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 Post subject: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:30 pm 
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Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:57 am
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Location: Perth, Australia
was just reading this article http://www.gizmag.com/joos-orange-personal-solar-charger-affordable-rugged-and-extremely-energy-efficient/14403/ and was wondering do any of you guys have panels to charge your 12v battery when your out and about?

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Tue May 11, 2010 3:46 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:46 am
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Location: Naples, FL
I have been pondering this question myself and a handy friend has solved the issue for me.
He is building me a wind powered generator that will charge 4 12 volt AGM batteries.
He is using all off the shelf materials and even says the cost will be under $100.
I will post pics as soon as I take delivery.


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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Tue May 11, 2010 4:37 pm 
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Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:36 am
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Location: Gippsland Lakes Victoria Australia
I'll be interested in seeing this

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2010 12:43 am 
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Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:12 pm
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Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Picked up a new 2.9amp 12v battery for my fish finder at the local battery specialty shop (Battery Bill). While I was there, I was checking their selection of solar panels that could be used to maintain charge while at sea. For a 2.9amp 12v battery, a 6 watt solar panel was recommended by the shop's expert -(Battery Bill)


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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:11 am 
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Location: Perth, Australia
find out what amperage your Fish finder draws then its easy to see if he is full of crap... most are under 250mA

Watts = Volts x Current

so 12 X 0.25 = 3 Watts. So 6 watt may be a little bit of overkill.

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2010 1:31 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:07 am
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Location: Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
6W should be about right. Remember that a solarpannel seldom delivers full power. ( only under ideal conditions ). That you only get when they are directed to the sun. Laying flat with salt spray all over it will defenately decrease the output..


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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2010 7:32 am 
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Location: Perth, Australia
yeh but he has a 2.9amphour battery so the solar panel should just be topping up the battery.

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2010 6:17 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:02 am
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Location: Sydney - Parramatta
I'd go the bigger capacity solar panel. A lot of the time the specs on the panels are very optamistic and under perfect conditions. Add some cloud and salt spray and you'll get less power out.

These seem to pretty popular for kayaks-
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Find more info here-
http://mattbezzina.blogspot.com/2008/10/solar-powered-battery-charger-for-bilge.html

and here-
http://www.roguepaddler.com/battpak.htm

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:53 am 
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Location: Perth, Australia
They look like nice panels, in terms of going the higher wattage panels yep your always better to get them but the price of panels increases exponentially with wattage.

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 2:26 am 
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Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:55 am
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Location: Shetland, UK
Probably a dumb idea but is there any way you could incorporate a solar panel into a sail sheet or are they to ridgid?

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 Post subject: Re: Solar Panels
PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 8:57 am 
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Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:57 am
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Location: Perth, Australia
Twerto wrote:
Probably a dumb idea but is there any way you could incorporate a solar panel into a sail sheet or are they to ridgid?



Soon.

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