Hi

We just brought out boat in January and want to get some solar panels as well, but where to start? We’re planning to become liveaboards a little later in the year so our requirements will be different to yours, but any feedback is always useful so fingers crossed for some useful info.

NB Badger Sett said
Hi

We just brought out boat in January and want to get some solar panels as well, but where to start? We’re planning to become liveaboards a little later in the year so our requirements will be different to yours, but any feedback is always useful so fingers crossed for some useful info.

Hello Badger Set!

Please read my suggestions for Dianne (Just posted)  Much of what I said will be of interest to you.  When you have digested the info. do feel welcomed to come back with some of your aspirations and I would be only too pleased to pass on my firsthand knowledge, gained by being a 24/7 boater myself, together my previous electrical contracting hands on practices and fitting out my own boat

It’s a fantastic lifestyle on the canals and I would not consider bricks and mortar, as it would make me feel “Trapped”, not being able to change my location as and when I wanted.  The cameraderie is to be experienced – simply wonderful!

Regards, ~Allan~

Hi Allan

Thanks for the information and the offer of help.

We are due back over sometime in early August and have been planning to (but never getting round to) do a power audit. Once I’ve done this I’ll ping it over to you so you’ve got some specific info about the boat and our livestyle so you can try and best match a solution to us.

Good to have someone to help as whilst there is a lot of info on the Internet you’re still a bit uncertain of where to actually start.

Many thanks,

Keith

diannecollins said 

Hello lovely people we bought our boat in February, she was always kept in a Marina with an electric hook up , however we moved her colser to home and we now dont have a hook up. We are looking to put a solar panel on her to top up the batteries and hopefully the fridge but how big would we need it to be?? we dont live aboard and therefore we wouldnt need other power on . thanks in advance

 

Hello Dianne,

You ask the question “How Big?”

I’ll try ans answer your question for you.  I have to presume some facts that are not to hand.  The best way is to say that I am basing  my answer on my own Zannussi under the counter fridge/freezer

The fridge part is a standard 5.4cf refrigerator, (similar in size to a washing machine for size reference), and it has an extra door on the side 2/3rds the width of the fidge compartment.  It only has one motor and takes a litttle more energy because of the larger freezer area.  However this tends not to take much more if the freezer side is not opened frequently

Now we have explained the approximate consumption of my unit, I will carry on to answer your question, as best I can

Originally, I had 2 x 12-volt x 130-watt rated output, linked together, (Total 130-watt rated output with 12-volt panels)

My Solar Panel controller, (The important piece of equipment) was built into my “Powermaster” mains inverter (3000-watts rated).  This SP comtroller was not the most efficient, as is was a resistant type and consumes a small amount of enery

(Note; The best controllers are the new digital type but they are rather expensive!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I fitted 2 (two) 12-volt x 130-watt rated solar panels. I was not living on the boat at the time and these panels were large enough, (Even in spring and autumn with limited light hours and sunshine) to keep the batteries charged up enough to drive the mains inverter.  I had achieved the important way to keep my ‘fridge going when I was away, sometimes for a week or more!

This will be OK (Calculated on my own experience).  You do need batteries in serviceable condition (No weak cells) 

Regarding a controller, you need one of these to stop the batteries from overcharging in excellent sunshine, otherwise they may “boil” from overcharging and loosing distilled water.  In your case (Weekend and holiday use) a low cost controller should be satisfactory

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would like more detailed information on solar panels, have a “peep” at the following URLs

http://www.freesunpower.com/ch…..ollers.php (Look at Mppt Maximum Power Point Tracking paragraph)

http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk…..ators.html (This site will give you an idea of price)

(Note 1: 230-watts rated is capable of about 15-amps output, so a 20-amp controller should be OK – PMW-type)

(Note 2: If you decide on an MPPT type of regulator (Controller) you need a larger capacity, say 25-amp for MPPT-type)

(Note 2: If you think you might add more solar panels at a later date, it may be a lot cheaper to double up on the capacity)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a third option available; that is the same as my installation (Written about elsewhere)

You could buy 1 x 24-volt x190-watt output with a sophisticated controller, an American Tri-Star (45-amp rated).  This will take ANY input from an array of panels from 12-volt to 150-volt (To input of the Tri-Star).  It has amazing computing faclities an will automatically adjust the Tri-Star “OUTPUT” to the correct battery bank voltage.  It also has facilities to set the required voltage for your particular boat from a 12-volt installation, 24, 36 0r 48-volt installation.  Not only that but if you like statistics, it records the daily charge to the batteries for up to 3-months (I think).  It also has facilities to monitor the temperature of the batteries (In real time) and compensate for too hot, or too cold situations.

http://www.solarelectricsupply…..oller.html

This will take you to the TriSatr web-site, where you can read everything about this advanced equipment

(Current prices for the 45-amp version, is just under £600ukp) W-O-W !)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do hope I haven’t overloaded you with information – there is a great deal to digest!

