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Plans for solar boat (input welcome)

Gelston

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Feb 12, 2022
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I'm no artist, but I'm trying to finalize my plans for my electric pontoon. Any advise or ideas are welcome. I've done away with the surface mount breaker idea as they are rated for 48v max. This will all be under the rear bench seat on the boat.
 

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Are talking about the "DC breaker" that is in the picture?
That dc breaker is rated to 250v and will be my solar disconnect. I originally was going to use a 48v surface mount breaker between charge controller and battery, but they are not designed for a 48v nominal system so I figured good fuses would be better there. That way I can use the proper size fuse for the charge controller and a 125a fuse that the outboard requires.
I don't have the battery yet, but I don't believe it has a breaker. It's the EG4 waterproof version from signature solar.
 
Then you can skip the BMV712, that battery already has a Bluetooth BMS.
True. I already have the bmv712 so I figured it would be nice to have that display right at the helm and it can also monitor the voltage of a second battery. I'll have a 12v system installed in the helm for lights, radio, etc.
 
True. I already have the bmv712 so I figured it would be nice to have that display right at the helm and it can also monitor the voltage of a second battery. I'll have a 12v system installed in the helm for lights, radio, etc.
It should be OK as long as you use the proper wire size, and add fuses that are matching the wires.
 
And don't go to far without having a second battery ready to switch on, also mount the solar panels on a pole so they can be moved in order to track the sun otherwise you won't get to much power from them ( and maybe you can use them like a sail if you run out of battery :) ). One battery will gave you less than one hour at full throttle.
 
And don't go to far without having a second battery ready to switch on, also mount the solar panels on a pole so they can be moved in order to track the sun otherwise you won't get to much power from them ( and maybe you can use them like a sail if you run out of battery :) ). One battery will gave you less than one hour at full throttle.
The difference in speed between 1/3 throttle and full throttle is not bad and will draw a lot less power. Then I'll either be anchored at the swimming hole or back at the cottage because the kids are bored ?
 
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I'm very interested in your progress on this.
I have a 24 ft pontoon boat with a 7ft x 16ft roof on it.
On a dif. boat I've been using a MotorGuide 36v 108 lb thrust.
Three 12v AGM 100 amp in series. Charge them with shore power.
Thinking I'll need more power on the pontoon with a sail/roof of solar panels.
I just bought six 230w (snail trail) Solar panels from SanTan I still need to pick up in Savannah GA.
(Could I get enough amps out of that 1200w array to run at any speed directly?)
I'd like to upgrade to a 48v system,
possible motor = ePropulsion 6.0? or Elco 9.9? (mostly run at much less than full throttle.)
Shopping 48v Lifepo4 100 amp batteries. ($ ouch)
Collecting pieces to this puzzle,
I still need an MPPT charge controller etc.
I also have a HONDA 2000w inverter gen if I need to go hybrid to not get stranded.
All the details shared on this forum are very helpful. Looking forward to your progress.
(If none of this works out, I'll maybe make a solar system for our FL hurricane season?)
 
It's done and in the water. Motor is an Elco 9.9. 48v 100ah Eg4 battery from signature solar. 2 Jinko 405w panels because the top is only 8' long. They hang off the back a little, but I wanted room for the 100w panel on the front for my 12v accessories battery.
I haven't tested it much yet. I know I can get a little more out of it by raising the motor. We were cruising around 5 mph. that was around 30 amps and it wasn't a very sunny day. So that's many hours and if I stop at the sandbar it will just be chargning. It's always back to 100% when I go back out. I love it.
 

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I am planning on doing something just like this too with an old hard top pontoon. How does the 9.9 perform? top speed? how much runtime? what kind of distance can you travel? was looking at the 50 hp but not really wanting 96v system, seems dangerous. I think their 20 hp ( i dont understand how they come up with hp only 4.3 kw for 9.9 and 8.4 kw for 20 hp) looks good.
 
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