Tag: Solar power

Fitted, tested – Victron solar solution (DIY)

Reminder of the 4 panels (already installed)

It all came together

The regular readers here will already know that I (we, that’s my dad in the photo) have been installing a solar solution to recharge and maintain my planned huge 12v battery.

There was a plan and then another plan, then finally it was a case of “push came to shove” as the need to generate some power while out on the cut and not rely solely on the generator became a necessity.

Today the plan was to connect up the solar panels to each other (in parallel), install the cut off switch, the charge controller, connect the 4 12v batteries together in parallel and some minor electrical cable routing with switch installation. Phew. Might be asking a bit here…

Can it be that simple?

I have had about a week to work on the theory side of this project. I spent some time emailing the great contact I was lucky enough to be put in touch with via a family marine mechanical engineer (check out D H Crouch on YouTube).

With the contact’s patience and understanding, I felt ready to install this new equipment.

You’ll recall that I generally know about woodworking and other IT based tech but the whole concept of batteries and environmental generated electricity is so far out of my comfort zone that I sometimes wonder what’s wrong with me.

Ahead – nonetheless

I started off the day with a “simple” goal. I needed to extend and hide the cable that powers Phoenix security camera and install a manual switch to power it off when I was there. I got bored of the boat emailing me pictures of myself so this became a priority as it draws its power from the “house battery” and is wired in with the stereo feed. So an isolating switch was called for.

What I thought was going to be a simple case of making a small hole in the face panel and dropping a cable down to where I wanted the switch to be, well, it became a 2 hour argument with friction and some tiny amount of drilling and soldering.

The end result was met and I celebrated with a well earned coffee.

He comes to the rescue and brings the bits too

Once my dad arrived with the interconnect cables he had made up for the solar panels and the battery interlinks, we set about getting on with it.

Well, Dad did, I had to attend a work meeting but it was ok as he took some time to work out the “plan of action”.

Once I was available, we hooked up the solar to the new cables and linked the batteries as planned.

The final tests

Once the “battery” was linked and solar linked, we set about test connections to see what the system would do when hooked it all together.

The battery was hooked up first (as per the manual) to the trip switch (reusable fuse?)

The “battery”. 4 X 12v in parallel.
The charge controller and it’s fuse

Looks like a red spider and black spider had a fight?

Ok, so the wiring does leave a lot to be desired but equally, the area isn’t seen but needs cable length as the cupboard its behind moves out to allow for access under the front well.

some of the wires will be tied up and out of the way and others used for other equipment but generally it is getting there.

an example of the Victron controller Bluetooth data

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Solar installed, yet to be connected up.

Phoenix now has 4 shiny new solar panels upon her roof.

just one of the new solar panels. This one is having its bracket fitted.

The plan continues

The day started slow but once the nicely fashioned aluminium brackets had been attached to each panel, I started the layout of them.

Initially I had planned to put three panels across the roof and the forth along the roof.

All panels needed to go towards the front (bow) end as I use the centre rope lots when travelling alone. Jumping on and off with just a back (stern) rope is a pain as you’ve only got the one end at hand. Once the back is in, the front wants to go out. The middle rope is ideal as it just pulls it all over at once.

The single centre rope is a boon when working the locks alone too as I can walk the open gate whilst slowing the boat and by the time I’ve entered the lock, I’m ready to push the gate shut (dual gated locks).

Anyways, so the new panels needed the brackets installed on the panel and then holes marked with them for the roof to be drilled and tapped to take some bolts.

The bolts are actually hex head m5 bolts and they have been glued in with some waterproof gorilla glue (it expands and should be fine).

The panels are yet to be wired into the boat electric system but progress has been made nonetheless.

first panel on and attached… 3 to go…

The installed panels

As you can see from the last photo, there was going to be enough room to have all 4 panels side by side.

They needed to go on the one side as I wanted to be able to get from back to front of needed and visa versa.

I have spent some time now working locks alone and this decision was made with first hand experience.

The work being done, so far, has meant that over the next few days, Phoenix should be generating her own power from the environment. How green are we actually going with this boat? ?

panels installed! You can see a ‘Y’ connector on the roof (used for linking 2 cables to 1).

In the image above, you can see my dad and he is looking at the entry point for the solar cabling into the front of the boat.

What’s next?

Next is connecting up the 4 12v batteries into 1 big 12v battery.

Then it’s the hookup work. That will involve connecting the large battery first to the charge controller (via a fuse) and then the solar into the controller too.

Then finally, I will be able to see what all the fuss is about solar (in the UK no less).

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