Author Topic: Solar Charging Help Please!!  (Read 1234 times)

cool7hand

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Solar Charging Help Please!!
« on: February 17, 2020, 06:45:16 AM »
Hey all! I know that owning a bass boat might result in a throat punch from MMM, but my wife and I love freshwater fishing and it fits our FIRE life! We are looking for help with solar charging please!

We'd like to charge our three Optima D31M batteries (https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/bluetop-dual-purpose-deep-cycle-and-starting/d31m) solely with solar. We've no idea how to get started.

Can anyone point us in the right direction?

Thanks!

BikeFanatic

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Re: Solar Charging Help Please!!
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2020, 07:37:20 AM »
You can check out youtube videos on solsr, all the ones I saw are related to Van travel and van building. I know they have light roll out types and hard heavy types like you see on the roofs of houses, good luck.

cool7hand

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Re: Solar Charging Help Please!!
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2020, 07:07:06 AM »
Thanks! We've read and watched a bunch on charging batteries for RVs. These applications don't seem to be a good fit. They are designed for the batteries to supply AC current for the appliances in the RV. That's not our application. We only need solar that can charge the batteries after a day on the water, during which we might run down the batteries significantly. Or maybe we're not understanding how to use the RV equipment for our application? Can anyone help?

BDWW

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Re: Solar Charging Help Please!!
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2020, 07:45:36 AM »
All you need is panels, and a charge controller.

The RV videos are largely the same, except you don't need an inverter.

Cheap 30A PWM controller.
https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Battery-Intelligent-Regulator-Adjustable/dp/B07STZSG9J/ref=sr_1_3?crid=HNSONQPCNPOI&keywords=charge%2Bcontroller&qid=1582036695&sprefix=charge%2Bcont%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-3&th=1

This would support 3 100w 12v panels.

You connect the panels in parallel (for most pwm controllers) to the controller and the controller to the batteries, and it charges.

trollwithamustache

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Re: Solar Charging Help Please!!
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2020, 07:48:28 AM »
RV stuff isn't going to be marine grade, so it won't last outside very long with boats near or on the water. As long as you accept this you might be ok if you can accept this and only use the system on land. Otherwise, all your electrical connections will be subject to corrosion.  But, to keep the battery charged up when the boat sits in a yard, you will be fine.

Your boat batteries like the RV ones are all DC power. So you need a solar panel, and a solar charge controller that wires up to the panel and the battery.

 plug "20A Solar Charge Controller Solar Panel Battery Intelligent Regulator" into amazon and you get something pretty similar to what I've used. Most solar panels come with some kind of fancy electrical connector, so when you buy the panel, look up the connection type listed so you can get the right parts.

cool7hand

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Re: Solar Charging Help Please!!
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2020, 08:54:49 AM »
We think we found a solution with the portable solar products at Zamp Solar. Will write an update after they arrive and a few weeks of testing. Thanks for the help!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!