How to: Simple Solar Panel System (Boat, RV, etc.) (Ep. 18) 

Love the way you always explain every step of the way. It really helps to understand how it's really done rather than just reading some instructions. 👍

Most people gloss over the simple details, you did not. Thank you. Some of us are not handy, so identifying all the parts and showing the details sets your video part. Thanks!!

Perfect timing when I found this. I ordered the Renogy 100w starter kit from Amazon this weekend and waiting on delivery. Going to try to adapt your setup to my C270. Thanks Josh!

This is the video I was looking for, most of the other vids I watched for info costed way more than we want to start with on our solar for a 35' boat. The info was very helpful!

Thank You for another straight to the point, easy to follow video. Keep the coming!!

Stumbled onto your RU-vid channel only recently and could not stop watching your videos. Been binge-watching :-)) Lots of similarities. Aiming to get my sailing license and explore the freedom of the seas. Was also in the navy. Keep it up, especially in being yourself. Learning a lot from you.

Thanks Josh. Having just bought a pair of renogy 50w panels, I have the same plans for my 19’ sailboat. I appreciate the smart idea about the panel mounting. All the best, Ian

Really liking the detail you provide Josh. Thank you.

I love those “Renaldy” charge controllers. Great job.

Aw man! Sunshine!! Hey there Josh, Autumn has landed with a thump here in the UK. Beautiful colours but dark already!

Thanks for this video. Just what I needed to get me going with my boat

Thanks for sharing Josh. I enjoy your videos.

This is the BEST video I've seen about solar panels. I'm seriously considering doing this with my Mainship 390. Thanks!!!❤

OMG…it’s one of the best videos I have seen. Very informative and you know your stuff. So…is it constantly chargin? You are right..fridge, phones and laptops, and control panel…what else you need… had you have the batteries at full capacity? I’m so impressed..thanks for sharing, Josh.

Brilliant videos! Keep them coming. Thinking of making that move onto sailing from flying. ;-)

Just wanted to share with you Josh that we’re really enjoying your videos (vlogs) so much respect for you dude ! ⛵️

Nicely done, tackling this project in the next few days and picked up a few good pointers from the video. Wish My boat already had a hole to run the wires through... cringe at the idea of drilling into my fiberglass.

Great idea! Thank you for sharing

Thank you for your clear and helpful videos!

Great Video. Thanks

Josh, Excellent explanation. Thanks

Thanks Josh, love the “outtakes” at the end.

Just found your channel---this is a great video and will help me set up solar for our boat - Thanks! -Vin

Your boat is similar to mine. I like that you talk plainly. I don't have a bimini or dodger.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm trying to get my boat rigged for long term cruising the Caribbean and a possible Atlantic crossing later in. But figuring out the whole solar and wind generating thing is getting more confusing as I research it. I'm planning to run 6 100W panels across the hard top with an extra 2 panels on the railings like you have and maybe a wind generator. hopefully that's going to give me enough power to keep the 6 lithium ion battery bank charged for everything I need. Thanks for the link to the adjustable pole that's going to help tremendously.

Another excellent job Josh!!

helpful as always thanks my man

Sweet! Thnx for sharing

Great video, thanks.

Thanks for the guide. I like the editing extras you put in this video: finger snap for sunglasses, drawings, beeping when your "actor" needs an outlet for his frustration. (you should talk to that guy... LOL). Thanks again and looking forward to your next video.

Great setup buddy

A good simple install. 👍

Very nice and easy.

Love the new intro! Awesome

Thanks for the video!

Grab some home solar panels used off craigslist. 200-400watt panels usually run $120-160 depending on your local market. The voltage is higher so you need to use an mppt charge controller. Hate to see people spend hard earned money on these overpriced crappy renology panels (as far as th solar industry is concerned). Sunpower is the best as they degrade at a much slower rate. I use 9 Sunpower 435w panels on my 40ft rv that I picked up 2nd hand for $125 each.

Muchas gracias. Muy buen video!!!

