Solar Energy
Since purchasing our LRC and having cruised it now for about 10 months I have
learned that if it has any fault it is in it's power consumption. I have not
done any detailed study of the matter but the simple fact is that we consume
about 400-600 amp hours a day from the invertor bank, energy that must be
replaced. This has resulted in having to run the generators about 6 hours a
day just to recharge the battery bank. Given current diesel prices and wear
and tear on the gen-sets, it is easy to calculate that we are spending around
$400-$500 per month to produce this energy while on the anchor.
Therefore, I am considering installation of either a solar panel array or
possibley a wind-generator to supplement. Actually, I am way in favor of a
solar array as wind-generators are not only noisey, but are totally reliant on
having enough wind to make them effective.
Lacking space to mount an adequate solar array at present I am thinking of
replacing my existing Bimini top with what I will refer to as a "pipe welder"
style top. This would consist of a solid frame of perhaps 2" diameter
stainless pipe with one of those Biminis that is I think of a vinyl material
that is laced to the frame. I would have it designed in a fashion to support
an array of solar panels and I would have over 72 square feet of space
available for the panels, so getting a system to provide a minimum of 400 amp
hours a day should be quite easy.
I would like to hear comments from those with any experience in this and also
am interested if anyone knows a good source in the SE USA to have such work
performed?
Thanks,
Jim Alexander
Jim & Others,
We have had five Kyocera 120 watt panels onboard for about four years
they work so good that we have just added two more Kyocera 120 watt panels.
We had used all of our open space that we had. Then we took a look around
and came up with the idea of installing some more under the Dinghy. We only
need them when we are at anchor usually so this is an ideal spot to add some
more capacity we get around 220 amps on an average day. The further south
you go you will most likely get more output.
We are using a Trace C60 controller but now there are some better choices
just look around at some of the solar sites. I like Northern Arizona Wind &
Sun they seem to have the best prices on the net.
You also ask about wind power, we had a Four Winds wind Generator on
our last Sail boat that we cruised on. I would also like to add one of these
to our boat as it really charges not like some that are only a trickle
charger. So if you look at these look very hard at the out put and you will
know what will work and what will not.
Most people that I know that do not like there wind generator's have those
small multi blade type that really do not put out very much current. Good
luck you will love your system, we added an amp hour meter to our system and
it showed that we paid for our system after three years so the way I see it
we are making money!
Andrew & Linda Fraser
M/V KAISOOBA N46
N6ZPK N6ZPL
On another list, I was told that Kyocera has gone out of business. This
might be an opportunity to buy their panels at closeout prices.
Ron Rogers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew & Linda Fraser" afraser@flash.net
|
| We have had five Kyocera 120 watt panels onboard for about four years
| they work so good that we have just added two more Kyocera 120 watt
panels.
On another list, I was told that Kyocera has gone out of business. This
might be an opportunity to buy their panels at closeout prices.
If that is true, it is certainly not apparent from their website:
global.kyocera.com/
www.kyocerasolar.com/
Which include very recent press releases on new solar energy products, or
from a search on google news for the terms "kyocera solar".
Best,
Steve
Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
sdubnoff@circlesys.com
At 09:14 AM 3/20/2005 -0500, James Alexander wrote:
snip> but the simple fact is that we consume
about 400-600 amp hours a day from the invertor bank<snip
Jim, My little 42 LRC uses 200-250 amp hours in a 24 hour day at anchor.
This includes running the gen set if we cook and I usually cook breakfast
at least, which would run the gen set for half an hour or so. We charge by
running the gen set at dinner time to cook and charge. The best charge I've
been able to get off my SW2512 inverter is 120 amps to the 880 amp bank of
AGMs. All the numbers seem to work out as it generally takes about 2 hours
to charge.
I run a Sears 21' frig. ice maker, lights, TV, and use the coffee maker and
microwave. All 110v lights on Skooch are florescent. One of the largest
overnight draws is the anchor light which I will change this spring to LED.
It draws about 3-4 amps all night so that makes 40-50 amp hours right there.
I have solar power on my house near Philly. I have 4800 watts of panels and
last year they produced 5123 KW hours of power to the house. The farther
south you are the better these results will be. And it is very important
that they point at the sun. Laying flat will degrade their performance
significantly. For example in the winter on a sunny day I get about 2/3s
the power output of the panels than on a summers day where the angle of the
sun is closely matched to the angle of my panels.
Still my little LRC can also get about 700 sq ft of panels on the hardtop.
As we plan our Bahamas cruise in a year or so I too am thinking solar.
Skooch has a pipewelders hardtop with cloth laced on. My two biggest
concerns are cost and weight. Keep me posted as you find out more info.
Skooch Hatteras LRC 42
New Bern NC
David Stahl
Beacon Technologies Inc.
Serving The Delaware Valley
Business and Residential Internet Services