420: Solar and wind for Lagoon 420

[Sunray31123112]

Can anyone offer advice and guidance on adding solar and wind to a lagoon 420 to get it ready for cruising.
Thank You

[johnlightfoot]

The new panels are pretty nice. Get a good charge controller. I just bought a Outback Flexmax 80. This seems to be a key piece of the puzzle. For me, the mounting is the hardest and most expensive part. Figure out how and where you want to mount them first, then go find the right size Kyocera panel(s) to fit. Once you know exactly where and how you want them to fit, buying the panels are easy, except they may truck them instead of using fed ex (slight hassel). Once you know the panels, the Charge controller is easy, get a good one that handles the load you want to use in the long run (e.g. maybe you want to maybe add a panel). Get the most panel that will fit in your space of where you want them. Unless it is not going to be enough, then find a better place. I can not stress enough that the major cost and concern very likely will be the mounting. Also, if you plan to run your water maker from the panels, make sure you get a lot of panels. I just picked up 3 x 245W Kyocera panels for my Lagoon 400. I am building an arch on the back for them. The arch is the hard part.

[dominiccc]

Originally Posted by johnlightfoot

I am building an arch on the back for them. The arch is the hard part.

Interested to hear how you go about building and fitting the arch

[Cotemar]

Sunray31123112,

This Solar thread may give you some ideas

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post689923

The two most powerfull and lightest panels for there size are Sunpower 240 watt 31”X61” and Sanyo 235 watt 31x 62 both weight 33 lbs.
SunPower also makes a 337 watt 41 x 61 panel.

1) Buy panels first to fit you mounting location.
2) Mount your panels
3) Buy a MPPT(maximum power point tracking) controller to match you panels output
4) Mount the controller as close to your house batteries as possible
5) Buy the 10 gauge wire with the MC4 connectors to run from panel to controller
6) Wire the whole system together putting a wrap of red tap on all + leads will help.
7) Check your wiring
8) Check your wiring again
9) Start your system up

[casablanca]

On the Lagoon 420 the top of the bimini is the spot. I have 6 x 65W but plan on adding more. Plenty of room up there and out of sight. If I was starting again I would install a smaller number of larger panels. Just leave enough room to walk along the boom to stow the mainsail.

I am also adding a SilentWind (Spreco) wind generator and have mounted a pole on the aft corner of the bimini starboard side which sets the pole 500mm aft of the bimini edge to provide additional clearance to the boom.

[casablanca]

Originally Posted by casablanca

On the Lagoon 420 the top of the bimini is the spot. I have 6 x 65W but plan on adding more. Plenty of room up there and out of sight. If I was starting again I would install a smaller number of larger panels. Just leave enough room to walk along the boom to stow the mainsail.

I am also adding a SilentWind (Spreco) wind generator and have mounted a pole on the aft corner of the bimini starboard side which sets the pole 500mm aft of the bimini edge to provide additional clearance to the boom.

Solar setup now has 9x55watt and 4x85watt for a total of 835watts. In winter, on a sunny day in Sydney puts in 30A. In summer with the sun overhead it will produce 50+ amps. Have a 60A solar regulator.

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by Sunray31123112

Can anyone offer advice and guidance on adding solar and wind to a lagoon 420 to get it ready for cruising.
Thank You

I've gotten the solid impression that wind power is essentially out of favor. The 420 has plenty of space for panels, and it seems that most people are getting more than enough power from solar panels without the noise or visual impact of a wind generator.

[casablanca]

Wind doesn't produce anywhere near the power that solar can. I added a wind generator but the output as well as the cost compared to the output doesn't really stack up. I think that if you have the room go solar. That said, I now have both so when sailing, with sufficient wind to drive the boat, day or night there's going to be power coming in. If motoring, then the alternators are contributing. If its sunny then great, but the other times are covered as well. I guess the day will come when I say I'm glad I added a wind generator.

[D&D]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Sunray31123112,

This Solar thread may give you some ideas

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post689923

The two most powerfull and lightest panels for there size are Sunpower 240 watt 31”X61” and Sanyo 235 watt 31x 62 both weight 33 lbs.
SunPower also makes a 337 watt 41 x 61 panel.

1) Buy panels first to fit you mounting location.
2) Mount your panels
3) Buy a MPPT(maximum power point tracking) controller to match you panels output
4) Mount the controller as close to your house batteries as possible
5) Buy the 10 gauge wire with the MC4 connectors to run from panel to controller
6) Wire the whole system together putting a wrap of red tap on all + leads will help.
7) Check your wiring
8) Check your wiring again
9) Start your system up

Spot on Cotemar

We would also agree with johnlightfoot re both mounting being "the hardest and most expensive part", as well as the controller being "a key piece of the puzzle".

Not an L420 admittedly, but FWIW we'll attach some pics of our installation (2 x SunPower E20's, 327W@ with a FLEXmax 60 MPPT) which works brilliantly for cruising. In almost any weather we are OK at anchor (running 2 x frigs and 1 x freezer and a bit of AC for computers and TV) with no other charging. We are also OK when cruising (adding the autopilot and 2 x chartplotters) with sunshine, altho a bit of charging is needed when sailing through the nights. Interested cruisers (or others) around OZ can contact us for further details.

[jostalli]

Those Sunpower E20's look great! I can't find a retailer in the US to buy individual panels from.

[impi]

Originally Posted by D&D

Spot on Cotemar

We would also agree with johnlightfoot re both mounting being "the hardest and most expensive part", as well as the controller being "a key piece of the puzzle".

Not an L420 admittedly, but FWIW we'll attach some pics of our installation (2 x SunPower E20's, 327W@ with a FLEXmax 60 MPPT) which works brilliantly for cruising. In almost any weather we are OK at anchor (running 2 x frigs and 1 x freezer and a bit of AC for computers and TV) with no other charging. We are also OK when cruising (adding the autopilot and 2 x chartplotters) with sunshine, altho a bit of charging is needed when sailing through the nights. Interested cruisers (or others) around OZ can contact us for further details.

Nice mount D&D ...

Have you considered Balmar alternator power ... we have 2 x 150AH through center fielder and smart charger and they are by far the best re charge tools we have on our boat. The Solar and Balmars can 'conflict' which is why we also installed Diodes and relays to disconnect the solar charge the minute the engine key is turned to the 'on' position. Works a charm!

[jmpilot]

I have a very similar set up to D&D with 4-220w for a total of 880. We put out on average 36-44amps/hour. We can go forever without our genset, in fact only run it for water maker or ac.
I put in a new Outback charger/inverter and controller. Worth every penny. I kept my old ProNautic charger as bu
I also added one Rutland wind gen hoping on our many night passages I would get some extra amps for the auto helm etc. Windgen however essentially a waste of $. In 15kts aws we only get about 3-4amps. Takes 25kts to get 7amp

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by jmpilot

I also added one Rutland wind gen hoping on our many night passages I would get some extra amps for the auto helm etc. Windgen however essentially a waste of $. In 15kts aws we only get about 3-4amps. Takes 25kts to get 7amp

JM-- you have the wrong wind genny. At 15k the ones I know of output almost 10 amperes, some more. The power density is W/m^2 where m is the area swept by the blade. If you have a small blade, go figure.

Foggy

[jmpilot]

Foggy, your right! I guess to be fair about it I have only had the windgen for 7 months. Installed the same time as the solar. I think what is happening with me is the solar always has the bank full so the wind controller is regulating for a full or near full bank.
On passage recently I checked at 5am and the wind was putting out 6amp in 14aws but that was the highest I had seen at that wind speed. Bank was down about 120amps at that time so the wind controller had obviously let the windgen do it's thing. And of course we both know there is much more to it besides power density as there are significant areas for efficiency and inefficiencies along the mechanism and path. Power density is only the theoretical kinetic energy available for conversion.
Regardless the solar is what really rocks!

[SeaMonkey1]

I'm looking at solar options my self and i came across this company out of Australia that has flexible solar panels. I love the idea of being able to adhere the panels to the deck and still WALK on them! and/or you could attach them to the Bimini with zippers. Great looking product in a number of convenient sizes and watts. Check out out and let me know your feed back too please?

Flexible Solar Specialists