Hi All im looking for some advice. i have a little experience with 12V systems but not a huge amount. im based in the UK and a new boat owner looking to add solar to it.
i will list my scenario and then put forward the questions!
boat is a 23 foot sail boat, she has a Yanmar diesel engine running a 35 amp alternator.
it has 2 35ah (038) batteries on a split charge isolator switch.
off.
batt1
batt2
both batteries (not sure if this is 12v at 70ah or 24v at 35ah)
the engine is used sporadically the boat is river and lake based so there are times where the engine might be needed for 10 minutes but thats all.
im looking to upgrade my batteries and fit solar.
physical battery size is a limiting factor, i cant fit physically bigger batteries
space for mounting a panel is limited (750mm x 650mm) running a PWM controller (cant afford an MTTP)
im looking at an 80w panel:
https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en...-controller-mounting-brackets-and-cables.html
so onto my questions:
will 80w be enough to charge these batteries
if i upgrade to say 42ah batteries will my alternator be able to handle the difference? (i assume it will charge them slower?)
does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on the whole sporadic use of the engine? i dont want to have to leave it idling just to keep putting charge into the starter battery...
essentially if anyone has any thoughts about what im trying to achieve or any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Tom
i will list my scenario and then put forward the questions!
boat is a 23 foot sail boat, she has a Yanmar diesel engine running a 35 amp alternator.
it has 2 35ah (038) batteries on a split charge isolator switch.
off.
batt1
batt2
both batteries (not sure if this is 12v at 70ah or 24v at 35ah)
the engine is used sporadically the boat is river and lake based so there are times where the engine might be needed for 10 minutes but thats all.
im looking to upgrade my batteries and fit solar.
physical battery size is a limiting factor, i cant fit physically bigger batteries
space for mounting a panel is limited (750mm x 650mm) running a PWM controller (cant afford an MTTP)
im looking at an 80w panel:
https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en...-controller-mounting-brackets-and-cables.html
so onto my questions:
will 80w be enough to charge these batteries
if i upgrade to say 42ah batteries will my alternator be able to handle the difference? (i assume it will charge them slower?)
does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on the whole sporadic use of the engine? i dont want to have to leave it idling just to keep putting charge into the starter battery...
essentially if anyone has any thoughts about what im trying to achieve or any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Tom