How To Install Solar Panels On A Narrowboat

Find the best place for your solar panel.

How to install solar panels on a narrowboat.

These are flexible solar panels from bimble solar i bought as part of a kit and went for the self installation option. Adhesive backed panels or panels that can be stuck with a silicon type glue are now the most appropriate solution for a narrowboat because they can be stuck down with adhesive to the curve of the roof. Both traditional crystalline types and the more modern amorphous types work well on narrowboats. Most of a narrowboat roof is potentially space for installing panels but you need to look at how much of that you can spare or want to allocate for the use of the solar panels.

There are 5 steps in this video that i. Run the battery wires to the battery terminals. Ldsreliance recommended for you. One set of wires coming in from the panel another set going out to the battery.

It s no mystery that solar panels are a popular choice when it comes to alternative onboard energy systems. Of course everyone has. This is the physical size that you have available to be taken up by a set of solar panels. Fitting a solar panel to your narrowboat.

This should be on an area of the cabin roof or wheelhouse clear of other equipment. Solar panels are an excellent way to green up any vessel s energy plan so here s the lowdown on how to install solar panels. The panels effectively do the same thing but the power comes from the sun. They don t have anything like the same output as a mains charger though not even on a relatively large solar installation so one myth to quickly dispel is you can fit solar and then expect an abundant supply of power as you would when plugged in.

Aerials might cast a shadow over the panel and reduce its effectiveness. The solar panel will not interfere with the operation of the other equipment but items like t v. They re noiseless have no moving parts and provide free electricity for years with minimal maintenance. Lead the wires to the mounted controller then attach the incoming wires to the solar and screws see photo.