Solar Charger

[Mr Smiff]

Hello, I hope everybody is looking forward to the new season of boating..

I have a 5m rib that is antifouled and sits in the water all season - pulled out in November time. Just about ready to launch it again but am considering this…

It has an auto bilge pump which runs off the battery with a permanent feed (via an on/off switch on the dashboard). Everything else is isolated once the isolator key is off and removed so only the bilge pump has access to power when the boat is left. The boat can sit for 2 or 3 weeks without use so, given we are in Scotland, the pump can see a fair bit of use. Has a Suzuki 90 on the back that also charges the battery when it is running. So, that’s the situation.

I am going to purchase a new battery as the old one is past it. I’m thinking around 100ah (max length of battery I could get away with would be around 320mm).

As the bilge pump would use some power whilst the battery isn’t getting charged, I was thinking of a 10w solar charger to try and replace at least some of the juice the pump will use.

The help I’m hoping for is a battery recommendation (assume deep cycle and is AGM worth it?) and what solar charger I might get away with - if it is even feasible. I have about 100mm width and 300mm long to sites solar panel on the angled part at the side of the A frame and probably a 6m run of cable back to the battery.The cable would need to be waterproof but that shouldn’t matter too much I’d hope…

Fingers crossed for some help. And at the very least, thank you for reading.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Mr Smiff

Hello, I hope everybody is looking forward to the new season of boating..

I have a 5m rib that is antifouled and sits in the water all season - pulled out in November time. Just about ready to launch it again but am considering this…

It has an auto bilge pump which runs off the battery with a permanent feed (via an on/off switch on the dashboard). Everything else is isolated once the isolator key is off and removed so only the bilge pump has access to power when the boat is left. The boat can sit for 2 or 3 weeks without use so, given we are in Scotland, the pump can see a fair bit of use. Has a Suzuki 90 on the back that also charges the battery when it is running. So, that’s the situation.

I am going to purchase a new battery as the old one is past it. I’m thinking around 100ah (max length of battery I could get away with would be around 320mm).

As the bilge pump would use some power whilst the battery isn’t getting charged, I was thinking of a 10w solar charger to try and replace at least some of the juice the pump will use.

The help I’m hoping for is a battery recommendation (assume deep cycle and is AGM worth it?) and what solar charger I might get away with - if it is even feasible. I have about 100mm width and 300mm long to sites solar panel on the angled part at the side of the A frame and probably a 6m run of cable back to the battery.The cable would need to be waterproof but that shouldn’t matter too much I’d hope…

Fingers crossed for some help. And at the very least, thank you for reading.

Its primarily a start battery I wouldnt bother with deep cycle, we fitted deep cycle to our house bank of our cruiser & they lasted less time than the previous standard truck batteries we removed. Make sure your solar has a charge controller so it cant overcharge & a bog standard lead acid will last you years, you can probably replace it two times for the cost of similar agm, whilst agm batteries are good I wouldnt spend a huge amount more on a one. Its been a while since I compared prices of agm V lead acid so maybe the prices are closer, I'd check costs & if theres not much in it go agm but if there double I'd not bother.

[Steve509926]

Have a word with Tanya Batteries, good advice, good service & good prices.
Different application but I've had a 110AH Enduroline Leisure/Marine battery on my caravan for the past 5 years, trickle charged from a solar panel. The battery permanently runs an alarm and 4 PVR security lights I've rigged up on the outside of the van, so probably a similar drain to a bilge pump. The difference being the van can sit for months not just a few weeks.

[beamishken]

Pure leisure batteries dont like the heavy discharge associated with starting loads, beware of batteries marked marine/leisure as they are often intended for slow discharge from a light current draw, starting loads can kill them off.

[User name]

Would a decent cover be an option? If you can keep the rain out then it'll only be condensation you're dealing with and the bilge will run a lot less if at all. Since you're using it every 2-3 weeks, should have minimal drop in that time.

[Mr Smiff]

Thank you everybody for your kind advice. I may have jumped the gun, but opted for a Numax CXV27MF battery and hope it’ll do the job. It was from Tanya (as advised) and they recommended this or an enduro line. The numax was cheaper…so opted for that. Just need to sort out a solar charger now….so any advice would be welcomed.

Also, in addition to this, I will look into a cover. Even if it was only 3/4 length it’d direct most water over the side rather than inside..

Thank you again, for your help

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Mr Smiff

Thank you everybody for your kind advice. I may have jumped the gun, but opted for a Numax CXV27MF battery and hope it’ll do the job. It was from Tanya (as advised) and they recommended this or an enduro line. The numax was cheaper…so opted for that. Just need to sort out a solar charger now….so any advice would be welcomed.

Also, in addition to this, I will look into a cover. Even if it was only 3/4 length it’d direct most water over the side rather than inside..

Thank you again, for your help

That should be fine, its a dual purpose battery not pure leisure battery & has a decent cca rateing for starting 800+ which should be fine for your engine ,I dont know which engine you have but easy enough to check the specs required & a quick look its not particularly expensive realy.
Should be fine

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Mr Smiff

Thank you everybody for your kind advice. I may have jumped the gun, but opted for a Numax CXV27MF battery and hope it’ll do the job. It was from Tanya (as advised) and they recommended this or an enduro line. The numax was cheaper…so opted for that. Just need to sort out a solar charger now….so any advice would be welcomed.

Also, in addition to this, I will look into a cover. Even if it was only 3/4 length it’d direct most water over the side rather than inside..

Thank you again, for your help

That one is a good battery. I have those on 2 of my boats

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Mr Smiff

.... Just need to sort out a solar charger now….so any advice would be welcomed.

Solar panels are a bit of a minefield. The semi-flexible ones advertised for marine/motor home use are very un-reliable with a fairly high failure rate. The most reliable type are the rigid glass ones, as often seen on ocean going yachts & domestic roofs. But these are bulky & don't come in small sizes. Have a look at PV Logic & Photonic Universe websites. If you have an A Frame, you might be able to mount something on there or on the console, dunno how long it would last though. Maybe something that can be removed & stowed when you use the boat, with a Bulgin type connector on the console.