Solar Panel Survey

[Vipersdad]

I would like to find out what different solar panels people are currently using on their 19's.

Brand, Size, and Mounting location, etc.

V.

[marc]

I use a 10 watt Sunforce model 37001
http://www.sunforceproducts.com/results.php?key=37001&button.x=0&button.y=0&button=Submit
and a SunGuard SG 4 controller
http://www.emarineinc.com/products/SunGuard-SG4.5--4.5A%7B47%7D12V-charge-controller.html

I keep the panel in a cockpit locker and pull it out when the battery is low and I'm heading home for the day. Then I just leave it on the cockpit sole. My load is usually limited to the chartplotter and occasionally running lights too. Probably had to charge up about every 3 to 4 weeks. When I return to the boat a couple or three days later, the battery is good.

This past year I used a multimeter to check the battery. This coming year I'm going to be using this plug in meter.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-24V-Digital-Red-LED-Auto-Car-TRUCK-SYSTEM-V-Voltmeter-Gauge-Voltage-Meter-/400569759854?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d43d1786e

I'll just have it plugged into my accessory plug. The plug has its own on/off switch at the electrical panel so when I want to check the battery, I'll just flick the switch and get a reading.

Hope this helps.
Marc

[Koinonia]

Ive seen a 50w panel on ebay with a charge controller for around 200 dollars which Im very curious about.   I can say that on my 27 the 135w Kyocera is overkill but at the same time its nice to never have to worry about power.   Thats with watching a movie, refrigeration, lights, and fans running.   If I was cruising full time there is enough power to run a water maker for about 4 to 6 hours a day with that thing since I have always been fully charged by 11am even on the cloudy rainy mornings.   I dont have power where Im docked so this is nice to have cold beers onhand all the time.  Recently I just purchased a hunter 31 as a project and will most likely put the 50 watt on it and mount it on the pushpit.  Most likely I will use a victron battery monitor again as well.

[skip1930]

Don't do this. [What I did] Save your shekels.
19 volts at 300 milli amps on a sunny day. Harbor Freight.
No control ... watch that the electrolyte [water] that covers the battery cells.
The cell man'f. ? Unknown. The size? Same size as the fwd hatch on a CP-19. [see picture on other post]
Not enough charge to keep up with two days of continuous use of a chart plotter.
Battery West Marine Deep cell, 500 C.
Not putting any more money into a change. [guys in Washington is taking too much of my money]


" sounds as though you have some personal experience with the Harbor Freight panels. " -->Not really. Just didn't know what I bought when I bought it. So 19 v 300 ma? <-- Like peeing into the ocean to make it overflow. Ain't gonna happen.

A 50 watt panel at 12 volts = 4.16666666 amps. Amps are what we use I think. My 300 ma at 12 volts doesn't make it.

skip.

[Koinonia]

sounds as though you have some personal experience with the harbour freight panels. 

[fasteddie]

I have a solar charger that was on the boat when I got it, keeps my battery charged all summer, runs cabin lights and depth finder, always  shows at least 10 volts, even has an outlet for shorepower