Nach 3 Sekunden war mir klar, dass es ein gutes, einprägsames Video über das Thema sein wird. :) :D

man I looked at my boat situation dumbfounded with my solar panels with drool rolling out of my mouth for about 3 months until I found the perfect size Bimini frame on OfferUp and got it for 40 bucks! 1-in heavy duty thick wall stainless steel with heavy duty fasteners and clamps everything was there and it turned out great! I also use that $10 charge controller you got and it charges my batteries just fine. Here in southern California I typically get 14.4 volts of charge all day long so I never really have to worry about power anymore. I don't have enough batteries to run a regular microwave and refrigerator but that's okay. I would like to be able to run my laser printer every now and then. My power inverters won't handle it. I got my panels used for $20 each (120 watt, 240 total), 12 volt battery $80 AGM HUGE backup battery for hospital emergency backup, charge controller $10, Bimini frame $40, wire out the trash free, misc connectors $20 from marine salvage place... Total $170 works better than most at my marina 🥳 Everyone at my Marina asks me to work on their boats. I had to stop doing that because it was far too much. I love the people, but I only have enough body left to move around with LOL

Great simple explanation on your solar setup!! We are tackling ours in a few weeks!! Sounds like your controller is connected to the house batteries. How do you also charge your starting battery? By keeping the selector on "all"? BTW - love the diagrams... and bonus ex-crewmate footage!

Nice job...

MPPT is about 30% more efficient than PWM, safer for the batteries and they are better for lower light conditions. Well worth the extra money

Hi Josh. Thanks for showing us your system installation! Very good solution with this flipping system! Hope you installed fuses too!? If you don't at the moment, I recommend to install those for more safety. Just research for, fuses solar system, and youll get the ideas;-)

Awesome job, looks great maybe add one more panel and mathematically you should have the perfect amount. Thank you for sharing . Got to put the RU-vid key word Love.

Thank you

Did the same thing with the same 100 watt panels on my boat, worked great.

Hi Josh, In order to increase efficiency when the sky is overcast, it would be necessary to check whether a series connection (solar module) achieves better results. if the mppt can handle ~ 40V. OCV 2 x 20V - i'm sure that when it is cloudy, 13V will no longer be generated - that means no charge in this case

I have a Renogy 100 watt panel and a 40 watt MPPT Renogy Rover charge controller. I only have 1 100 amp/hr battery right now. I plan on adding another panel and another battery next spring.

😂😂⛵💚Absolutely stunning views Brad ! Did you say what brand the panels are, and is it a complete kit ?

Excellent video. Lots of great info. Very curious on the connection on the panel side of the extension handle. Would you happen to have an affiliate link to that part? Thanks. Stay safe

Some solar panel installations absolutely need safety fusing and DIY installers should know when and why. Also a dual pole safety shutoff switch is a smart, cheap investment.

Wow, really great idea! I'm going to do something similar myself. Where are those fittings from?

Thanks for the video. New sub here.

Hi Josh. I just found you. We just bought the exact same boat and I need to re-wire a good chunk of it and clean it up. Could you share some pictures of the battery bank and how the wires are organized there? Thanks!

cool vid. my dad shared w me. good pick dad. new subscriber.

Great. But if you think you're ever going offshore in conditions that may result in a wave breaking over or into the cockpit, this configuration is a BAD idea. I recently reviewed a RU-vid where the Captain was doing a Transatlantic. A wave crashed over a quarter. The solar panel folded down captured the force of the wave. The force was transmitted to the railing and as a consequence the railing was destroyed. If you do install panels this way, before you do offshore, you really need to completely stow your panels below deck or flat on the deck somewhere. This install looks like it will be easily destroyed and the panels will be carried away.

I dont trust those clamps for some reason. At one point they blow off and your solar panels fly away at the very least convenient moment. But the idea is good, and I like where you put them in general. Thats probably what Im gonna do with mine.

Thanks, Josh. As a couch sailor, I enjoy your videos. Just curious if you looked at wind generators as compared to solar panels. I see many boats with small wind turbines, but I understand they are expensive and noisy. True? How 'bout just using a small Honda gas generator?

Great video, thanks for sharing! I have the same set up with 4 house batteries and one starting battery…. So when going from the charge controller do you just link that to one of the batteries which are all then connected or to all batteries individually? Thanks!

Ty

Nive video. Try to hook them up in series and compare charging amperage in cloudy days.

Great video was very helpful. For the pole what size did you use since the product varies in sizes. Also did the pole come standard with the three positioning holes or did you have to drill them. Would you happen to know the inside diameter of the pole. Thanks.

I love this idea and want to do the same for my boat but my only concern is what if the get hit by big waves or get wet from water splashing will it short the wires ?

Hey Josh - great vid. Can you post a link to the clamps you got off amazon to attach the solar panels to the stern pulpit bars? I'm going to be doing a similar set up in the spring myself. Thanks!

How much practical difference does the adjustment make vs a flat solar panel, assuming that you're not constantly adjusting? What I've heard is that since boats tend to move (around a few axes) the gain from pointing the solar panels is offset by the losses when the boat inevitably moves (or you forget to pivot them) and the panels are not only not pointing directly at the sun, but they're at a disadvantage compared even to flat panels.

