Solar Power Installation . . .

[tpenfield]

I have mentioned wanting to install solar charging to keep the (7) batteries fresh while the (CY 338) boat sits on its mooring. Today I hooked everything up (using the Whaler as a work surface) for some testing, although it was a cloudy day. The system seems to work OK, considering the lack of direct sunlight.

100 Watt Solar Panel
10 Amp regulator
3 Bank battery isolator
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Through clouds it was getting 13.2 volts and 900 Milliamps (0.9a) onto a battery that was resting at 12.4 volts, so a bit low.

I'm going to give it a fun sun test (whenever the sun comes out) and see what it looks like.

The 100 watts (peak) should be plenty to spread across the 7 batteries in 3 banks on my boat. Installation may be a bit tricky . . . got to figure out a good way to mount the solar panel to the arch.

 

[alldodge]

The panel looks a bit larger for the Arch. Might think about another location, Maybe on the morning cover

 

[tpenfield]

The panel looks a bit larger for the Arch. Might think about another location, Maybe on the morning cover

The arch (and associated soft top) is big . . . maybe 9 ft wide and 4 ft deep. It should be enough space.

 

[tpenfield]

After some more testing, I am seeing that the Renogy Voyager regulator does not play nicely with the Victron Energy ARGOFET isolator.

The Voyager seems to want feedback from the battery, and probably not passing through the FET's.

I might have to get a different isolator.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pick a single battery to charge for the feedback. Then use a DC to DC charger to bump the voltage and feed the other batteries

 

[Scott Danforth]

Something like this. https://www.renogy.com/12v-60a-dc-t...UcQCIyBKttThssHVTtmdu4S8Y5lYVIJRoCa-cQAvD_BwE

 

[Horigan]

I would suggest a Victron DC DC charger. You don't need 60A and they are smaller and less expensive. I have this on my 30 foot boat. The Orion Smart version can be configured and controlled with you phone via app and Bluetooth.

 

[alldodge]

Not to sure a dc/dc would work. Takes power to run and just how much is not specified. How much of the 100 watt (on a sunny day max) would be used to produce enough to charge the others.

Understand its being powered from the single Bat that is being charged by solar panel, but anything above the 100W is draining it. So how much can be obtained before it has to stop so Bat can be rechanged

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, 100W max is not much for 7 batteries. That is a bit over 1A each in full sunlight. Can you increase the wattage?

What was the cost of the system?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Agree with Chris that 1 panel may not be enough

The 60 amp is what shows up immediately with my renogy Google search for DC to DC chargers

I know that renogy also has a line of DC to DC chargers you can plug their solar chargers directly into them along with input from the alternator

DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT

Introducing the RBC50D1S, harnessing MPPT solar charging and starter battery charging to provide rapid replenishment for house batteries. Equipped with multiple electronic protection mechanisms, it ensures optimal energy utilization without compromising the vehicle's starter battery.

www.renogy.com

@tpenfield you have some research to do

 

[tpenfield]

Quick update. . .

The ArgoFET just needs the battery input to activate the transistors (FET)

I have another modification that I’m going to try- it should all be good.

The 100 watt is for battery maintenance (trickle charge) not for charging. That’s what the engines do.

 

[tpenfield]

Quick Update . . .

I think I have it sorted out. The AFGOFET wants to see some sort of voltage input (energize) to activate the FET's. The documentation shows the device being used in conjunction with an alternator and ignition switch.

I did get the system to work by using the battery as the 'energize' input, but I did not want to have a constant battery load (albeit small). Instead I switched some wiring around so now the ARGOFET isolator energizes from the solar panel. That way everything will turn 'off' at night.

My 'test' battery (on the Whaler) is having some issues of its own. So, I'll see what I can get at the local stores today and give it another test to make sure all is good.

 

[tpenfield]

At full sun I am getting 14.5 volts and about 4.0 amps into a 12 volt battery. (58 watts net)

Next steps would be to do a test install on the boat to see what things look like with 7 (seven) batteries, spread across 3 banks.

I should be getting about 80 watt-hours per battery each day while the boat sits on its mooring. Of course now that I am semi-retired, the boat may not go unattended for long.

 

[tpenfield]

A few pics from today . . .

I got the Whaler running (aka my solar system test platform) . . . it turned out that some wiring in the engine had corroded beyond recognition and it would not crank/start. So I replaced some of the wiring.

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My test bed is an engine with alternator running, starting, stopped, etc.

Full sun . . .

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Amps look good.

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Tomorrow, I'll set it up in the big boat for some testing.

 

[elsaylor]

good stuff my man i just did a single 100ah battery in a box with a renogy 10amp controller and a 10w panel for a deer feeder. it runs a minnkota 40.
after 3 days of fishing ive decided im going to a 100w/5a panel like yours myself.

 

[Chris1956]

10 watts? Gee, can anyone spell generator? For the price of the solar panel alone, you can get a nice quiet compact one.

It will be much better for charging up trolling motor batteries after a day of fishing, as it don't care if the sun don't shine, and works at night too.

 

[elsaylor]

10 watts? Gee, can anyone spell generator? For the price of the solar panel alone, you can get a nice quiet compact one.

It will be much better for charging up trolling motor batteries after a day of fishing, as it don't care if the sun don't shine, and works at night too.

Mod Edit

10watts was too small i said in my post im going to a 100watt panel like OP.

 

[Chris1956]

100 Watts is a bit over 8 amps with full sunshine. If your trolling batteries are depleted you will need 10 hours of average sunshine to charge them. You can therefore fish every other day, if the weather cooperates. Is that your plan?

 

[tpenfield]

100 Watts is a bit over 8 amps with full sunshine. If your trolling batteries are depleted you will need 10 hours of average sunshine to charge them. You can therefore fish every other day, if the weather cooperates. Is that your plan?

Actually . . . I buy fish at the store. What trolling batteries ???

The system is for battery charge maintenance, not full charging. Although given enough time it probably could.

I'm also thinking the solar panel could maintain charge over the winter, if I put a 'window' of some sort in the boat cover.

 

[Chris1956]

Mt comment was for elsaylor who jumped your thread. He wants to recharge trolling motor batteries with your system.