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Small ~ 5 watt solar panels any good ?

M

Mika

Jan 1, 1970
0
Are small ~ 5 watt solar panels any good for providing little charge
to prevent discharge of the battery when the boat is not used for a
week or two? Or should I get a bit larger panel in 10-15 watt range ?
Would you consider these small panels as just toys?

Expect to use the alternator to do most of charging when the engine is
running. Only one 60 Ah deep-cycle battery, used to start the engine,
log, depth, navigation and interior lights, radio etc. No power-hungry
appliances onboard our 27ft sailboat.

Panel would be in fixed position facing south, and being in latitude
60 degrees north we do get lots of sunshine in summer ;)

Thanks in advance for any comments!

Mike
 
G

Geoff Schultz

Jan 1, 1970
0
Are small ~ 5 watt solar panels any good for providing little charge
to prevent discharge of the battery when the boat is not used for a
week or two? Or should I get a bit larger panel in 10-15 watt range ?
Would you consider these small panels as just toys?

Expect to use the alternator to do most of charging when the engine is
running. Only one 60 Ah deep-cycle battery, used to start the engine,
log, depth, navigation and interior lights, radio etc. No power-hungry
appliances onboard our 27ft sailboat.

Panel would be in fixed position facing south, and being in latitude
60 degrees north we do get lots of sunshine in summer ;)

Thanks in advance for any comments!

Mike

My rule of thumb is that you get 1/2 of the rated capacity of a solar panel
when they're used to charge batteries. Thus you'll only get 2.5 watts,
which is for all intents and purposes, nothing. I'd go wild and crazy and
get a 10-15 watt unit.

-- Geoff
 
L

Larry

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'd go wild and crazy and
get a 10-15 watt unit.

He should really go wild and get an 80W panel! That would give him a few
amps all day, instead of milliamps....(c;

--
Larry

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