Solar backup power?

[REBrueckner]

Here's something you DON"T probably want to add to your wish list:

http://www.mysolarbackup.com/

I heard this add on the TV and thought..."that's ridiculous".....1800 watts of power from a portable solar backup?? One solar panel??

Well, it's really a 51 amp hour (modest size) AGM battery, with an inverter, and a solar panel to keep that battery charged...maximum charge current is 5 amps.

A 51 amp hour battery at 12 volts is worth maximum 51 x 12 or 612 watt hours....( and a completely dead battery)....let's say 500 watt hours max, still optimistic.

less 15% losses for the inverter leaves 425 watt hours at 120 volts...so this $1,700 system will provide 1800 watts backup for 425/1800 or about .24 hour MAXIMUM or 14 minutes. More likely maybe 10-12 minutes actual.

It is advertised showing power during snow, night, rain, hurricanes, all when little to no solar power is available for recharge....and even if it were, a 5 amp charge rate would do little to recharge this system when being used for anything beyond a few light bulbs.

Skip this product. Buy a few candles instead.

 

[OBXTucker]

All that for only $1,800!

On a similar note, does anyone use a solar panel to keep their RIB/Tender battery charged? I have a built in charger and can plug it in while I'm away, but that involves running an extension cord from the FB to the RIB. Unsightly and a potential hazard to trip over while up top.

I figured it would be easy to rig a simple panel and onto the FB beside my RIB and just plug it in. Thoughts? Recommendations on what size panel?

 

[REBrueckner]

Almost any small solar panel will trickle charge adequately and likely not require a controller (regulator)...in other words, if the tricke charge is say 1/4 amp for four to six hours daily, it should not overcharge....but many battery manufacturers also say that trickle charging shortens battery life....so maybe hooking it up a few days a week instead of full time might be helpful.

On the other hand, a battery should keep a good charge for several mos so why trickle charge for shorter intervals of use??

 

[Dan Mapes]

I have a sears Gold maintenance free U1R 340CCA in our dink and for three years now, it has started up the dink after laying all summer with the cables disconnected.
However it's only spinning up an 18hp Tohatso.

 

[OBXTucker]

Must be the winter doldrums making me research unnecessary projects! I'm probably better off keeping a spate battery On occasional trickle charge in the engine room.

 

[REBrueckner]

Hold on just one minute Jeff:

There is no such thing as an unecessary BOAT project. Home?... yes! airplane... well, maybe! But NEVER a BOAT project.....!!!!

 

[OBXTucker]

ok....well then maybe this one needs to move down to the bottom of the "to do" list....

 

[Glory]

Hold on just one minute Jeff:

There is no such thing as an unecessary BOAT project. Home?... yes! airplane... well, maybe! But NEVER a BOAT project.....!!!!

I like that! I wish I had time for all of my boat projects.

JM