On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:49:07 +0000, Gordon wrote:

Gordon wrote:

I am going to install a solar panel with charge controller but with 2
battery banks, it seems I have to use a duo controller so I feed each
bank separately. If I hook a single controller downstream of the
selector switch, the switch would have to always be in the both
position, which is not desirable.
What say you all?
The price difference between a single and a duo is $45 vs $169.
Gordon

After a ton of research, I've come to the conclusion that solar on a
sailboat is nearly worthless unless you can mount huge arrays pointing
all different directions with multiple controllers.
That said, the new tech stuff coming down the road may prove somewhat
effective.
Gordon

There are many who would probably disagree with your conclusion. It
probably depends more upon what you need power for, and how you use
your boat. Solar panels are generally just part of the charging
system, not a complete solution by itself. It sure can reduce engine
run time, though!

What kind of boat do you have? Do you live aboard? Only sail on
weekends? Cruise for extended periods? Do you have refrigeration or
other big energy needs?