Re: solar cells

BGN5731@aol.com
Sat, 20 Feb 1999 15:31:17 EST


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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In a message dated 2/19/99 12:56:50 PM Central Standard Time,
tbodine@seasick.sps.mot.com writes:

>
>
> I'm wondering about solar cells. I have the Class 24 style battery
> that came with the 98 P-19 package.
> www.jademountain.com has
> (PV184) 17 watt, 1.1 amp framed (24.9" x 10.8") $208.00
> Battery Maintenance (5W panel ) (PS3921) $108.00
>
> I.M. has a .5w flexible panel for $220.00
>
> Now I read somewhere that the Siemens panels are durable, but a
> flexible panel is nice if you have to walk where it's placed.
>
> OTH I might be able to place that Solar cell someplace where
> I don't walk.
>
> Power requirements will be Cell phone, which I haven't bought
> Wide 128 Depth finder, VHF (don't have yet), Garmin GPS, and
> anchor light.
>
> While on my trip along the Texas coast, I'll probably be using
> the Depth finder & GPS fulltime, VHF sometimes, the anchor
> light all night.
>
> Suggestions about battery sizing, Cell sizing and placement
> requested.
>
>
> # Regards Tom Bodine @
> # Skipper "Frimi" P-19 #1019 ,-+-'

Tom, I'm no expert on solar panels but since no one else has responded to your
request I'll give my opinion. It appears you will have a challenge getting
the amperage you need with a 17 watt solar panel. A boat is a difficult place
to mount a solar panel because even a little shade on the panel will greatly
reduce its amp output.

With the equipment you listed I guessamated that your daily amperage
requirement would be 23.0 amps. Even if the 17 watt panel would produce 1.1
amps for 15 hours a day, you would be only receiving 16.5 amps daily. I
personally believe that you would more likely receive about .55 amps per hour
over a 15 hour period, for a total of 8.25 amps daily. And that's with the
sun shinning daily with no cloud coverage.

Other sources for solar products: Sunlight Energy Corp. 1-800-338-1781 and RV
Solar Electric 1-800-999-8520 They have free catalogs.

Good luck,

Bill Nolen
Potterless