[C320-list] Solar Install

[RC - Compass Marine Services]

For what you want to do this is very likely going to require a fairly large
array, 200 +/- watts plus a controller and some large wire...

First you really ought to install a battery monitor such as the Victron
BMV-600 so you have a good idea of your average daily consumption. Without
knowing that you are playing pin the tail on theDonky or shooting darts
blindfolded. You can very easily spend more than the money of a battery
monitor in an over or under-designed system because you did not know what
you were designing to or for.

Once you know your average daily consumption in Ah you can design a system
that will fully meet your demands, slightly exceed your demands, which
means actual recharging + use, or under-designed which means it supplements
a portion but you'll still need to run the engine every so often.

-RC

Feel free to read this: Installing A Marine Solar
Panel<http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_panel>


On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 4:17 PM, Trudi <trudid at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Hello everyone, I'm new to the group and a new Catalina 320 owner.
> Catalina 320 Hull 212, 1994  in Marina del Rey, CA
>
>
> I'm interested in hearing from any of you who have installed solar
> panels.
> In checking past threads I found one in 2010.  There was a comment by Mike
> Ott who has a similar set up to mine.  I want to install the panel (panels)
> on the Bimini and I have the 'cigarette lighter' plug at the instruments.
> I would like to; run the refrigerator, keep the batteries charged and and
> iPad while at a mooring on Catalina for a couple of weeks.
> Any idea suggestions on how many Watts I would need ?
>
> Thank you
> Trudi D
>
>


-- 
-RC