If so, go back to para: Originally, I had 2 x 12-volt x 130-watt (And: Regarding a controller +Note 1)

This is a good arrangement if your pocket is not deep!

In my case, I upgraded to the 45-amp Tri-Star and 4 x 24v x 190-watt panels for a massive 1520 rated output if calculated at 12-volts.  In the sunshine, (With a high energy demand), living 24/7 on it, I need only run my engine about once every 3 days

to ensure a maximum charge by replacing the extra demand I put on my batteries

FYI: My new set-up was around £2000 and my pay-back time will be less than 2 years in fuel savings over that period

If diesel prices continue to rise, the pay-back time will be quicker!

Sincere regards, ~Allan~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS: If you want to read other related canal articles and interesting, subjects, (Click Here) and (Here for another interesting read). This will open in a new window, so that you can return to “Living on a Narrowboat” with one click!

23/07/12

admin said

songbird said
Hi

If you ever want professional advice on solar panels and how they meet your consumption needs try onboardsolar.com. Tim Davis is a great guy who really knows his stuff and would be happy to advise you. Just mention that Karen recommended him! He is easily found on the web.

Good luck

Hi Karen. Welcome to the forum.

Have you used this guy before for solar panels for your boat? What did you install and how have they performed?

I haven’t had any installed just passing on feedback from others!

We have three solar panels fitted giving a combined wattage of 240 watts. They are laid flat on the roof fixed into position. They are not movable as this makes them far to easy to remove! We have a MPPT controller. In the last four months or so we have put 3000+ Ah into our battery bank through the panels. We have significantly reduced the need to run the engine to charge the battery bank. The domestic battery bank is rated at 500Ah.Currently we are averaging throughout the period 26Ah per day into the battery bank form the solar panels.

I sourced all the items separately and the total outlay was just under £300.

We also changed all lights to LED and where possible all of our electrical items are 12volt. 12v/240v or 12v/240v/gas. The inverter is rated at 2000w and seems only to be used for the odd blast of the microwave or her hair dryer. The single biggest drain of the battery bank  is the Shoreline fridge. We also have a chest type fridge which is located in the front cratch area and runs on Gas and 240v via the inverter but only when the engine is running.

lyraboat said

NB Badger Sett said

NB Badger Sett said
Hi Allan

 

Thanks for the information and the offer of help.

 

We are due back over sometime in early August and have been planning to (but never getting round to) do a power audit. Once I’ve done this I’ll ping it over to you so you’ve got some specific info about the boat and our lifestyle so you can try and best match a solution to us.

 

Good to have someone to help as whilst there is a lot of info on the Internet you’re still a bit uncertain of where to actually start.

 

Many thanks,

 

Keith

 

Hi Allan

 

Not sure how to contact you directly, but hopefully you’ll pick this up.

 

Just back from a week on the boat and have done a power audit, but I’m sure I’ve gone wrong somewhere as it’s looking like I’d be using 100% of our batteries every day (We’ve got 4 x 110 batteries). I’ve taken some guesstimates to the extreme so can cut back, but not sure how far. Could you have a look at where I’ve got to so far and put me right if I’ve gone off track somewhere.

 

Power Audit (Winter)
Appliance	Power (Watts)	Hours per Day	Watt Hours per Day
Diesel Heating	42	2.00	84
Inverter		8.60	0
Lights		8.00	0
Water Pump	7.5	0.25	1.875
Fridge	0.55	12.00	6.6
Radio		4.00	0
Lap Top	65	1.00	65
Television	70	2.00	140
Blue Ray	25	2.00	50
Phone Charger		0.50	0
AA Batery Charger	7	3.00	21
Hoover	600	0.10	60
			0
			0
	Totals	43.45	428.475

 

Look forward to hearing from you.

 

Regards,

 

Keith

I think you’re mixing watts up with amps or amp/hrs. i may be wrong but I reckon your consumption is about 45 amps.

Bob

Hi Bob

Yes I realised my error as I subsequently found out (I think) that I needed to divide my final column above by 12 to get to the right figure and put my revised table below. Some of my figures still aren’t right, the fridge for example, but we’re due back over shortly so I’ll have another bash then.

I have four 100 watt panels supplied by Tim and am very pleased with their performance. Solar panels make a huge difference in the summer months to the extent I do not need to use the generator at all when moored at the bank side, sometimes for days on end, (and I run a 12v fridge and 12v freezer 24/7)!

I also upgraded to LED lighting throughout which gives a very worthwhile saving in power!

Ken

Matty Smith (http://oldfriendscanalservices…..weebly.com) fitted my 2 200w panels and did a very good job.  I tested while in boatyard before I started cruising and they kept my 4*110 batteries charged.  Total cost including MTTP controller £733 and could be a bit cheaper if you have time to buy the controller direct from China.