Which solar panels?

[ALAN DENMAN]

Hi everyone, we are preparing to spend our first winter as liveaboards and will be constant cruising.

We have researched On Board Solar tilting panels and Photonic (FLPRO textured flexible panels).  which one is better or are they equally effective?

Thanks for your advice.

Alan

[mrsmelly]

4 minutes ago, ALAN DENMAN said:

Hi everyone, we are preparing to spend our first winter as liveaboards and will be constant cruising.

We have researched On Board Solar tilting panels and Photonic (FLPRO textured flexible panels).  which one is better or are they equally effective?

Thanks for your advice.

Alan

Hi Alan

All kinds of solar is worth having however they will be next to useless in the winter.

 

[rusty69]

6 minutes ago, ALAN DENMAN said:

Hi everyone, we are preparing to spend our first winter as liveaboards and will be constant cruising.

We have researched On Board Solar tilting panels and Photonic (FLPRO textured flexible panels).  which one is better or are they equally effective?

Thanks for your advice.

Alan

The tilting ones are likely to be more effective, but neither much use in winter 

[peterboat]

Having had both For ease of use and the fact that they dont get in the way I have flexible solar panels stuck down with sicoflex works well and i can walk on them if needed [but dont if I can help it]. As Tim says on poor days they produce 10% of a good day

[ALAN DENMAN]

It seems solar is good for summer use. I'll have to weigh up investment costs.

Thanks all for your replies.

Alan

[rusty69]

Just now, ALAN DENMAN said:

It seems solar is good for summer use. I'll have to weigh up investment costs.

Thanks all for your replies.

Alan

Also works in spring and Autumn. From Mar to October is ok. 

[chubby]

I find solar to be worthwhile all year round . In summer i can " rely " on it . In winter less so . Even so , id prefer to have it than not have it . In my estimation it is good / very good for most of the year and unreliable for some of the year . 

Question is - how much power do you need ? I have different patterns of power usage ( off grid 365 days of year ) in summer than winter according to the power my solar generates . I own no genny as i hate them . 

If u CC in winter do you expect to cruise regularly , alot , or barely ? 

How you intend to use your boat , its charging capabilities , your power requirements etc will all be part of assessing how you intend to keep batteries maintained . Solar can be a big part of the answer , mostly in summer but also ( i find ) in winter - its just less reliable .

There is no way i d be witnout it , it makes complete sense to have as much you can all year round . 

cheers 

[Lily Rose]

4 hours ago, mrsmelly said:

Hi Alan

All kinds of solar is worth having however they will be next to useless in the winter.

 

I would agree with that for when I´m on the boat in winter, which is usually 4 or 5 days per month.

The rest of the time, when the boat just sits in the marina, the solar is enough to keep the batteries topped without the need to leave the mains charger switched on.