KaJen's bimini was wearing out and the quotes to replace it were silly expensive (it's a boat so what else would I expect). So I decided to replace it with solar panels.
The system: Six Kyocera 265 watt panels totaling 1,590 watts. This was split into two arrays (three forward and three aft) that feed into two Midnite Solar Classic 150's. The house battery bank consists of eight Odyssey 2150 AGM's for 800 AH total.
The system has been live for 10 days and I am more than pleased with the results so far. KaJen is not a particularly power hungry boat so I have left the TV on for three or four hours for a couple of days, and have not been careful about lights, microwave, etc. I am averaging around 265 AMPs per day usage. I have had seven days running for three to four hours (short hops in the Keys of 20 to 30 miles) then anchoring for the night, and three days at the dock with no shore power, no generator and no engine. Even at the dock, by 1 o'clock the chargers are in float, sometimes with one of the chargers in rest mode. Even today, cloud cover and drizzle all day, by 5 o'clock the system has produced just over 2,000 watts.
The framework is all 1 inch heavy duty stainless, with set screw fittings. So far it has been through 35 mph + winds and seas rough enough that I came in for shelter (3 to 4+ on the beam at 5 seconds made KaJen a rock and roller). The frame and panels have been rock solid.
Arch
The system: Six Kyocera 265 watt panels totaling 1,590 watts. This was split into two arrays (three forward and three aft) that feed into two Midnite Solar Classic 150's. The house battery bank consists of eight Odyssey 2150 AGM's for 800 AH total.
The system has been live for 10 days and I am more than pleased with the results so far. KaJen is not a particularly power hungry boat so I have left the TV on for three or four hours for a couple of days, and have not been careful about lights, microwave, etc. I am averaging around 265 AMPs per day usage. I have had seven days running for three to four hours (short hops in the Keys of 20 to 30 miles) then anchoring for the night, and three days at the dock with no shore power, no generator and no engine. Even at the dock, by 1 o'clock the chargers are in float, sometimes with one of the chargers in rest mode. Even today, cloud cover and drizzle all day, by 5 o'clock the system has produced just over 2,000 watts.
The framework is all 1 inch heavy duty stainless, with set screw fittings. So far it has been through 35 mph + winds and seas rough enough that I came in for shelter (3 to 4+ on the beam at 5 seconds made KaJen a rock and roller). The frame and panels have been rock solid.
Arch