Solar Panel Repair

     The two flex 32 watt panels had loosely connected and frayed cables.  I removed the connection protection cap and replaced the cables with white electrical wire (AC, black/red, two wire from West) and soldered it onto the panel connection points.  I resealed the connection cap in place.

Check-Out

     I placed the panels in the direct overhead sun and checked the open circuit voltage (V_oc).  Should be ~19v dc. I measured ~19.5 V_oc for each panel.  Good indication that the panels still worked. 

New Connector Plug

   When I trashed the old original cables the special plug-in connectors went with them.  I choose to place the panels in parallel and wire them to plug into the cockpit area.  I used a cig-lighter plug-in with an LED to show current flow.  One look at the glowing green LED on the connector and you know the panels are charging.

New Receptacle

     I mounted the receptacle just beside my Auto Helm mount on the Port side of the cockpit.  I made the connection cables long enough to be able to strap them to the boom (with sail cover on). Their normal location would be on top of the Bimini.  Longer cables just gave me the option to track the full exposure position of the sun.

     A protection diode and fuse was added to the receptacle to block the reverse current flow at night and to protect the circuit.

   I didn't need a regulator due to the fact that the solar panel's total amperage is less than 1.5% of the combined house battery amperage.

[(Solar max output(2.5A)) < (350 Amp house x 1.5%)]
= 2.5A < 5.25A

Wiring to Positive Distribution (PD)

     I connected the positive output to the Positive Distribution Point (PD) on the boat and the negative to the Negative Distribution Point (ND) on the boat.  See DC Wiring Page.

     All current flow is monitored by the E-Meter.

All Strapped Down

Front and Back of the Bimini

 Charging the House Bank

     The E-Meter showing nominal charging of the house batteries by the Solar Panels.