Solar Sailing
Boat Panels for Solar Energy Collection are no different than residential panels
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Our Solar Sailing page provides information to boaters of all genres on powering electronics with solar energy.
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Even if you have an engine the benefits of using solar on a boat are undeniable.
- Saves fuel
- Reduces engine hours
- Blessed silence for you and your neighbors
- No smelly fumes
- No moving parts to fail
The number and size of solar panels required depends on how much electricity a boat uses.Throw in variables like geographic location, time of year and individual electricity requirements and the issue can become very confusing.
Rather than speculate on some imaginary boat in an imaginary location we'll look at our boat, "Pacific Jade", located on Mexico's Pacific Coast. We'll add some other boats and their systems over the next few months to help you make comparisons.
Pacific Jade is a 41 foot ketch with the following equipment on board.
- Auto helm
- Water maker
- Water and bilge pumps
- CD player/radio
- Lights (for reading and navigation)
- SSB radio
- VHF radio
- Depth sounder
- GPS
- Numerous fans
- Lap top computer
Although we have a microwave, air conditioner, toaster and electric coffee maker on board we only use them when plugged in at a marina which is as seldom as possible.
Pacific Jade's Solar Sailing System
- 320 watts of solar panels
- 3 - 12 volt batteries, Trojan deep cycle.
- Charge Controller - Flexcharge NC25A/12
- Inverter
- Link Monitor
- Assorted wire and fittings
The solar panels are
2 Kyocera 85 watts each
2 Siemens 75 watts each.
An inverter is required only if you wish to convert the power to 110. Since the panels produce 12V power any 12V equipment can be run without conversion. The link monitor provides information regarding amps, volts, etc. that the system is making but is not entirely necessary.
Numerous factors will influence how many watts of power are required for a given vessel such as
- Electrical equipment on board
- Where the boat is located
- Time of year (sun's angle)
- Air temperature (If using refrigeration)
- Water temperature (If using refrigeration)
The closer you are located to the equator the more of the sun's rays strike the panels. This obviously translates into more power production per panel. Also the panels collect and convert more of the sun's energy into power when the sun is high overhead (from 1000hrs to 1500 hrs. (10am to 3pm)
Our refrigerator uses about 7 amps per hour and is by far the most demanding of our appliances.
The darn thing works so well that we hate to change it but if it so much as burps it will promptly be replaced with the most energy efficient model available.
Also, most of our halogen bulbs will be replaced with LED clusters which use about one quarter the power while providing a better, whiter, light.
Available at Binnacle.com.
We could, of course, eliminate the need for energy all together by going hard core and ridding ourselves of energy using appliances and electronics but we have no wish to do that.
A chilled cocktail and relaxing tune in the cockpit at days end are important to us and this is supposed to be fun after all. Also I need power to run my computer so that I can keep you informed.
Ebay is a good place to purchase panels (the newer the better) for solar sailing. Expect to pay around $350.00 per 85 watts for new panels.
Happy Solar Sailing
