| Whether you own a cruiser or a trawler; are a | | | | Applications: |
| live-aboard or a weekend boater; marine solar | | | | 1. Maintenance charging while on mooring or anchor |
| applications can easily be integrated into your boating | | | | If you are fortunate to live aboard, or frequently find |
| style. I would like to quickly explain how solar panels | | | | yourself at anchor, maintaining a floating charge is |
| work and 3 relevant marine applications. | | | | essential to keeping the batteries topped off and |
| What are marine solar panels and how do they work? | | | | avoiding "no-start" situations. |
| Simply stated, marine solar panels take energy from | | | | 2. Augments onboard charging systems |
| the sun and convert it into usable DC/AC power. The | | | | If you have an onboard generator or use your |
| panels and system are really no different than those | | | | engine(s) to power your systems (especially the hot |
| used in residential applications. The only difference is | | | | water heater) and appliances, a small solar panel can |
| the environment in which they would be used. If you | | | | easily take care of powering small appliances and |
| are either living aboard or cruise in salt water, you | | | | critical electronics. |
| most certainly know that wiring and attachment | | | | 3. Primary charging for vessels without an auxiliary |
| hardware need to be up to marine standards. | | | | power source |
| Applications: | | | | Many cruisers, trawlers, and sailboats are without a |
| 1. Maintenance charging while on mooring or anchor | | | | generator or auxiliary power source. A solar |
| If you are fortunate to live aboard, or frequently find | | | | generation system solves this issue. |
| yourself at anchor, maintaining a floating charge is | | | | Using marine solar panels in conjunction with battery |
| essential to keeping the batteries topped off and | | | | banks to store the energy and a power inverter to |
| avoiding "no-start" situations. | | | | convert DC to AC , allow you to utilize these 3 marine |
| 2. Augments onboard charging systems | | | | applications both effectively and efficiently. |
| Whether you own a cruiser or a trawler; are a | | | | If you have an onboard generator or use your |
| live-aboard or a weekend boater; marine solar | | | | engine(s) to power your systems (especially the hot |
| applications can easily be integrated into your boating | | | | water heater) and appliances, a small solar panel can |
| style. I would like to quickly explain how solar panels | | | | easily take care of powering small appliances and |
| work and 3 relevant marine applications. | | | | critical electronics. |
| What are marine solar panels and how do they work? | | | | 3. Primary charging for vessels without an auxiliary |
| Simply stated, marine solar panels take energy from | | | | power source |
| the sun and convert it into usable DC/AC power. The | | | | Many cruisers, trawlers, and sailboats are without a |
| panels and system are really no different than those | | | | generator or auxiliary power source. A solar |
| used in residential applications. The only difference is | | | | generation system solves this issue. |
| the environment in which they would be used. If you | | | | Using marine solar panels in conjunction with battery |
| are either living aboard or cruise in salt water, you | | | | banks to store the energy and a power inverter to |
| most certainly know that wiring and attachment | | | | convert DC to AC , allow you to utilize these 3 marine |
| hardware need to be up to marine standards. | | | | applications both effectively and efficiently. |