| Marine solar power systems are becoming more | | | | Another aspect you should take note of is that there |
| popular among sailors not only because they can keep | | | | are different types of solar panels. Just to give an |
| lights and appliances running, but also because they are | | | | example: Solar panels manufactured using |
| quieter. The source of energy is also free and | | | | monocrystalline cells have high efficiency in generating |
| abundant. Installing a marine solar power system on | | | | electricity, and take up less space, but lack shade |
| your boat, however, is different from setting up a solar | | | | protection. Shade protection is the ability for the panels |
| panel for your home. Here we look at what you need | | | | to continue generating electricity even in shaded |
| to look out for. | | | | environment. This feature is important especially for |
| There are many pre-packaged marine solar power | | | | sailboats. Marine solar power systems using |
| systems in the market. If you are just starting out and | | | | polycrystalline cells also have high efficiency, uses |
| have some cash to spare, do yourselves a favor and | | | | even less area, but still lack shade protection while |
| go for these instead of being adventurous and try to | | | | panels using amorphous silicon cells have lower |
| DIY the first time. However, if your boat design | | | | efficiency, uses more area, but do have shade |
| requires that you do a customized job, then you have | | | | protection. |
| no choice. | | | | Most marine solar power systems come with a |
| Even when you are buying the system | | | | mounting kit to secure the system. Some kits are |
| off-the-shelves, there are things you need to be | | | | flexible types that can be attached to canvases or |
| aware of. Firstly, you will need to ascertain the amount | | | | decks while the rest are hard ones are only suitable |
| of electric power (watt) you need. Just simply make a | | | | for decks. Most kits will have these components: solar |
| quick note of all the power consumption of your lights | | | | panels to collect photons from sunlight and produce a |
| and appliances and add them together. This can be | | | | charge, charge controller to regulate the charging of |
| done by taking note of the total amps you need | | | | batteries and prevent overcharging, and batteries to |
| multiplied by the number of hours it will be running. | | | | store the charges supplied by the panels. The system |
| Divide this number by 2 to get the wattage you need. | | | | generates 12 Volt DC current. If you need to power |
| After that, multiply the wattage by $20. This is a rough | | | | devices that require AC power, add an inverter to the |
| estimate to tell yourselves how big a system you | | | | marine solar power system. This is usually sold |
| need which also translates to how much it is going to | | | | separately. |
| cost you. | | | | |