What You Need to Know About Marine PV Solar Panels
Marine solar panels can make a significant difference in your boating experience, especially if you anchor out or make long passages. The state-of-charge of the battery bank is always a concern but with solar power generation on board that concern is diminished. 1. Marine vs residential solar panels Solar panels for boats are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment and the vibration that occurs on a boat. Strong sealants and properly sealed junction boxes combined with the highest output solar cells available are key aspects to the longevity of solar panels in the marine environment. 2. Types of solar panels There are many shapes and sizes of solar panels and they come in rigid and flexible configurations. The highest output per square inch is of critical importance because there is limited space on a boat. Both flexible and rigid solar panels with high quality, high output cells have about the same output per square inch. ...