The Power of The Sun: Solar Panels

We enjoy being at anchor so much. There is always a nice breeze (which will usually deter the bugs) and it is a little more private. One of things that is a little more challenging is power. You're not plugged in and you need to keep those batteries charged so you can have lights, charge your cell phone and laptop, run the fans and sailing instruments and most importantly start the boat engine. So we (meaning Jon) would haul out the generator fill it with gasoline, shut all the hatches and windows (so we wouldn't get fumes below) start the generator and listen to it drone on for the next hour or so.  And we couldn't leave or go any where while this process was taking place...this is every day...unless you ran the boat engine..still wear and tear on that and there is still the smell and noise and time issue.    We waited for ordering our solar panels so Jon could get an idea of how much energy we use over past ten months. (Also Jon likes to see how everybody else had done theirs and have t I m e (lots of time) to figure out how and where he was going to mount them...no Willy-nilly here. Well, it's done and fantastic.  By the time we are done with our coffee in the morning, the batteries are completely charged from the use of the night before. Amazing and it just continues to replenish all day!  Jon checks it about twenty times a day and feels the need to tell me how many amps the solar panels are putting out.   Another step in our process to be more self-suffient.           

Cutting the tubing for the supports 

       Supports all done....we actually lowered it to be a close to the bimini as possible. 

       Now time to figure out where to mount

       Now attach them to the solar panels 

Here we go

Check for sturdiness 

See, a little bit too high....dismount and take apart supports and cut down tubing. 

    Mount remote display

Run the wiring...he got better at not getting stuck.

Pretty professional looking

     Finished product....them babies are harnessing that power..solar power. 

Jon ordered the Bimmini kit from E-marine in Ft Lauderdale. They include the two panels, the wiring, the regulator and all the fittings to mount them. He just had to buy the tubing from defender to make the supports for the panels. The whole project costs us just under $2,000 and about five days of labor. Being our first time of doing anything like this, not to bad.