power my liveaboard barge by solar energy

[biff]

welcome to the forum mr pugs,
                         i see you are getting good help on choosing the right equipment.a good sized battery bank is important,forklift if possible. (they outlast everything else) but must be located somewhere where it can vent to the outside and will not be desturbed. the gas which it gives off during charging can become explosive when exposed to flame or spark,(something to bear in mind).
     we also have some very rough weather coming along tomorrow and tuesday.so take care.
                                                                                                                     biff

[Billy]

Donal,

For solar hot water I used Navitron 20x47mm tubes into a 120 litre tank.

Battery bank is Rolls 458ah @C5.  Fitted with hydro caps so no gas escaping or water topping up, or very little.  Wish I had gone twice the size though as it gets hammered with the welder and the compressor.

billy
 

[MrPugs]

Hi Biff
We have been watching the weather over here, extra ropes on, I am located at the back of a harbour so should be ok
With all the chat I have had on here I think i will be setting up a seperate area in the bow compartment to house the battery, charger and inverter. It will men running cables the lenght of the barge to link into the existing AC & DC distubution systems and grounding point, but the best way to go
Love the dog, have 4

Hi Billy
Thanks for the data on the water system, I think that will be next years project

Donal

[billi]

Hi Donal,  Lough Derg is nice , have been there

There is a price difference between standard solar chargecontrollers and  MPPT ones ,  when i decided  to get the Outback MPPT units  , panel prices were much more expensive 

So to get the most out of the PV  made sense , today one can argue , because panels are so cheap , to just install a few watts more

I had some trouble with the old MX  Outback controller , but  got it sorted  with no complications  with outback
My second  Is the newer type  the FM 80  and runs since a 2 years with no problem ,  but the Morningstar MPPT  is common here(forum ) as well , so would not say there is too much difference

I would think in your case  on the barge  , it will be a tricky one  to get the panels in the right orientation 

My first PV panels i bought a few years back  where no name ones from china   and can not say something bad , the last 2.4 kw PV i added are european panels i found  cause left over from a job of a German installer

Batteries i  got convinced to forklift ones  , but the need more water  than other stationary flooded batteries

I  am not sure how far you want to go with PV   and assume you need an Inverter as well

a 80 Ampere Outback controller can handle 2500 watt PV   in a 24 volt configuration  ( 5000 watt @ 48 volt system )

You can play here  with performance  and orientation and amount of Pv you need  , just click on the map and find your location

http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

regards Billi

[dhaslam]

I am located just north of you at Terryglass on Lough Derg

I live across the lake from where you are.  This is my view of the lake which is Carragahorig Bay, just east of  you,  taken last winter.   



This is the main harbour in Terryglass but I expect you may be in the private harbour next to it.



I haven't been able to use my boat for some time.  The small solar panels are on it since 2005  and was the only power source  for engine starting and instruments but the batteries are practically finished.   

[MrPugs]

Hi Billi

Many thanks for the reply
I am happy to go with the controller and will sort out a set of batteries
My main problim is what panels and where to get them ?
The panels will have to be flat as I move a lot
My intention is to us as much solar as possible
I think I will be using a lot of panels to get the power required


Hi dhaslam

I best call you nabour as I will be here for the winter
I am located in the main harbour, the barge is large with lots of glass you may have seen it moored near you boat just below Portumna Bridge on the Galway side



Regards
Donal

[billi]

Hello

If you mount the panels flat , thats fine , but you loose a lot of potential  during the 4   month in winter  , but it does not too much  be a problem in summer  and you have no  difficulties in where and how  your barge is orientated  , as well mounting them seems easier .
But  cleaning will be required   cause  dirt will not get washed  down easy  and the little "lip " from the frame  will collect dirt

And  even , if you get much more Panels the result in the winter months will be somehow  not satisfying  , but sure lots of power during summer month , that could be used  for example with a small Domestic Heatpump (they come with a 200 litre stainless steel hot water tank )

If you   are thinking of getting a lot of PV i would go perhaps  48 Volt  and leave  the  small  12 volt system  in place  and get this charged by the  bigger 48 Volt system ( but thats just a thought  and not sure how much power you need  with the 12 volt system)

But this could save some money    , cause you only need one Charge-controller  with  60 or 80 A   , on a 24 volt Idea  2500 Watt PV is the limit

Ok now to your main question ,  have a look  at the Navitron panels  for Grid tie panels ,  the Yingli ones  are the ones perhaps , Yingli are  first class Chinese Panels , the other  cheaper ones , i do not know  the make , so hard to judge ....

Perhaps just email Navitron and ask for a Price  for say 2500 Watt PV    , voltage does not raly matter if you go the MPPT charger route

I have not looked around  in Ireland  ,  or better , i  gave up  

Anyhow , it would be good idea to design the system  right  , cause inverter size , Battery size , the loads , and PV should match
and as well the integration of your  Generator

Regards Billi

[MrPugs]

Hi Billi

Thank you for the detailed reply

From all the replys I have had on here it look like I need to do some good calculations looking at the load first

Regards
Donal