Solar panel mount on radar arch

[ericga]

I'm planning to install a ~250w solar panel next spring and I'm looking for inspiration on how to mount it on a FourWinns cruiser radar arch (8-10in wide). Share you ideas, pictures and if anybody know a good place that sell mounts or brackets online it would be appreciated.

 

[JASinIL2006]

250w panel at 24v is what, about 5' x 3'?

 

[Scott Danforth]

most are mounted to the top of the deck. a 3' x 5' bilboard on top of the radar arch may not survive

 

[ericga]

250w panel at 24v is what, about 5' x 3'?

Yes about that size.

 

[ericga]

most are mounted to the top of the deck. a 3' x 5' bilboard on top of the radar arch may not survive

That bring another point. I would like my setup to be easily dis-mountable in case of strong winds and for winter storage.

 

[ericga]

I'm also open to other options like two smaller panels or flexible on canvas (I'm not crazy about this).

 

[Scott Danforth]

what is the intention of the solar panels? if it is for battery maintenance, a 30-40 watt panel would be all you need, that is a small panel about 2' by 9" for when the boat simply sits not used.

if it is to charge batteries, a single panel would not be enough.

I know a good many live-aboards that have 5 or more solar panels for charging the house banks. usually 2-3 on top of the salon and 2-3 bracketed off the dinghy davits in the back and they still have a wind generator. the issue is that unless the panel is perfectly aimed at the sun, you dont get 250watts out of the panel. so with an array, you may get 300 watts out of 4 panels as the boat moves around in the swells.

 

[ericga]

It is to charge the batteries. I estimated that I need a at least a 250w panel considering I won't get 100% efficiency. My boat has very limited mounting options other than the radar arch. We often go for a few days trip to places where the use of a generator is not permitted (including internal ones)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Again, you will need more than 1 panel. You will need at least 3 panels.

My suggestion if you cant use a genny (although i never heard of any restrictions on an inboard genny) is to double your batteries and switch to all LED lighting

 

[ericga]

Already all LED and no room for additional batteries.

Park Canada does have a generator restriction in most of their locations in the Thousand Islands, Ontario.

 

[bruceb58]

250W panels are rated at over 17V so the current you will get will be around 14A. Is that enough for your application?

 

[ericga]

That would be enough for my needs. I'm more concerned about mounting such panel on a regular cruiser radar arch (no hard top). I'll probably have to go with quite large custom brackets with large washers and good amount of Sykaflex. Then use canvas poles like the 5ft picture in the link below:

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_panel&page=2

 

[bruceb58]

You aren't planning on driving the boat around with it up right?

 

[ericga]

Only if I am 100% confident it will hold up and if I put it up there it will. Trust me. If it fly it will be followed by a radar arch with an entire canvas.

Several boats in the area and even at the marina have similar setup. Some I wouldn't trust but so far been holding up for years.