Solar panels - 12V - Renogy

[Dsanduril]

The Renogy panels in the OP have a module efficiency around 17.5% (80W from 0.458 m2). A decent panel these days should be 21-22% module efficiency, which represents a 20-25% increase in total output from the same surface area.

You may be stuck with lower efficiency panels given your space constraints, but it would be worth looking around to see if you can find a higher efficiency panel that fits in the same area.

[David B]

Originally Posted by FionaJC

Victron is great but pricey and sometimes doesnt give you the higher A on chargers. I like a small portable 240-12V 40A 7 stage charger which has to go through a DC-DC charger to get the voltage up for AGM.

I agree about AGM I kill 3 lead 110A acids every winter but the weight! I did look at lithium but the price is too high and I dont like the charge/discharge rules. I still love my boat, I dont want to set fire to it yet".

Why not go FLA then.

We are still running FLA's that were new in 2012. Depending on which bank, they either get charged once every six weeks or so in winter, or else are kept up with a small solar system.

AGM's are very fussy re charging, and Lithium - unless you have a space issue, are no where near the value per Ah of FLA.