The issue with hooking up a solar panel to the batteries is the possibility of
overcharging. Large panels need a regulator, smaller panels do not. To guess
at an answer, we would need the relative sizes of your panel and batteries.
And, are these starting batteries for the outboard, or deep cycle for lights and
other accessories. If you don't know the models and size, any numbers on the
batteries would help. For the solar panels, there is often a wattage like 5-10
watts for a small panel, or 50 to 75 for a large one. If you can't find an ID,
knowing the dimensions would help us guess. Also, if you can count the "cells"
on the panel, it would tell the maximum Voltage. 36 cells usually means a high
voltage, 32 cells is a bit lower and is sometimes called "self-regulating."
If the panel has 32 cells and is small (2-3 square feet) it is probably a
trickle charger which wouldn't need a regulator.

Some small outboards have an optional alternator. I know the Yamaha 4-stroke
9.9 has one. I couldn't find info on yours in English - maybe its only
marketed in Europe. You could try a Yamaha dealer.



"Phil" wrote in message
...
Hello Folks

We're not completely new to the boating game as we have owned a 43'
Narrowboat, but we never got the use out of it so we have just bought
ourselves a S/H Viking 23 Custom, which is moored very near to home so we
should get to use it more. As we're not use to GRP and outboards we will no
doubt be asking a number of questions as time goes on. The first question is
about solar panels. The previous owner installed one on the escape hatch on
the front 'V'. We have traced the wire and it seems to go nowhere (we loose
it some where in the front 'V' but it dose not come out again). If we wanted
to use it to keep the 2 batteries topped up how do we go about wiring it up.
We think we know how but just need someone to confirm it.

The outboard is a Yamaha F9.9CE, can someone just confirm for me that it
does not have any means of charging the batteries while running. We can not
see any wires from the motor to the batteries other than the starter leads
(but we did mention we are new to outboards)

Many Thanks

Philip & Joan