When it comes to marine electronics and marine engineering, there has been a recent surge of interest and development in solar energy. With a number of companies now entered in to the market, the quality and efficiency of marine solar panels has continued to improve to the point where the installation of marine solar panels on your yacht or vessel could really change how you enjoy your life out on the water.
Cost Vs. Efficiency Savings
Sure, the costs of a large scale solar panel installation may be restrictive for some, but there are also a number of extremely affordable solar options that will help improve the efficiency of your boat overall. For example, for about $100, you could buy a small solar panel that will hook up directly to your outboard motor. This panel will simply help keep your boats battery topped off, ensuring your engine will start after being left unattended for a while for example.
For larger vessels, the options become more and more extensive. You can install solar panels that will provide enough energy to power your various marine electronics, for example a refrigerator, fan system, lights and more.
Scaling Panels For More Power
Calculating just how much power you will need for your yacht is actually fairly simple. Start by finding the current draw of each appliance at 12 Volt DC and then estimate how long each will run for each day, this will give you your daily amp / hour requirement.
Alternatively, you could measure your power needs in watts. To do this simply multiply your voltage by the current, for example a 12-volt AC System that draws 4 amps would compute to 48 watts.
Once you have your general energy requirements calculated, it’s fairly straightforward to perform a load analysis to figure out just how much additional solar power you would need for each new piece of electrical equipment you add to your yacht.
Various Design & Installation Options
Solar panels now come in a variety of sizes, design styles, and prices depending on the need and intended usage. For example, if you’re concerned about where you will install a number of bulky solar panels, there is now a solar film option that can be directly attached to the sail of your boat, or even incorporated in to the laminate.
For the more price conscious consumer, there are a number of very low cost solar options that will simply assist with battery life and running the electronics on your boat.
There are also a class of solar panels now that are somewhere in between the least expensive options and the most expensive enterprise commercial options. These solar panels will typically run anywhere from $200 – $500 per 100 watts.
If you’re interested in installing marine solar panels on your yacht or commercial vessel, schedule some time to speak with the experts at Tess Electrical LLC to discuss the various solar options and implementations that would be best for your boat.
