Josh, Like you my cruising is in and out of the channel, however with a bit more time to go, and some amazing full days soloing Halcyon I am considering few week long trips to and fro! And ... adding a few 100 watt flexible panels Did you do by chance do a youtube vid on that install process? Little confused by the 2 controllers? Well always confused By the boat bits but willing to try :) I have come a long way in 2 years. Thanks !!
John Conklin S/V Halcyon S/V Heartbeat www.flirtingwithfire.com On Sep 9, 2020, at 2:32 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I have experience but my panels are flexible and total 200w. I am also considerably further south in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. I have an Gensun MPPT-boost charge controller for each of the 2 panels. They are rated for a 105w panel but I think based on the angle of the solar impact and inefficiency of flexible panels I could have gotten away with 120w panels. Experience has shown that I can plan on about 50 Amp-hrs per circuit per day. 100 AHr per day into my 450 AHr flooded lead acid battery bank. The system has worked perfectly fine over this summer when I have had to abandon the boat away from shore power for more than 3 months. It really is not handling a big load. Nothing but the bilge pump. Every time I get on board I do check the battery voltage and it is always fully charged. I'm not sure that the solar is sufficient for running comms, navigation systems, lights, and fridge... Let alone just a fridge on a long term basis. My cruising habits include motoring into and out of port so the 100 amp alternator makes short work of topping up the batteries morning and night. Happy to answer any other questions you may have. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Wed, Sep 9, 2020, 13:28 Dave S via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote: Hello all, Need to replace my batteries and am contemplating an upgrade to Windstar's off-the-dock power system. Specifically evauating a battery upgrade and potential top-up-charging. Based on what I've read, a 100w panel would conservatively contribute 400-500w daily (average) in summer and be enough to help extend my "off the grid" time. I am on the North shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto area. Does anyone have any real-world data or experience with the actual charging capacity of a sailboat mounted solar panel? Would like to factor this into my decisions. Many thanks! Dave Windstar 33-2 https://cncwindstar.blogspot.com/2019/09/going-off-grid-charging-and-battery.html
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