Roger Long wrote:

I know it's theoretically better to keep batteries on a trickle charge
and warm over the winter but it costs me $70 to have them taken out of
the boat and stored by the yard. (Nevermind the reasons why I don't
want to take them out myself and home to my basement.)

....
I would vote in the "no-problem" camp. The self discharge rate of
AGM's is very low, and in the winter temps should be a quarter of the
summer rate, or less. If you're able to visit the boat a few times,
you should check the voltage to make sure nothing as gone awry. And a
small solar panel might not be a bad investment

In my case, I have a solar panels (150W) under the shrinkwrap that
keeps a small charge on the large flooded house bank. The AGM starter
bats (Optima red top) can fend for themselves.

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
...

In my case, I have a solar panels (150W) under the shrinkwrap that keeps a
small charge on the large flooded house bank. The AGM starter bats
(Optima red top) can fend for themselves.


150 watt solar panels? Who makes them? And they work installed under the
shrinkwrap?

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
...

In my case, I have a solar panels (150W) under the shrinkwrap that keeps a
small charge on the large flooded house bank. The AGM starter bats
(Optima red top) can fend for themselves.


150 watt solar panels? Who makes them? And they work installed under the
shrinkwrap?

They are three 50 watt panels, on the hardtop. On a sunny day, they
do get into "charge" mode. I've never read the exact current, but
perhaps this winter I'll have a chance because I have a new charge
controller that reads the current.

Also in the late winter, I cut a hole in the shrink over one of the
panels, and from that point on there is plenty of juice

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:


150 watt solar panels? Who makes them? And they work installed under
the shrinkwrap?

They are three 50 watt panels, on the hardtop. On a sunny day, they do
get into "charge" mode. I've never read the exact current, but perhaps
this winter I'll have a chance because I have a new charge controller that
reads the current.

Also in the late winter, I cut a hole in the shrink over one of the
panels, and from that point on there is plenty of juice


Cool. I had a single, 50 watt panel on an RV. Direct sunshine produced
slightly over 2.5 amps.

I thought you had a single, 150 watt panel and was curious where you got it.

Eisboch

The best source that I found for solar panels is Wholesale Solar.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/

The prices were so cheap that I was almost afraid to use them. I did
and have been very please with them.

-Lee

Eisboch wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:


150 watt solar panels? Who makes them? And they work installed under
the shrinkwrap?

They are three 50 watt panels, on the hardtop. On a sunny day, they do
get into "charge" mode. I've never read the exact current, but perhaps
this winter I'll have a chance because I have a new charge controller that
reads the current.

Also in the late winter, I cut a hole in the shrink over one of the
panels, and from that point on there is plenty of juice


Cool. I had a single, 50 watt panel on an RV. Direct sunshine produced
slightly over 2.5 amps.

I thought you had a single, 150 watt panel and was curious where you got it.

Eisboch

On 28 Oct 2006 12:58:54 -0700, "
wrote:

The best source that I found for solar panels is Wholesale Solar.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/

The prices were so cheap that I was almost afraid to use them. I did
and have been very please with them.

-Lee

gosh, so cheap they're only $150 more than they were 4 years ago.
assholes.


Eisboch wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:


150 watt solar panels? Who makes them? And they work installed under
the shrinkwrap?

They are three 50 watt panels, on the hardtop. On a sunny day, they do
get into "charge" mode. I've never read the exact current, but perhaps
this winter I'll have a chance because I have a new charge controller that
reads the current.

Also in the late winter, I cut a hole in the shrink over one of the
panels, and from that point on there is plenty of juice


Cool. I had a single, 50 watt panel on an RV. Direct sunshine produced
slightly over 2.5 amps.

I thought you had a single, 150 watt panel and was curious where you got it.

Eisboch

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Roger Long wrote:

I know it's theoretically better to keep batteries on a
trickle charge
and warm over the winter but it costs me $70 to have
them taken out of
the boat and stored by the yard. (Nevermind the reasons
why I don't
want to take them out myself and home to my basement.)

...
I would vote in the "no-problem" camp. The self discharge
rate of
AGM's is very low, and in the winter temps should be a
quarter of the
summer rate, or less. If you're able to visit the boat a
few times,
you should check the voltage to make sure nothing as gone
awry. And a
small solar panel might not be a bad investment

In my case, I have a solar panels (150W) under the
shrinkwrap that
keeps a small charge on the large flooded house bank. The
AGM starter
bats (Optima red top) can fend for themselves.


*Under* the shrink wrap? I though solar panels had to get
direct sunlight.

SBV

Scotty wrote:


*Under* the shrink wrap? I though solar panels had to get
direct sunlight.

There is certainly some attenuation. But if direct sunlight can give
me 8 Amps, its not unreasonable to get one Amp with the cover on.

If you had a small portable panel, it should obviously be mounted
outside the wrap.