Seeking advice add a second solar panel

[barling]

I'm a 40 year experienced sailboat owner for 20 years having two Kyocera 80's which ran my refrigeration and the other usual draws for a day and a half. Now I have a 2014 R31S Luxury, with a diesel generator and the usual Kyocera 140. Being new I'm going about researching the addition of a second panel, a Grape 180, as my usual course of action is to anchor out on the Great Lakes and North Channel, during the summers for ten weeks, going into a marina maybe only 1-2 nights a week. I thought I'd add leds to reduce the light draw. I suppose I should go one season to find out whether my draw requires a second panel, but my age doesn't want me to waste one season seeking out the answer. I don't know how long my noisey diesel generator will recharge my batteries. What are your thoughts?

 

[Red Raven]

If you add the chest freezer as discussed in your other thread you will definitely need the second solar panel if you don’t want to run the generator every day. The Kyocera 140 Is sufficient to keep you off grid for a couple sunny days and no generator with just your cabin refrigerator and LED lights. Running the microwave or electric range will reduce this. The grape 180 will allow you to do the same with the additional chest freezer. If the days are sunny enough you will even be able to stay out longer, even indefinitely, under the right conditions. On occasion with the best conditions we can get completely back to 100% house capacity by evening running only the fridge and freezer with two Kyocera 140 panels. We have a propane range and only run the microwave when the engine is running.

I can’t answer regarding charge time for your generator. I don’t use one.

Curt

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i have been researching panels a lot recently. one panel doesnt get you much. especially up here in the PNW

the conclusion I have got to from a space standpoint is actaully to replace the existing panel with a single 300+ watt panel. they also now come as bi-cell setups: if half the panel is shaded you still get half the amps and not zero. this is a huge factor for us tug/cut owners as the tower causes a shadow. (it wont solve the design flaw on the cutwater 30CB which is shaded all the time)

these are the top three I am looking at

https://1drv.ms/x/s!Auy2KJTFDgidj8chXJYD44iIwVGz4g?e=PXUUuG

the new REC Alpha 370 is a lot of power for its square footage. but is expensive. the 325w REC looks to be great value

note you may need to replace your solar controller if your amps and volts becomes too high with the new panels.