There's no urgency to buy yet as Jubilee has mains readily available to keep the batteries charged. (I've just thought: the starter battery probably needs charging as the boat hasn't gone anywhere for a few weeks.)
I'm keeping my eyes open though, as I will be wanting to fit one or more solar panels ready for when we get the boat back for our own use.
8 comments:
Pictures are telling a lot. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks
solar panel systems
Hi
Most inverter chargers put a float charge across the start battery - does yours?
Cheers
Bruce
Go-for-it, did you mean to say 2 x 130W panels? (Ampere-hours are a measure of battery capacity.) I'll look up the link you gave.
Bruce, the device fitted to Jubilee is a three- or four-stage battery charger (like a car battery charger) connected across the domestic battery bank only. It's not a combined "inverter/charger".
I'd really recommend the stick-on panels, over the framed version.
Although they can't be angled towards the sun, they are effective in low light or shade (if you by ones with bypass diodes) and they become part of the roof that can be walked on - all you have to do is to clean them occasionally! They're also much harder to nick, as the glue is pretty good.
Thanks for that, James.
I have written about our Solar on my blog at http://skippy.org.uk/solar-power-on-boats/
Skippy, thanks. I've had a good look at your blog - lots of interesting stuff there with some useful links. (I'm afraid much of the computerspeak goes over my head, though!)
Some boat owners nowadays are installing solar panels to save on energy costs. And one of the greatest advantages of using solar panels is that solar energy comes from the sun, which is absolutely free. Anyway, if you install solar panels on your boat someday, try having a humidifier; it can help maintain the solar panels’ effectiveness, even under changing weather.
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