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gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2013 : 10:20:24

What is the best solar panel system to install given my outboard is a 2006 9.9 HP Honda? I was thinking in keeping the battery charged with a "trickle charger"... Any recommendations on installation, gauges, etc?

GAUCHO

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2013 : 10:33:52

Jose,
The size of your outboard isn't really a limiting factor, it's the size of your battery vs. the load you intend to place on it. I have a small-ish panel that came with my boat when I bought it, I think it's an 18 watt collector? We really don't use it unless anchored out somewhere. I do have it run through a charge controller that I picked up on clearance at West Marine quite some time ago. However, I have electricity at my dock & use a trickle charger to keep my two batteries charged. For a "gauge", I use a Walmart cigarette lighter voltage meter that shows both voltage and state of charge (green, yellow, red LEDs). I think I paid $15 for it, but haven't been able to find another one since. I have to switch on my cabin light breaker for it to operate, but once I do, it's visible from cockpit as the receptacle is mounted to the transverse beam, just to starboard of the mast post. I have an analog voltage meter I keep meaning to install, but the cheapo digital one works just fine, so it's at the bottom of my TODO llst.

Edited by - on

gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2013 : 13:26:45

Thanks a lot! Our first sailboat is on the hard about 20 miles away and I only now that it has a 12 volt battery. All the lights are now LED's but we may need to keep the battery charged while moored or at anchor. We may only want to charge an I- pad and/or cell phone. Do you recommend a brand name and size of a solar panel that would work? And with your voltage meter, I must have a cigarette lighter socket, right?

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2013 : 19:20:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gaucho9
 What is the best solar panel system to install given my outboard is a 2006 9.9 HP Honda? I was thinking in keeping the battery charged with a "trickle charger"... Any recommendations on installation, gauges, etc?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Welcome to C250 ownership, and to the forum. There is great support here. I also suggest you join the association, since the dues are very reasonable.

Does you Honda have electric start? If so, it definitely has an alternator that should charge your battery much better than any solar panel would. Even if it does not have electric start, it may still have an alternator. You should check to see if there's an alternator wire coming out of the motor. I bet it's already connected to the battery.

Buy a 12V USB adapter to charge your devices off the battery. It's much more efficient and safer than using an invertor. And it will take very little juice from your battery.

If you keep the boat somewhere with shore power, you should get a multi-stage charger that will avoid over-charging the battery. If you're at a mooring ball, you may want to find a solar panel, but check out your alternator first.

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gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2013 : 05:12:07

It doesn't have an electric starter... And I joined the Asoc. October last year. Thanks again.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3441 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2013 : 14:39:52

Gaucho,
Welcome to the forum ! There are many that have solar panel installs. What works for one is not ideal for another. Below are some photos of my install on a 1989 C25. More details are on my website. It involvesa Kyocera 20 watt panel to keep 2 batteries fully charged and able to run loads such as the fishfinder, nav lights and ocassional cabin lights or anchor light. My anchor light and cabin lights are run w/LEDs but I rarely use the anchor light and the times I have used the cabin lights, I am usually overnight at a marina where I hook up to shore power and that's when my AC/DC charger automatically comes on. The panel is supported by mounts I made myself out of aluminum plate matl and Rustoleum industrial primer and enamel coated to protect from the elements. The mounts allow me to adjust the panel for summer and angled during winter when the sun is lower in the sky. It is also mounted high enough that I can remove my outboard without dismantling the panel, though, the panel is connected to the mounts with lock washers and wing nuts and so it is not all that hard to remove or adjust.

Edited by - OLarryR on 04/07/2013 14:43:15

gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2013 : 14:55:24

It looks really good! Thanks.

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2013 : 18:47:27

Welcome to the forum, Gaucho!

Should your focus fizzle let me suggest something simpler. If you have i-devices I would recommend those charge booster packs. I have found that reliable charging is kind of hit or miss on my boat anyway even with my electric start Nissan.

Also if your phone looses it's charge and the outside world cannot contact you- oh well... that's part of the allure of sailing!

Just make sure that your emergency walkies have good batteries.

Vern

Edited by - on

gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2013 : 14:07:23

Very sound advice! I bought the 12 Watt, 12 V Ganz e (eco-energy) semi-flexible solar panel and a 12 V marine receptacle (& plug), which will allow me to proceed as suggested by delliottg . And I already have a booster packs as recommended by ruachwrights. I will now have several simple options. Again, thanks to all of you who have provided me with guidance.

Edited by - gaucho9 on 04/14/2013 14:08:58

gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2013 : 18:50:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 Gaucho,
Welcome to the forum ! There are many that have solar panel installs. What works for one is not ideal for another. Below are some photos of my install on a 1989 C25. More details are on my website. It involvesa Kyocera 20 watt panel to keep 2 batteries fully charged and able to run loads such as the fishfinder, nav lights and ocassional cabin lights or anchor light. My anchor light and cabin lights are run w/LEDs but I rarely use the anchor light and the times I have used the cabin lights, I am usually overnight at a marina where I hook up to shore power and that's when my AC/DC charger automatically comes on. The panel is supported by mounts I made myself out of aluminum plate matl and Rustoleum industrial primer and enamel coated to protect from the elements. The mounts allow me to adjust the panel for summer and angled during winter when the sun is lower in the sky. It is also mounted high enough that I can remove my outboard without dismantling the panel, though, the panel is connected to the mounts with lock washers and wing nuts and so it is not all that hard to remove or adjust.

Edited by - on

gaucho9
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2013 : 18:53:29

Hi there! How did you run the wires from the panel to the battery? Did you relocate the battery (batteries) from the original location? Thanks again.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3441 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2013 : 19:55:25

Since a 20 watt panel puts out more than what is needed to just trickle charge 2 batteries, I installed a solar controller. So, the wires from the panel come thru the same hole in the transom that my outboard motor cable comes through. The controller (see photo) is mounted on a piece of Starboard and the Starboard is not permanently attached - I slid the Starboard onto the little shelf that is behind the main cabin seatback by standing aft and sliding it forward onto that little shelf. Then I wedged it at the bottom of the shelf and the top of the Starboard is in the space formed by the cabin top liner and the hull. Adjacent to the Starboard is the end of the main cabin seat and the beginning of the quarterberth cushion. I raised the cushion up and drilled a hole into the fiberglass where the cushion rests. The wires from the transom hole were then pulled up through that hole and the wire using wire clips attached to the sidewall of the main cabin seatback. Then the wires are attached to the controller.

The charging wires (output) from the controller were initially connected to a 12 volt male adapter plug and then plugged into the 12 volt accessory outlet beneath the cabin steps. This was easiest to just see if it worked. About a month later, I then hooked the negative lead believe to one of the battery negative terminals. The positive wire was connected to the switch panel circuit breaker main post so that it is always live but goes thru the circuit breaker to complete the circuit. The controller can be manually turned off at the controller.

Edited by - OLarryR on 04/16/2013 03:47:11

hughbamford
Deckhand

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Australia
17 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 19:09:37

G'day,

I have the electric start on my Honda, I find that if I get out once a week sailing or even pop down and run the engine while making a cup of coffee it keeps it topped up.

When we cruise (1-2 weeks at a time) we have a removable battery on board that we bring along that has a cig lighter and meter in the battery box, this we use to charge the various toys we bring along, we have a removable solar panel we just throw on the deck when the meter looks low.

Cheers,

Hugh

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