750 W Solar on a mono

[44'cruisingcat]

Well, no. If the panels are in series some shading reduces output for sure, but it doesn't kill the whole array.

[skipgundlach]

I believe that most panels have diodes which would make shading less of an issue.

As I understand it, shading one of the rows will kill the row - but the rest work.

I believe the same is true for the output of the box underneath. I can say for sure that our series never goes to our meter as zero unless the controller cuts it out (we measure as going into the battery as well).

I'm considering replacing my 3 with two and will wire it the same way - series...

[TheThunderbird]

Solar Panels are definitely changing the way sailing boats look like.... a way too much!?, maybe..

Both SOLBIAN and GIOCO are manufactured around Turin... are some 2mms thick.

I don't expect much out of 300W, except some contribution to topping the batteries

[HappyMdRSailor]

Good lookin' job and boat Mr' Pilot !

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

Solar Panels are definitely changing the way sailing boats look like.... a way too much!?, maybe..

Both SOLBIAN and GIOCO are manufactured around Turin... are some 2mms thick.

I don't expect much out of 300W, except some contribution to topping the batteries

Yes, they do, and if I had a classic boat, then I would be way less likely to mount panels, they add weight way aft and windage too, but I want the power and don't want to run an engine if I can help it.

[TheThunderbird]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Yes, they do, and if I had a classic boat, then I would be way less likely to mount panels, they add weight way aft and windage too, but I want the power and don't want to run an engine if I can help it.

Yap. I start with 300W Possibly upgrading to 450W if opportunity arises (need & $).

And yes... I consider my 1989 design as an almost-classic.

Sprayhood yes
Bimini yes
Zipped panels OK
Any fixed frame.....uhm.... nops!

PS running main engine for power is Low efficiency. With a genny... slightly better e.g. a 90Ah charger absorbs 2kw, so efficiency is 55%

[barnakiel]

Weight aft is a minor concern: it is a fraction of what the davits and dinghy weigh on many cruising boats. There are also panels that weigh less than 50% of the alloy framed ones, great for racers and people looking to weight savings.

Looks? Well, I like the mixture of the tech and the old. Would not hesitate to place solar panels if we had a classic boat.

Windage? They are flat panels mostly in line of the flow. Some windage, but not something that we can't live with given our dodgers, mast steps, ratlines and the rest of the kit.

b.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Yes, they do, and if I had a classic boat, then I would be way less likely to mount panels, they add weight way aft and windage too, but I want the power and don't want to run an engine if I can help it.

I'm soooooooo over looks as a primary consideration.

Comfort, convenience, and safety rule our day. No one ever gets in our cockpit and over an aged rum with solid ice and says "your boat sure looks like sh!t with all these panels!"

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by zboss

I'm soooooooo over looks as a primary consideration.

Comfort, convenience, and safety rule our day. No one ever gets in our cockpit and over an aged rum with solid ice and says "your boat sure looks like sh!t with all these panels!"

I have a tendency to think that anyone who owns an IP is sort of over the looks as a primary consideration I like the looks of my IP, because except for all the teak, it looks like that for a practical reason, but glamorous she isn't.
But I do believe in form follows function, and I'd rather have the panels than run the generator every day, and I guess I'd be running the thing for hours without them.
I don't want to have to be the energy Nazi, always counting and worrying about power

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Yes, they do, and if I had a classic boat, then I would be way less likely to mount panels, they add weight way aft and windage too, but I want the power and don't want to run an engine if I can help it.

With 750 Watts and MPPT you're going to be pretty well set up.

We have 800 Watts and the Flexmax 80, and we run our boat on the solar about 95% of the time. If we had LiFePO4's it would be very close to 100%. Our old AGM's don't have much capacity any more, so a few cloudy days run them down a bit.

But that's with a household type fridge and freezer running through an invertor, running a watermaker, a breadmaker... on a sunny day we can collect over 250 amp/hours, not sure how much we could ultimately get, because the batteries will be in absorb or float mode for a few hours.