| If you moor your boat on the hard, on a trailer, or on | | | | Regardless of the panel size you decide to go with, |
| the water at a marina you may have been confronted | | | | make absolutely certain that you have a minimum of |
| with having a dead battery when you turned the key | | | | 33 cells. Fewer than 33 cells will be insufficient to |
| to start the engine. And it always seems to happen | | | | charge the batteries. If cruising in an area where |
| when you have perfect boating weather with calm | | | | cloudy days seem to outnumber the cloudless ones, |
| seas. A battery charger comes in pretty handy for | | | | you may want to research thinner filmed panels |
| times like these as it can keep a floating charge to | | | | versus the normal crystalline ones as this type deal |
| keep the batteries topped off. With marine solar | | | | better with low light conditions. |
| panels you can avoid these situations as they are a | | | | Mount the panels in an area that will be allow them |
| environmentally practical choice to maintain a full | | | | direct access to the suns rays keeping in mind that as |
| charge on your batteries. | | | | the boat moves (especially on anchor) you want to be |
| As a rule of thumb, marine batteries dissipate an | | | | able to angle the panels accordingly to maintain |
| average of 1% of their charge on a daily basis | | | | contact with the sun. Usually this would be the highest |
| dependent upon the weather conditions. So in order to | | | | point on the boat like radar arches or rigged to sail |
| maintain a float charge on the battery, a 100-amp | | | | masts. I have however seen a number of deck |
| battery would require a solar energy system that | | | | mounted installations but keep in mind that the panels |
| would be capable of 1 amp/day output. | | | | do produce heat so leave room enough under the |
| Since a solar power system is actually rated in watts, | | | | panels so that the heat can be dissipated. |
| to figure output amps, simply divide the wattage rating | | | | Wire it all together with marine-graded wire. The |
| of the panels by 15. So a typical 5-watt panel would | | | | positive (+) terminal from the panel will connect to the |
| give you a maximum output of .33 amps a day. | | | | positive battery post and consequently the negative |
| Because of the fact that the highest rate output | | | | (-) terminal from the panel to the negative post |
| occurs when the sun is directly overhead, expect an | | | | on the battery. Although panels with a max output of |
| average rated output of about 5 hours a day. Thus, | | | | no more than 1% of the battery power do not require |
| the 5-watt panel would give approximately 1.65 amp | | | | a regulator, I would certainly advise for a regulator as a |
| hours (5 x 0.33). | | | | precaution and give you peace of mind when the boat |
| When designing a system for your boat, use 3.5 watts | | | | is unattended. Essential will be an in-line fuse that is |
| per 100 amp hours of battery capacity taking into | | | | close to the battery this would protect against a short |
| account cloudy days as well as running essential | | | | and prevent potential fires. If your boat has both a |
| systems like bilge pumps if you are in the water. As | | | | starter and house bank, you can have a solar electrical |
| with normal battery maintenance, check your water | | | | system that is dedicated for each one wired |
| level regularly! | | | | separately. |