T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Solar Catamaran Project

Monday, September 7, 2015

Re: [Electric Boats] Solar Catamaran Project

There are both AC and DC micro inverters, the DC ones are also sometimes called optimizers. There advantage as already stated is no one panels orientation or shading will effect other panels output. When using strings the output of the lowest worst orientated/shaded panel is the effective maxim output of the whole string.

You can also add to the array without needing to upgrade equipment years later.

The downside is they are much more expensive. But if you absolutely need the most from your array it is the best option. If cost is more important there are lots of great charge controllers, I use a Victron Energy converter because it interfaces with my inverter and talks NMEA2000 and interface well with other vendors marine hardware easily.

Outback is a great vendor. But charge controllers are a mature market and most name brand vendors products are pretty good.

On Sep 6, 2015, at 7:03 PM, Carter Quillen twowheelinguy@yahoo.com [electricboats] <electricboats@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

If he's going to charge batteries why would he want a micro inverter? Then he would be going from DC to AC and then back to DC again. Unless he's feeding it into a fancy BMS that needs 120V AC to operate I don't see the point and even then is seems like way to much conversion.

I think your best bet would be something like an Outback Flexmax 60 or 80. They can be programmed to essenital be a Battery Management System and you get the advantage of MPPT with minimum conversion. And it would be lot cheaper than micro inverters feeding into a 120V AC fe d BMS and then feeding your motor from that.

You can series your panels in sets of two or three to get your voltage where you need it and then gang them together in parallel. Outback is the vendor of choice for a lot of solar boats but there are certainly several good MPPT charge controller to choose from and I would strongly recommend going with an MPPT controller. Way better than PWM as they really optimize your array to get the most power possible to your motor when you running directly off the sun.

Capt. Carter
www.shipofimagination.com

On Sunday, September 6, 2015 2:11 AM, "Hannu Venermo gcode.fi@gmail.com [electricboats]" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Very interesting project.
Nice set of gear, updates are very much appreciated.

On 02/09/2015 03:36, albert682@yahoo.com [electricboats] wrote:
> Hi Group :)
>
> Just an update on the 8 Metre Solar Catamaran Project.

--
-hanermo (cnc designs)

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Posted by: Hannu Venermo <gcode.fi@gmail.com>
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