Boat and RV Solar Panels

People have been using solar energy to power boats for millennia. Sound funny? Well, wind is actually a by-product of the Sun. And people have been using wind for several thousand years propel all sizes of boats across water. They call it sailing.

These days, sailing, at least in the Western world, is mainly used for leisure or recreation. A sailing boat, however, does not run on wind alone anymore. In modern times, the cabin is fitted with electrical systems such as navigational aids, lighting systems, and small kitchenettes to allow for basic cooking needs and refrigeration of perishable foods. Additionally, there are the bilge pumps which keep the bilges from overflowing. All these things operate on electrical power, which is usually supplied through a diesel engine.

But with technology advancing, we are now able to create electricity directly from the sun, through the use of solar panels. The electricity collected can easily be used in order to power the electrical systems and the bilge pump on a small boat or sailing vessel. It can also be used to recharge marine battery banks, or to trickle charge them during times when they are not in use (so that the battery doesn't go dead).

Combining A Solar Charger With Your Generator

The most usual way of installing a solar powered system is to combine it with the existing electrical system and generator on the boat or sailing vessel. Technically, this is called a hybrid system, because it involves the combination of two different methods of creating electricity. This is much easier to do than it sounds.

Since most boats already have a battery system that is connected and powered either by the diesel engine or another type of generator, all that needs to be done is to install a solar panel onto the cabin, and run cables down to the battery bank. One would install an additional component called a Charge Controller between the solar panels and the batteries. This is to ensure that the batteries don't get over-charged. It also prevents an electrical current from running back from the battery to the solar panel at night when no power is being generated by the solar panel.

This is the simplicity of a solar powered charging system. While getting free electricity from the sun, solar power chargers are also completely silent. This allows for extended periods during which one does not have to run a noisy generator in order to provide electricity. But, because of the hybrid system set-up, you will not be dependent on solar energy alone and can still fire up the diesel engine as needed.

Which Solar Panels Should One Get?

Obviously, the larger the solar panels, the more power you get. It is also possible to connect a few panels together in order to increase the power output. But this would all depend on the size of the boat and the amount of space you want to allocate for mounting solar panels.

Here are a few of the common brands on the market:

Sunsei Solar Charger SE-1200

This panel provides 1.2 amps at 15 volts, and will go a long way in powering essential electrical systems. It will recharge marine batteries. A charge controller is needed when in use, in order to prevent over-charging or reverse-current from batteries. It is extremely easy to install, and more than one can be connected to one another through the use of a standard cabling system that makes the whole solar-powered charging system into a "plug and play".
Sunsei Solar Charger SE-4000

This is similar to the model SE-1200, except that it provides 4 amps instead of 1.2 amps (three times as much power, in other words). This can be mounted on deck or on a cabin, but of course takes up a bit more space.
Sunsei Solar Charger SE-8000

The Sunsei SolarCharger SE-8000 provides 8 amps of solar energy. This one is also designed as a plug-and-play and is made to be compatible with cabin electrical systems. So there is no need to fuss around, but be sure to get a charge controller. You will need it due to the amount of power generated by this system.

Portable Solar Chargers

If you are looking for a less permanent installation, there are several other brands which manufacture portable solar panels. These come in the form of foldable panels which are very compact and easy to transport.

When needed, they can be unfolded and placed on deck. Once you are done with them, you simply fold them up and store them away.

Some of the common brands are: