Solar panel power

Finally set up a solar panel to re-charge the 12v battery. Also get Teria "off-grid" and gain a new level of freedom.

The 35 watt solar panel once powered-up my Endeavor 24 sloop for about 6 months in the late 1980s. Since then it has lived in various sheds etc for 27 years, so fingers crossed that it still can pump-out enough power. It was made by BP solar  in 1987. I can't remember the exact power specs but a modern 35W panel has a maximum output of just under 18 volts @ 2 amps

35W solar panel on deck during set-up testing

Connected some heavy duty 12v wires to the battery terminals and the other ends went to the regulator box.

Solar power wires (in white casing) connected (yellow) to battery terminals

Installed a 20 amp 12v solar regulator in the fuse/storage box. They need to be in a fairly dry spot less than 1m from the battery. It also needs to be easily visible.

End connectors were crimped onto the ends of the panel wires and ends of the battery wires, keeping with black negative and red positive.

It should control power input into the battery, shut down the power if the battery charge is full so it won't overcharge. This should stop battery damage and let the battery live a long healthy life.

The red LED fired up immediately - like a small sun in the middle of the word "solar",,it indicates that the battery is charging from the panel but is not at full charge yet.

LED red - battery charging up

Found that these 20A regulators are still available at Jaycar electronics . 20A may be allot but it allows for system expansion and will be not working too hard.

Tidied up the system. Siliconed the regulator onto the bulkhead inside the locker. Cable-tied the battery wire out of the way. 

On the panel cable tied the power cable to the panel frame to stop it pulling on the black box underneath (could be a diode to stop back flow current).

Added 4 lengths of 4mm braided cord line to the corners of the panel - for attaching it it various things around the boat. Idea is to keep the panel mobile. So it can be best positioned to catch the maximum amount of sunlight, or be stowed below when rough sailing. For now i put it on top of the lowered mast tied to the spreaders.

Solar panel position with mast lowered.

The red LED light turned off at dusk. indicates the regulator has switched off the solar input wires.

12V electrical tools, materials on the "workbench"

Next morning around 10am found the LED was green indicating a full battery charge (14.4v) . I put the panel inside then the LED went red again (charges up from about 13v). So put the panel out -tied onto the aft rail quarter. The LED went orange then yellow to indicate charge was nearly at peak.

LED going orange..

LED going yellow..nearly full charge

LED Green  - full charge

The regulator has an intermittent charging cycle - every 20 minutes it disconnects from the solar array for a few minutes. This is good for deep cycle battery lifespan (hopefully this 60 Amp Hour heavy duty battery too).

The solar regulator is doing this

Dry location in the fuse/stowage locker

Louvred door

So far it looks like the system can  keep the battery topped up when no electrics are turned on in the boat. Hope it can stay on top of it when sailing.

With luck the system is good enough and it's the end of the "grid-connected" era.  Teria's potential range has been further extended.