Solar Panel
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:39 pmHi want to fit a solr panel to my TopHat MK3. I want to put it on a bracket on the back railing, but everywhere I try sell flat panels NO BRACKETS available. I've seen load on photos can some one give me direction. Also what Wattage wold you recommend. Want to keep the bilge pump pumping on the mooring, thats about it. Have two patteries. THank Denis
Denis,
I have just fitted a 20W Suntech panel to my rear frame. Its made of 20mm square SS tubing, all bolted together. I had to angle it up a bit to clear the view of my stern light.
If you need details I can take some better photos this weekend.
Phillip
SEAKA
Steve,thats a big solar panel. I see from the photo of your boat that you constructed a frame for the panel at the backof the boat.Would love to know where /how you got that made up.
I'll probably go for a smaller panel, have seen photos with small panels attached toback of boat.
Rgds
Denis
G'day Denis,
The parts to make up the frame cost me about $270 back in August 2005, ( 12 mtrs of 22mm 316 SS tube, 2x T pieces, 2x 60°, Bolts & pop rivets, SS welding rods). I have a mate who is a Fitter and just happened to have a pipe bender. We made it up and welded it together ourselves. I bought the Suntech 115 watt solar panel at the same time which was $790 including freight from Tassie to Qld. I decided to go for a large panel as it is my only source of charging my 2 x 85 a/h deep cycle batteries.
My only regret is not using thicker tube so I could hang some davits off it for the inflatable dinghy
Steve
Windchaser
_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~
Seaka,
Like the photo, looks more like what I'm looking for. Wont be paying $700+ for a panel and dont have any friends to weld (sorry Steve). Seaka your setup looks interesting. I'll probably go for a 10/20w panel. Could you get some more photos ? Appreciate it. Thanks
Denis
Dennis,
I have added 4 photos to the 'How to do things' page.
When viewing the bmp zoom in to see the drawing .
I can't find my receipts but I'm sure you will get away
with less than $40.
Phillip
SEAKA
I have posted 2 pictures on the How To page of the setup on Tales. The barby mount clamp was pressed into service and a couple of bits of aluminium angle trimmed to suit. The best bit is that it can be angled instantly to face the sun (each tack if you wish) and it can be readily unclamped and stowed or repositioned on any of the stanchions should that be desirable.
Let me know if your need Whitworth part numbers or other details.
Tom
I found that the standard plastic rail mounts sold by Whitworths etc for a few bucks can be used with longer screws. From memory I also found that the nuts are the correct size to slide into the aluminium extrusion frame of the solar panel. So, with a bit of fiddling you can loosely mount the fitting without tightening the screws, slide the nuts into the aluminium frame then tighten up. The result is a pretty solid mounting that just by loosening the screws a bit can be moved or the panel taken off completely. I'll try to remember to take a close up next time I'm at the marina.
Regards
Col
Tom,
Had a loo at the photos you put up. Looks impressive. Would be great to get the part nos so as I can go into whitefords and get them. Have been in there a few times looking for something but never been happy with picking out pieces. Thanks for the help Denis
Col,
Would like to see photo as this sounds real simple, which is something I'm all on for. Thanks for the response.
Denis
Whitworths have the pullpit/stanchion mount bracket as "Magma BBQ Rail Mount". Two sizes available SKU 3140 or SKU 3137. The picture in their catalogue does not show a clip at the top which was on mine when I got it secondhand. You will also need a bolt, a couple of spacers and to make up the aluminium brackets from angle. Let me know if you need more detail.
The nuts that Col mentions would be very handy too. Col's solution is much simpler and very economical.
Tom
Tom / Col,
Thanks for the info guys. I'll be visiting Whitworths this weekend now that my regulator and panel have arrived.
Rgds
Denis
Hi Denis,
I remembered the camera! The mounting is even simpler than I said – I just used a couple of plastic pipe clamps from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bunnings</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> part. Need 2 ss 1.25” 3/8 or so screws with a couple of nuts on each. The plastic clamp is tightened by the first nut and then with a bit of jiggling the second nut fits snugly in the aluminium extrusion and that nut tightens on the extrusion. You can leave the nuts loosened and slide the panel in then tighten.
Regards
Col
Hi there!
Just wanted to share my experiences. When I bought my boat it was fitted with a larger (perhaps 10w) unregulated panel and a single deep cycle battery. I was constantly topping up a dry battery. With the benefit (expensive) of hindsight I was cooking the battery
I found the staff at our local "Battery Brokers" both helpful and practical in terms of explaining the why's and wherefore's of battery maintenance and charging and especially the advisability of having a regulator fitted to prevent daytimne overcharging and overnight discharging. I now have a 5w panel mounted (on the stern rail/pushpit; 7/8 in using 2 saddle clamps from Bias Boating; bold heads slide into the channel on the panel), running through a regulator keeping two (house/start) heavy duty sealed batteries charged. I am a weekend sailor with a 12 hp diesel without a crank start option; no fridge but autohelm; GPS; sounder and radio running.
You may want to consider two setups; a trickle charge small panel for maintenance and then plugging in the big panel during high use periods...
