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FAQ About Solar Panels
What is a Solar Panel and How Does it Work?
A solar panel is essentially a battery charger that transforms sunlight into an electrical DC charge.
Creating a Charge:
• Light will hit the solar cells, activating the electrons on its surface.
• The electrons then become agitated and begin to jump from one atom to the next, creating an electrical chain reaction in the form of a DC charge.
• The energy created by the solar panel is then stored in batteries to be used at a later time.
Marine Solar Systems
Most marine solar systems consist of three major components (see illustration):
• Solar panels produce the charge.
• Charge controller or regulator regulates the charge going into the battery and prevents overcharging.
• Batteries store the energy created by the solar panels.
Then, from the batteries, the energy is used to run 12vDC appliances (lights, pumps, fans, etc.) as well as
120vAC appliances when an inverter is utilized (TV, radio, satellite dish, and microwave). An inverter is a
separate unit that transforms the 12vDC current coming out of the battery into 120vAC for use with most appliances.
 Solar Panel Boat Applications
1. Maintenance charging for boats on moorings.
2. Augmenting engine-based charging on cruising boats.
3. Sole-source charging for boats without auxiliary engines.
Types of Solar Panels: Crystalline and Thin Film (Rigid or Flexible)
Crystalline panels have a multitude (usually 36) of dark reflective blue or gray wafer-like cells soldered together
in series.
- Monocrystalline - made from a single large crystal, cut from ingots. Most efficient, but also the most expensive. Somewhat better in low light conditions (but not as good as some advertising hype would have you believe).
- Polycrystalline - basically, cast blocks of silicon which may contain many small crystals. This is probably the most common type right now. Slightly less efficient than single crystal, but once set into a frame with 35 or so other cells, the actual difference in watts per square foot is not much.
Thin film panels, made with amorphous silicone cells, which are of a more uniform dark brown or gray color, can be are either rigid or flexible. Thin film panels are about 50% as efficient per unit area as crystalline, but are more reactive under low-light conditions, i.e. cloudy or rainy skies. They can also offer the convenience of flexible mounting options.
How Long do Solar Panels Last?
Over time, all solar cells have a tendency to degrade slightly under the sun's rays. Crystalline panels have a
much slower degradation factor than thin film and will therefore continue to produce energy for a longer period
of time. Warranties will reflect this: crystalline panels are often guaranteed from 20 years to lifetime. Thin film panels receive shorter warranties (usually from 2-5 years), but have been known to still be putting out a charge for up to double that time.
Will my Solar Panel Work in Indirect Sunlight? In the Shade?
Yes, solar panels will produce energy even if they are not placed under direct sunlight. It is to be noted, however, that the power output of a solar panel is proportional to the amount of light that reaches its surface. If
you are only getting about half the amount of light that you would be getting under full midday sun, you should
expect your panel to produce about half the amount of power. For example, a solar panel can generate from 50- 70% of maximum output under a bright overcast day, but only 10-20% under a dark overcast.
 Can I Install a Different Size Panel to the One I Currently Have?
Yes. If you wish to upgrade you solar system, but want to use a larger (or smaller) size of panel, it is possible to
do so. For instance, if you currently have a 50-watt panel, it is possible to add a 100-watt panel by connecting
them together within the same system. Inversely, the same is possible if you want to add a 50- watt panel to an existing 100-watt. The only limiting factor is the size of your charge controller. Make sure that the controller is powerful enough to handle to total output of the solar system. For example, a 7-amp controller can only handle a maximum charge of 105 watts, so if you are increasing your total output to over 105 watts you will need a larger controller.
Can I Install a Different Brand of Solar Panel to the One I Currently Have?
Yes. You can install a different brand of solar panel to another brand of solar panel as long as it has the same
voltage output, i.e. only install 12-volt panel to another 12-volt panel and not to 6-or 24-volt panel.
How Do I Mount My Solar Panel?
Select a location where your solar panels will get maximum daily sunshine exposure avoiding any shade.
Popular mounting locations for rigid panels include bimini tops and radar arches, as well as deck mounting.
When deck mounting, use spacers to allow airflow between panel and deck. Use silicone wherever holes are made through deck. Flexible panels can be mounted on almost any surface and are usually held down with bungee cords or straps.
 What Size Solar Panel Do I Need?
In order to find out what size and how many solar panels you would need to run your appliances, first find out how much power is needed for each device you would like to run. Then estimate how many hours you would use these devices each day. For example:
19” color TV (70-watts) for 7 hours would require
490 Watt hours. Add up the power requirement of all your devices. The total would give you your daily energy comsumption. Our engineers could then calculate how many panels you would need to run your appliances on your boat.
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