[C320-list] Solar panels on bimini

[John morrison]

Are you using the Gemini side Jaw clamps to mount the panels to your Davits? This is what I used. They are ’spendy’ but, work and look great!
JEM
1999#574
> On Mar 6, 2019, at 6:34 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Bruce,
> I am interested in your pics too.
> 
> Same size panels just sounds right but I have no thoughts on that part.
> 
> 
> I am about 2 weeks away from mounting my (2) new Regony 100W solar panels on my new Martek dinghy davits as well.  Darn mounting hardware costs more than the panels.
> 
> 
> FWIW I will be mounting them in parallel with (2) BlueSky SB1524  controllers and a shunt Pro Remote display so I can monitor/measure everything.  I went with 2 separate panels because of personal preference.  As I understand it you could place 2 panels in series to provide higher voltage in partial shading but at lower currents.  I just decided to have 2 setups to allow redundancy in case one panel is partially shaded.  It does mean that I needed (2) controllers instead of (1) which was  extra cost and more cables.  According to Bluesky multiple controllers should not "trip over" each other.  Most products are Diode protected to prevent issues and 2 Bluesky controllers create a little "network" because they have a leader and follower setting so only one of them is in control.  Also they also have a central "control" through the Pro-Remote.
> 
> 
> Somebody I trust combined their 2 panels to get higher voltage during partial shading.  The theory is that with the higher voltage you would at least "most of the time" have enough voltage to get "something" going onto your batteries during partial shading.  You need a high enough voltage to get "anything" going into your batteries.  So... (I think) is it more personal preference for series or parallel.  Either way has pros and cons. IMHO
> 
> 
> If you do put them in series (I think) there is a way to set them up to allow the first panel to NOT impede the second panel from working full strength.  I think there a diodes in place for some panels that would allow the second panel to "get around" the first panel if needed.  I did not look too deep into that since I wanted 2 independent panels.
> 
> 
> Shading should not be a common thing for me though, unless the sun is directly in front of the boat and the mast creates shadow. Even in her home slip it is a long private dock with no trees around and faces Northerly direction.
> 
> 
> Again, FWIW.... If I had it to do again I might go with even larger panels?  Not sure yet but the panels I rough fitted could be larger without affecting the space above the davits very much.  I am good with what I chose but I don't have them mounted yet....
> 
> 
> Keep us informed with what you decide and why.  I am interested in all ideas.
> Food for thought and I am always hungry.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185
> 
> 
>    On Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 6:53:42 PM EST, Bruce Stanley <brucestanley36 at gmail.com> wrote:  
> 
> Scott
> I have sent you (surprise at thompson87.com <mailto:surprise at thompson.com>) 5 detailed jpg photos showing my 2x80watt Solar Panels on my Bimini.
> I searched the C36 Owners site and was sent this design.
> 
> Regards
> Bruce Stanley / Sydney Australia
> 2006 C36 (previous C320 #1084)
> 
>> On 6 Mar 2019, at 9:55 am, Stephen Cox <scox at timmin.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> However, I've been warned that I shouldn't put different 
>>> sized panels in series -- that the power will be limited by 
>>> the smallest panel if I do
>>> -- and that it's not a good idea to wire panels in series in 
>>> any case because a shadow on one panel reduces the output of 
>>> the other two as well. 
>> 
>> Putting them in series will in deed only pass as much current as the smallest
>> can provide at any given time and shadow on any panel will effect the total
>> throughput in the same manner.
>> 
>>> These same sources suggest that a 
>>> better way to do it is to wire a separate charging circuit 
>>> for each panel, meaning three MPPT controllers and three 
>>> cables running up the backstay to the bimini. I'd rather keep 
>>> it simpler. Does anyone have any thoughts about the best 
>>> approach here? 
>> 
>> There is a possibility that three controllers would trip over each other when
>> trying to work out if the battery is charged and hence you not get as good a
>> charge rate as you might expect.  Others may care to comment on that.
>> 
>> Certainly I would go for three equal sized panels and just the one controller
>> to keep it simple if I was doing it.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Stephen Cox
>> Tegwen #1141 
>> 
>