When you're heading out on the water and you need to power some appliances, you can rely on solar panels for boats to deliver what you need. While the exact requirements for your boat may be different from others, you can choose from an assortment of panels in the Outbax online store. Solar energy is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to supply power for all your electrical devices while out on the water. Instillation is reasonably straightforward and you can increase your charging ability at any time by adding extra components.
This allows you the freedom to start off with a smaller setup and then expand it when you have higher power requirements.
All the solar panels sold through Outbax come with a twelve-month warranty on manufacturing faults. After you receive your panels, we recommend setting it all up in a safe environment (i.e. where you have access to another power source) and testing it out to make sure it is capable of delivering exactly what you need. This will help you decide if the panels are already suitable, or if you need to increase your setup to deliver additional power. Our team is available during business hours if you need any advice regarding your solar panel systems.
How can I use solar panels on my boat?
Solar panels for boats can be used for many different purposes, but the most common is to generate power to recharge a lithium battery. While it is possible to charge some items directly, usually anything that can handle receiving direct current (DC), they are best used when matched with an appropriate solar panel controller. These small units can help deliver power to the exact place you need it, including a battery, and directly to another appliance, which is perfect if you need some power stored for later in the day and something immediately (such as recharging a laptop, phone, camera, etc.).
When you use solar panels for boats, you're making use of energy that is free for anyone who can collect it. On a boat, you generally have a few options to get power. These could include running an internal engine or relying on wind power and solar panels. Among these options, solar panels are the superior choice, since the engine could use up your diesel supply and wind turbines can be noisy, which can ruin an otherwise brilliant day. Solar panels are silent and can passively charge your batteries while simply being exposed to sunlight. If they are installed on a cockpit canopy, they generally will not be in the way and by choosing our monocrystalline panels, you'll enjoy many years of trouble-free energy generation.
How many solar panels do I need for my boat?
As all boats operate differently, it can be hard to identify the exact number of solar panels for boats are required on any one vessel. To determine the number of panels that you require, you'll need to examine all the appliances that you plan to use onboard. Check your electronics to see the amount of power they require per hour of operation. This may be displayed in either watts or Ah (amp hours). Do this for all of your appliances and determine how many hours you think you'll use each appliance. Tally the total then add an extra 25 percent as a buffer. This will give you a little extra power for when you need it, and stop your batteries from being completely drained during the day. After you have computed your daily power consumption, this will give you an idea on how much power you need to generate. You can then pick solar panels for boats that can produce the electricity that you require. In the Outbax online store, there are 250 watt solar panels. The exact amount of power generated will also rely on how many hours of usable sunlight you have in a day. In Australia, the average is seven, but this may vary depending on the time of year, and how close you are to the equator. By using a 250 watt system, you can expect to generate about 1750 watts, which is equivalent to 145 Ah. This is enough power to recharge a partially drained 200 Ah lithium battery, or two 100Ah batteries connected in a series.
If you need some assistance in calculating your specific needs or just want some advice for installing solar panels for boats, you can call our team during business hours, or send an email. At Outbax, we are happy to support all our customers as they are enjoying the outdoors and going on new adventures. Our online store is available 24/7, and all orders are processed within 24 hours, with deliveries taking up to seven days to arrive at your chosen destination. We can ship solar panels all over Australia, and if you take out the postal insurance (which is highly recommended, especially for glass solar panels), you can be sure that everything arrives without any problems.
When buying solar panels that are going to be used near water, you'll want to choose something that is durable and corrosion resistant. We recommend getting flexible solar panels or fixed solar panels for a semi-permanent solution, or a solar blanket for a temporary addition to your equipment. It is also possible to use a portable power station for a complete setup that is ready to go and requires limited installation.
