bimini mount for solar panel

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Coast Rider's picture
Coast Rider
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Joined: 10/17/14
Posts: 43
bimini mount for solar panel

Guys,

I need to permanently mount my 3' x 3' 45 watt 30lb solar panel. I heard a strong bimini roof can do the trick. I'm trying to move it off the cabin roof under the mainsail. Suggestions/pictures?

A new flexible 60w , 3.6 amp, 15.4v roll up solar panel weighs only 3 lbs and can be attached to the bimini with velcro. This is made by a San Clemente company and sells for $600. This is so much better than a fixed solar panel requiring substantial mounts. Anybody have any experience with this?

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

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Chachere
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Posts: 825

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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newguy
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Posts: 408

I have a 100W semi-flexible that I mounted on the Bimini.  Cost was $220 from: http://www.ebay.com/usr/discountsolar?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Only used it for part of last season and have not measured the real output vs. advertised.  It did blow the 4amp fuse that I had in-line which is encouraging for September in New England.  As soon as we get through the winter thaw, I'll put it through a more thorough test..........

Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor

jmcelwee
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Posts: 102

I did this Solbian installation and love it.  It's an amazingly light panel, and is sufficient for most of my needs.  It won't keep a power-intensive boat satisfied for long trips, so you'll need to run the engine some to top up completely, but it's more than enough for a weekend trip and keeps everything topped up nicely while away.

 

Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900

Coast Rider's picture
Coast Rider
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Josh,

How big was your panel? I'm considering installing 2  23.7"x 21.7" 50W panels on my dodger (on each side of the boom). This will give me 100W total to charge 2 marine batteries.

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

Maine Sail
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Joined: 2/26/10
Posts: 324

The dodger is a really poor location for solar panels as one panel or both will often be shaded. If you must install panels there you will be best to give each panel it's own MPPT controller so the controller can track each panel for peak performance under its own conditions.

I do install dodger mounted panels but only after the owner has been brought up to speed on the performance hit they will take and they still want to do so....

A port starboard MPPT is the way to go here, if you want to eek out the most gain...

-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/

 

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Coast Rider
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Josh,

I need a new bimini strong enough to mount the flex panels. Also matching navy blue canvas for this, dodger and main sail cover, and I need the panels sewn into the bimini. Any supplier suggestions?

Joe

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

jmcelwee
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Joined: 7/16/12
Posts: 102

Hi Joe,

Any standard bimini will support the Solbian panels, they're super-light.  I installed the CP125, it weighs all of about 5 pounds, and I have no problem supporting it on my bimini.

You should easily be able to find a local canvas shop that can fabricate all your canvas needs.  I use local people for that, generally.

Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900

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