Sunpower 327 panels-are they available to us?

[offpist]

I actually have 30 Sunpower 327W panels on the way over here now, from ML-solar.
But i live in Norway, so that wont help you much.

It was the last they had on stock, but i guess they will get some more later.

[dirkdig]

Our new 327w X 3 panels from Floating Impressions in Aus


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[zboss]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Attachment 106288

Our new 327w X 3 panels from Floating Impressions in Aus


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What size are those panels?

[dirkdig]

Each panel is 1046mm X 1559mm
And about 46 mm deep


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[MikeFergie]

Originally Posted by zboss

What size are those panels?

I bought a 345w sun power 1565mm x 1050 panel in South Africa for my Leopard and am so happy with the results I have ordered another to match. I run this through a Victron blue solar Mppt controller. I will duplicate for redundancy and to help with adding the water maker etc


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[D&D]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Attachment 106288

Our new 327w X 3 panels from Floating Impressions in Aus

Good looking panels Peter! ...and we know they're hard-working as well!!

[zboss]

How many amps are you getting out of each panel?

[D&D]

Originally Posted by zboss

How many amps are you getting out of each panel?

Our MPPT controller is buried under an aft bunk such that we don't read the panel output directly...or at least not without all the effort of pulling that bunk apart. Instead, we read the net output on a Link battery monitor, i.e. what's going into the batteries after running whatever else is operating around the vessel. On a typical day at anchor [where there'd be 2 x frigs, a freezer, whatever 'office' equipment (typically 2 x computers and a printer) is running plus often an 8-speaker stereo] we'll see net positive amp readings from ~0800 -- It's winter here so short daylight hours -- to ~1600 and peaking ~20-30amps at midday...and that's drawing from 2 SunPower E20 panels.

[dirkdig]

Nearly finished


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[D&D]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Nearly finished Attachment 107052

Looking good...and heaps of headroom above the duckboard.

Where are the aft posts attached at the bottom?

[REsCat]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Nearly finished Attachment 107052


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That is a 1st rate, proper looking installation and this thread has enlightened me about the quality and efficiency of Sunpower panels and technology. I would like to know if you considered incorporating some articulating ability to catch better angles or was the size of the array a concern to allow that?

I have six older panels (10+years) mounted on my hardtop and they have performed flawlessly and are still in great shape as far as I can tell but they are 80Ws. I find myself often wishing I could tilt/angle them on those days of changing sun angles whether at anchor or under sail. Is this an important consideration or has newer technology made this less a factor.

I would like to add a couple of these in a different location, probably off the davits and would also try to make them articulate as I seem to be seeing more and more out there during our cruising.
Opinions?

Bob

[D&D]

Originally Posted by REsCat

That is a 1st rate, proper looking installation and this thread has enlightened me about the quality and efficiency of Sunpower panels and technology. I would like to know if you considered incorporating some articulating ability to catch better angles or was the size of the array a concern to allow that?

Yes, that is a very fine looking installation indeed. ...and we're very jealous of that extra panel, the result of using the 'north/south' orientation, something that only occurred to us in hindsight...

On the issue of articulating panels, we (and we understand dirkdig as well) elected for fixed panels, for two reasons...

1. The less moving parts, the better when it comes to exposure to the seas and long term wearability.
2. In any event, the vessel platform itself is inherently mobile and practically always in motion such that there must be only limited opportunities to track the sun from a fixed position on the decks.

So we went with effectively a horizontal installation, facing straight up, albeit with a ~10degree slope to assist water run off. Now after ~4yrs with that setup, we really can't think of any situations where we felt we missed anything by the panels being rigid...and we can think of plenty of situations underway in rough seas where we were pleased the panels WERE rigid!

[REsCat]

Originally Posted by D&D

So we went with effectively a horizontal installation, facing straight up, albeit with a ~10degree slope to assist water run off. Now after ~4yrs with that setup, we really can't think of any situations where we felt we missed anything by the panels being rigid...and we can think of plenty of situations underway in rough seas where we were pleased the panels WERE rigid!

I agree that all installations on an offshore cruising boat should be robust and able to meet the worst conditions.
We all know that when things get nasty the last thing you want to be worrying about is the boat or its equipment coming apart.
I am still going to explore 2 single panels with articulating mounts... as I have seen this on a number of Monos and had positive feedback from those that I was able to meet.
Thanks for the photos of both these great looking installs.

Bob

[dirkdig]

Just made up a bracket out of some flat stainless plate then got it polished.


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[D&D]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Just made up a bracket out of some flat stainless plate then got it polished.Attachment 107360