuck it in the lazarette. I will probably do this too, 'til I come up with > what seems to be a better plan. > > If I like this panel and I don't know why I wouldn't, I will probably buy a > second one. I will use one on the M-15 and use both together when we are out > on our Flicka. Power demands are obviously quite a bit larger on the Flicka > and she has a pair of Group 27 batteries. > > On the saltwater question: I was thinking about that very thing this morning > when I was going to order the "Endura 55" model, Minn-Kota motor. The Endura > model turned out to be on backorder, so I ordered the RT 50/SC/S, Riptide > model for about 80 bucks more, instead. All that extra corrosion protection > can't hurt, even in fresh water. > > Rik > > > On Sun, Apr 18 2004 03:08 pm, MC wrote: > > No problem Rik, > > how is that 11 watt panel, who makes it, can you stand on it , did you > > glue it in place or lay it on deck only when needed??? > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Rik Sandberg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 12:20 PM > > Subject: Re: M_Boats: more on electric drive on M17 > > > > > > MC, Honshells, Howard and Gordon, > > > > Thanks guys.... I think you have sold me. For what we will do with it, an > > electric should work fine. > > > > The battery was shot in our M-15 anyway, so I will just buy the biggest > > battery that will fit in the box. The box is big so my guess is, this will > > be > > at least a group 27, maybe even a group 31. > > > > There is a special in Cabela's for a 55 lb Minn-Kota for $219. This even > > includes a 10 watt charger....not that I needed another one. :-) At this > > price I was pretty tempted to try it whether anybody else had or not. As I > > say, I still have a 4 hp 2 stroke to use if I happen to end up on a river > > or something where I need a little more kick. Primarily though, this motor > > will be just to get us back in if the wind dies and we have to be > > somewhere. If the wind is blowing at all, I don't care to use a motor for > > much more than just docking and stuff. > > > > For charging, I already have an 11 watt flexible solar panel with a charge > > controller. We also have a 1000 watt Honda generator that weighs in at a > > whopping 28 pounds and is almost whisper quiet, that we can use if we have > > to. > > > > Thanks guys, I appreciate all your good info. Sorry MC, you are getting > > this twice. Forgot to check the address and auto replied to you instead of > > the list. > > > > Rik > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
