Embedding Solar Cells

[jeanathon]

As far as mounting ready made panels on the deck. I want this to be aesthetically pleasing, and to conform to my boats lines which is one of the reasons to embed.
As far as overheating. What do you think of a water misting system for the height of the heat of the day?

[jsous]

there is technology now being researched that would allow solar cells to be printed on fabric. How about your entire sail area as a solar cells? Can you imagine having a spinnaker that generated solar energy?

[Caracal]

Originally Posted by jsous

there is technology now being researched that would allow solar cells to be printed on fabric. How about your entire sail area as a solar cells? Can you imagine having a spinnaker that generated solar energy?

Printing solar panels on sails=more weight per square= not what you want on a spinnaker.
Printing solar panels on sails=less efficient per weight=not what you want up the mast.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by jsous

there is technology now being researched that would allow solar cells to be printed on fabric. How about your entire sail area as a solar cells? Can you imagine having a spinnaker that generated solar energy?

Stuff like this has been talked about for years.
A sail would be the last place I'd want to put solar cells.

[Juniper]

How about a "solar sail" not so much for sailing but for generating electricity. Not fesable yet but maybe soon.

[I.Grind]

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal...comms1772.html See link technology exists, output is still low, and lifespan short, but it's out there.

[Caracal]

At this point in time, get some semiflexible solar panels. They are mostly just flexible in one direction (at a time), but with smaller panels, you can get a pretty decent curvature all-up.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by I.Grind

Ultrathin and lightweight organic solar cells with high flexibility : Nature Communications : Nature Publishing Group See link technology exists, output is still low, and lifespan short, but it's out there.

Getting something to work in a lab is far from something practical.

A sail is the worst place for solar, even this kind, a sail flogs and destroys even itself over time.

But it does make the point to not make embed cells as permanent part of the boat, since newer technology does become available.

[Ryan H]

Still, could be cool to put a second roller Fuller on the bow just for a 'solar sheet' I wouldn't want to use it to sail with but with a big fabric solar panel on the bow how would you convince the boat not to sail away

[jeanathon]

Originally Posted by Ryan H

Still, could be cool to put a second roller Fuller on the bow just for a 'solar sheet' I wouldn't want to use it to sail with but with a big fabric solar panel on the bow how would you convince the boat not to sail away

Floating solar raft that could be rolled up and stowed.
I've thought about making a solar cover for the dink ....

[jeanathon]

Here is a pic of the hatch and hatch cover. A little more than 130 watts out of space I would not be using anyway. They look messed up because of ice on them plus I did chip some of them while moving them around. I also had some runover on the sides I need to grind off, but am waiting for a complete cure.
The hatch cells themselves cost .01 cents plus shipping!

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

Stuff like this has been talked about for years.
A sail would be the last place I'd want to put solar cells.

Not really. They have been putting Solar Sails on ferries for a few years now.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.BVqpqi-FeFY

[tdoster]

There was a great study behind Planet Solar’s Tûranor project a few years ago. They got into some great specifics about the whole idea and practicality of going primarily solar.

From a practical and pragmatic point of view, I am not going to trade in the reliable diesel AUXILARY for an electric motor any time soon.

I did keep a Minn Kota trolling motor on the stern to convert any excess energy to direct work. Not to mention, it makes a good stern thruster and dink motor. In order to test a theory that hybrid would be much more practical.

I think I would rather hybrid with a Torqeedo Electric Outboard and a smaller, more efficient diesel and add panels where I can as well as wind generators. And that is only because I have to replace the diesel before we leave anyway.

It seems to make a lot more sense. For day sailing, why fire up the diesel just to get out of the slip. For racing, that little bump when you need it (just kidding). For cruising, the safety of having both. If you ever sat becalmed in the middle of the pacific, you are constantly calculating your fuel to get through it and that is usually the time, you have excess solar not doing anything.

The future is in a hybrid solution that works for both a day sailor and cruiser and starting to see more of these ideas with the electric motor behind the diesel and able to both generate (collect) power, but also provide it at the same shaft and prop.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by jeanathon

Here is a pic of the hatch and hatch cover. A little more than 130 watts out of space I would not be using anyway. They look messed up because of ice on them plus I did chip some of them while moving them around. I also had some runover on the sides I need to grind off, but am waiting for a complete cure.
The hatch cells themselves cost .01 cents plus shipping!

No idea on how efficient - but looks a neat enough install .

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by tdoster

The future is in a hybrid solution that works for both a day sailor and cruiser and starting to see more of these ideas with the electric motor behind the diesel and able to both generate (collect) power, but also provide it at the same shaft and prop.

Of course a sailing boat is already a hybrid - at least for some .