I have very similar (consistent) results, even though I am much further north (45 °).
I have a 24 W panel and I get a maximum charging current around 1.1 -1.3 A. My maximum charge per day is much less, but my batteries are never that empty. I think that the maximum I ever saw was just under 10 Wh in a day. This is certainly enough to keep the batteries healthy. My solar panel is a flexible one that I put on the bimini. There is always some shading (a least, the backstay), so the efficinecy is not the best. This is with an older model of Morningstar, but it has a digital charge monitor, so it tells you what is (and was) going on with the solar charging. If you use refrigeration or generally, have big power budget and big batteries, you need much more solar power (150 W or more). Marek Ottawa, ON From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley via CnC-List Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2016 14:02 To: C&C List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar panels Genasun is pretty much the agreed best engineered MPPT controller though they don't do higher current. They have varying options for battery chemistry and wattage. If genasun is what you use then you'll basically have to plan on one controller per panel which is great for reliability and redundancy but may not be so good on your pocket book. They also don't have digital volt/amp/watt outputs so you'll probably want to look at getting one. Genasun also offers a boost feature which allows a solar panel that outputs less than the battery voltage to charge the battery. Otherwise you'll have to ensure the panel voltage is greater than battery voltage and they won't start/stay charging in the morning or in the evening. Just to talk numbers for a minute. My experience is that a 100 watt monocrystaline flexible panel mounted horizontally at a geographic latitude of 38° yields a max of 66 watts in the peek summer sun. I get about 4 or 5 amps peek charge current but only at peek sun. IIRC I get a cumulative ~900 watt-hours per day. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD
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