Solar power for the Stereo on Pontoon boat.

[MH Hawker]

Re: Solar power for the Stereo on Pontoon boat.

A 15W panel is only trickle charge. Might be lucky to get .75A out of it. These panels are rated at around 18V so even the 100W panels are only going to be putting out 100/18=5.5A and that is of they are angled to the sun and not laid flat on the roof.

I would only rely on the 15W panel to put on a 100% charged battery.

Yes its not a huge amount of charge but its better than nothing and yes it takes several days, but while its just sitting on the slip it will top it back off to 100 %. A normal trip out draws it down to around 80 % and it takes a week to top it off. But it dose bring it back up.

I added it last year as a experiment, Due to the conditions I was having to pull the battery once ever two weeks and have the marina staff charge it for me. Now I dont. My slip has no 120 volt power, but then its only 750.00 a year

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Solar power for the Stereo on Pontoon boat.

Yes its not a huge amount of charge but its better than nothing and yes it takes several days, but while its just sitting on the slip it will top it back off to 100 %. A normal trip out draws it down to around 80 % and it takes a week to top it off. But it dose bring it back up.

I can believe that. Figure 0.75A per hour with 5 hours a day. 7 days will have 26 Ahours back in the battery.

 

[biglurr54]

Re: Solar power for the Stereo on Pontoon boat.

yea that sounds pretty reasonable. So 100 watt is pretty liable option to keep a battery up with a constant 5 amp draw for 5 hours two days a week. Most likely it would keep right up with the draw. Worst case scenario is slightly draining the battery and then it will be brought right back up the next day.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Solar power for the Stereo on Pontoon boat.

yea that sounds pretty reasonable. So 100 watt is pretty liable option to keep a battery up with a constant 5 amp draw for 5 hours two days a week. Most likely it would keep right up with the draw. Worst case scenario is slightly draining the battery and then it will be brought right back up the next day.

Should do it easily.