Happy boating
Doug
Doug, thanks for the advice. I'm fitting a 10w panel, but had purchased a regulator which I'll also fit to avoid cooking the batteries. Like you I only get out at weekends however I have an automatic bilge pump which kicks in now and again thus I want to top up the batteries.
Rgds
Denis
Denis,
I have just fitted a 20W Suntech panel to my rear frame. Its made of 20mm square SS tubing, all bolted together. I had to angle it up a bit to clear the view of my stern light.
If you need details I can take some better photos this weekend.
Phillip
SEAKA
Steve,thats a big solar panel. I see from the photo of your boat that you constructed a frame for the panel at the backof the boat.Would love to know where /how you got that made up.
I'll probably go for a smaller panel, have seen photos with small panels attached toback of boat.
Rgds
Denis
G'day Denis,
The parts to make up the frame cost me about $270 back in August 2005, ( 12 mtrs of 22mm 316 SS tube, 2x T pieces, 2x 60°, Bolts & pop rivets, SS welding rods). I have a mate who is a Fitter and just happened to have a pipe bender. We made it up and welded it together ourselves. I bought the Suntech 115 watt solar panel at the same time which was $790 including freight from Tassie to Qld. I decided to go for a large panel as it is my only source of charging my 2 x 85 a/h deep cycle batteries.
My only regret is not using thicker tube so I could hang some davits off it for the inflatable dinghy
Steve
Windchaser
_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~_/)~~
Seaka,
Like the photo, looks more like what I'm looking for. Wont be paying $700+ for a panel and dont have any friends to weld (sorry Steve). Seaka your setup looks interesting. I'll probably go for a 10/20w panel. Could you get some more photos ? Appreciate it. Thanks
Denis
Dennis,
I have added 4 photos to the 'How to do things' page.
When viewing the bmp zoom in to see the drawing .
I can't find my receipts but I'm sure you will get away
with less than $40.
Phillip
SEAKA
I have posted 2 pictures on the How To page of the setup on Tales. The barby mount clamp was pressed into service and a couple of bits of aluminium angle trimmed to suit. The best bit is that it can be angled instantly to face the sun (each tack if you wish) and it can be readily unclamped and stowed or repositioned on any of the stanchions should that be desirable.
Let me know if your need Whitworth part numbers or other details.
Tom
I found that the standard plastic rail mounts sold by Whitworths etc for a few bucks can be used with longer screws. From memory I also found that the nuts are the correct size to slide into the aluminium extrusion frame of the solar panel. So, with a bit of fiddling you can loosely mount the fitting without tightening the screws, slide the nuts into the aluminium frame then tighten up. The result is a pretty solid mounting that just by loosening the screws a bit can be moved or the panel taken off completely. I'll try to remember to take a close up next time I'm at the marina.
Regards
Col
Tom,
Had a loo at the photos you put up. Looks impressive. Would be great to get the part nos so as I can go into whitefords and get them. Have been in there a few times looking for something but never been happy with picking out pieces. Thanks for the help Denis
Col,
Would like to see photo as this sounds real simple, which is something I'm all on for. Thanks for the response.
Denis
Whitworths have the pullpit/stanchion mount bracket as "Magma BBQ Rail Mount". Two sizes available SKU 3140 or SKU 3137. The picture in their catalogue does not show a clip at the top which was on mine when I got it secondhand. You will also need a bolt, a couple of spacers and to make up the aluminium brackets from angle. Let me know if you need more detail.
The nuts that Col mentions would be very handy too. Col's solution is much simpler and very economical.
Tom
Tom / Col,
Thanks for the info guys. I'll be visiting Whitworths this weekend now that my regulator and panel have arrived.
Rgds
Denis
Hi Denis,
I remembered the camera! The mounting is even simpler than I said – I just used a couple of plastic pipe clamps from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bunnings</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> part. Need 2 ss 1.25” 3/8 or so screws with a couple of nuts on each. The plastic clamp is tightened by the first nut and then with a bit of jiggling the second nut fits snugly in the aluminium extrusion and that nut tightens on the extrusion. You can leave the nuts loosened and slide the panel in then tighten.
Regards
Col
Hi there!
Just wanted to share my experiences. When I bought my boat it was fitted with a larger (perhaps 10w) unregulated panel and a single deep cycle battery. I was constantly topping up a dry battery. With the benefit (expensive) of hindsight I was cooking the battery
I found the staff at our local "Battery Brokers" both helpful and practical in terms of explaining the why's and wherefore's of battery maintenance and charging and especially the advisability of having a regulator fitted to prevent daytimne overcharging and overnight discharging. I now have a 5w panel mounted (on the stern rail/pushpit; 7/8 in using 2 saddle clamps from Bias Boating; bold heads slide into the channel on the panel), running through a regulator keeping two (house/start) heavy duty sealed batteries charged. I am a weekend sailor with a 12 hp diesel without a crank start option; no fridge but autohelm; GPS; sounder and radio running.
You may want to consider two setups; a trickle charge small panel for maintenance and then plugging in the big panel during high use periods...
Happy boating
Doug
Doug, thanks for the advice. I'm fitting a 10w panel, but had purchased a regulator which I'll also fit to avoid cooking the batteries. Like you I only get out at weekends however I have an automatic bilge pump which kicks in now and again thus I want to top up the batteries.
Rgds
Denis