Great vlog! Was trying to find the telescoping poles you used but can’t locate them. Can you please attach a link or tell again me where you purchased them from? Thanks and keep up the good work!

Nice video- thanks! Do you (or anyone else) think a strip of King Starboard (eg 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch thick) would also work (instead of the wood plank)?

Always have the batteries hooked up to the controller before the solar is connected.. otherwise you can damage the controller.. like your setup..

HI Josh...I bought the same aluminum swing arms you use here for my solar project. Do you have a link for the swivel and the mounting piece that you inserted in the end of the swobbit pole? For the life of me I can't seem to find something similar in my local hardware stores.

Nice setup.... But I wonder if I actually need two 100 watt solar systems to just power my lights inside..., and outside ( anchor light and red and green position lights ..., which are required in Europe ) ... I just got my eye on a nice reasonable 50 watt system ( without battery ) but with panel and controller for a good price.... but for a few dollars more I can get the 100 watt system! So which one would you suggest? The motor doesn’t need power! Just lights and safety ... and charging my phone and laptop via cigarette lighter plug! It’s all a 12 volt system....

It seems that if you use parallel and a panel goes out, you still have a closed system, in series this is not the case.

Hi Josh, really liked your idea and mounted my solar panel to the aft starboard side of the pulpit rail on my O’Day 302. How have your panels stood up? What were the drawbacks?

What kind of sunblock do you use on your face to prevent skincancer?

Thanks for the video. How did you wire the output from the charge controller to multiple batteries? Are you charging the start and house batteries simultaneously? Also, did you add fuses to the wire between the batteries and the charge controller?

We have used the ru-vid.comUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!

Have you considered hydroelectric? There are simple, inexpensive hydroelectric systems for sailboats that generate quite a bit as long as you are moving

Sorry for the late question. Do you remember the size of your 4 house batteries. As in 12volt haw many amp hours each? Or model number just trying to see what was the total of all your batteries? Thanks mike How's the other boat coming?

Wonder what's the price of the stainless Steel framework the panels rest on

One question if anyone can answer: Does it work with acid batteries that need distilled water or should I get gell filled or lithium… also I have an alternator on my boat will it affect the starting of boat… have a 34’ ft

You must put those wires inside pipes.

Hi Josh, great video. So my situation is I will be installing solar panels on my pontoon to charge my 24v battery pack for 80lb trolling motor and 2 fish locators . I was under the impression that I had to install a inverter to convert DC to AC. But maybe that's not required? The plan was to go 200 watt panel, 300 watt inverter, to a marine 2 bank marine charger and with a 20 amp MPPT. But early in my research so this may all be wrong. Any suggestions from your or your followers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Good job! Do you take them down while under sail?

Have you checked to see how much difference in amps you get from adjusting the angle of the panels? Is it enough to be worth adjusting the panels multiple times every single day or do you tend to just leave the panels in one position?

I know I’m about a year n half late to ur vids but catching up… do you have that set up to an inverter because I have an inverter on my boat and was wondering cause I thought I saw one on ur nav station where ur moot controller is …? Help ? Please…

The real question is the panel To power the boat. Or you have electric motors so you used the solar system to keep the boat moving rather then gosling

I wasn't clear on how you connected the wires to your battery. Is it just a straight connection? How does it conflict with the wires already there?

What are the name of the connectors Spencer was explaining?

Good job!!, where did you buy the telescopic tube?

What's an AMP? Any relationship to watts or volts?

Are all of the batteries including starter battery hooked together?

Ugh I really want that swobble pole but it costs $75 shipping to Canada. WTF. A $20 pole becomes $100. Anyone know of any other 2-4' telescoping poles that might work?

So did you fuse off the circuit also? always good to limit fire hazards :-).

Could your system handle running a couple full sized freezers? A friend of mine wants to set up an overnight campground on a small cay near Andros, and having access to a freezer is pretty important to the deal. I've been researching solar (of course) but so far all I'm getting is sales pitches and not answers to my questions.

Do you have your starting battery hooked into this system? If so are there any issues when the motor is running ,back charging into the controller?

they have 2oo watt solar panels that look like yours on amazon.

Hi, is your starter battery connected in series with the other batteries or separate?

Do you have the charge controller directly connected to the batteries? No problem having the alternator charging them at same time?

Do you have rough dimensions for those panels? Thank you

Did you install a fuse into the circuit?

What is the rated power of that panel you installed. What are the dimensions?