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Posts: 284
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Does anyone have any experience using solar power to charge the trolling motor batteries for a 36 volt system? |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | Not effective in that capacity. Small solar cells can't produce enough amperage |
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | I don't have personal experience myself but this is a topic I'm interested in also.
There are many youtube videos devoted to solar power for RV's and camping set ups. I've looked at some of those as a starting point. I figure if a big Class A motor home can run a refrigerator and air conditioning off of solar panels then we should be able to come up with a system to keep our boat batteries charged. Many ocean going sailing yachts also have on-board solar charge systems. So there is an industry out there and I expect to see more marine solar systems in the future. I predict one day you'll buy your new Ranger or Lund and it will come stock with on-board solar chargers but that might be a few years in the future yet.
But some math is involved. You have to figure out your load and amp hours, etc. and I'm not sure of how to do all that myself. I think you're going to have to put in some time and do some research to find the products you need and how best to install them on your boat. I saw 1 picture where they'd mounted a solar panel on a ram mount so they could angle it to best catch the sun.
When you have it all figured out, would you let me know?? lol lol
Here are a few links I've saved that might get you started. I'm sure our friend Google will turn up more.
https://solarperform.com/
http://www.tuffskinz.net/?page_id=1705
https://www.bruceschwab.com/
http://www.bassfan.com/news_article/7633/harnessing-solar-power-on-...
https://www.renogy.com/products/kits/rv-marine/ |
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Posts: 88
Location: Des Plaines, IL | Are you trying to do a setup at a dock so you don't have to run power, or are you saying you want it on your boat to charge during the day?
The first solution there are absolutely options for. The second one you'd take up a lot of real estate on the boat with the panels. I do believe there's a company that makes panels like that to pair with a Torqeedo electric motor.
When I go camping I power all my electronics on solar systems and it works wonderfully. |
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