Because of the limited space on a boat, sometimes it's worth the premium to get the higher efficiencies to get more power. So much depends on your budget and what you're trying to accomplish. Even $2.50 a Watt is a pretty good deal for something with higher than average efficiencies considering they will be collecting energy for years, if not decades to come.
Weight of your solar canopy can be an important stability consideration for some boats as well, and you'll typically pay extra for something lighter. Also, don't forget to factor in shipping costs, in small quatities it can add considerably to your cost per Watt. That's why I suggested Sun Electric in Miami because it's close enough to drive to and pick up from Fort Lauderdale. A better cost per Watt from a vendor in California won't do much good if you have to add shipping and handling.
I strongly recommend you pay extra for an MPPT charge controller too, it is well worth the added cost and it really optimizes the solar array, especially when you are putting a load on the batteries with the motor. I would also consider this simple tracking mechanism, www.shipofimagination.com/the-flap-tracker.html . I have found it will give me over double what I can collect with the panels laying flat if I diligently track the sun all day while cruising.
Carter
From: cnc sales (hanermo) <gcode.fi@gmail.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 4:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] FW: Duffy....?
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 4:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] FW: Duffy....?
These are alsmost 3x the current right price for solar panels.
The current cost of PV panels, one off residential, is about 0.50-0.60$/V.
These cost about 2.5$/watt.
A better choice is always a bigger panel - for about the same cost.
Choose about 250-300 W panels, for about the same 250$ price.
Any nr of suppliers..
You get about 3x the power, and the losses are very much lower than
multiple panels..
Just saying.
> I installed these cells on my much larger boat. They would be what I
> recommend for your Duffy, they use the most efficient cells on the
> market they bend to fit your roof, and the price is very good. The
> only down side is the top mounted connectors are very hard to hide.
> I used 1.5 inch finger ducts.
>
> http://www.grapesolar.com/images/pdf/small-off-grid-manuals/PhotoFlex-100W.pdf
--
-hanermo
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