[C320-list] Alternator upgrade

[kskis at aol.com]

Jack:  Thank you for this solar advice!  Neil Kornblatt  Harmony #973


-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 27, 2020 9:31 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Alternator upgrade

Victron and Renogy both make very good MPPT controllers. I would stay away from any no-name solar products on Amazon as well as all PWM controllers, which are cheap but not nearly as efficient. 

Victron is regarded as a top-notch maker of electronics (I have an inverter). The MPPT solar controller is a little pricey compared to competitors, mostly because you have to buy a dongle that connects to your cell phone to give you data.

The Renogy (I have the MPPT and a Renogy panel) is also regarded as very good. It works fine for me. It is a little big, but has an LCD display that gives you plenty of settings and the opportunity to fine tune them.

A final observation is that I found the rigid panels to be more durable and efficient that the semi-flexible ones that are popular. My semi-flexible Renogy went bad after about 18 months, mostly due to weather-related abuse, and put out fewer amps than the rigid Renogy I now have.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.





Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: P.F. Ross
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 12:05 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Alternator upgrade

Neil, you and I are in a similar boat!

As the next step in my multi-year electrical system upgrade, I was going to
attack the alternator (with smart controller) next.  Now, like you, I am
thinking I will do solar first.

I thank the recent posters for their input here as well.  There are also a
couple of good "solar" threads from the last couple of years on this list
plus some good info on marinehowto.com.  At least this is where I have
started.

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL