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Blue Water Supplies Limited. Jersey, Channel Islands Tel.+44(0)1534 739594 Blue Water Equipment Specialists Committed to Value and Service... ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT & Jersey GST Individual prices may not always be competitive... please contact us with your shopping list for a extremely competitive quotation. IMPORTANT Blue Water Supplies is based in Jersey in the Channel Islands. We do not charge VAT although VAT or a local sales tax may be payable on delivery.* (Orders with a value of £18 or under are VAT exempt). Goods collected from Jersey after 1st May 2008 may be liable for Jersey GST(General Sales Tax) at 3% *An administration surcharge may sometimes be added by the postal authority or company. Blue Water Supplies Limited reserves the right to change prices at any time without notice. Although every effort to ensure prices and other details are correct, Blue Water Supplies accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
© Blue Water Supplies Limited 2002-2008 |
Solar Panels
Photovoltaic panels (solar panels) convert light energy from the sun into electrical energy. This energy can then be used to charge batteries or operate electrical items. It is obvious that solar panels can play an extremely useful role on a long-distance cruising yacht, but there is more to consider than first meets the eye. Types of solar panel The most efficient type of panel is one in which each cell is made from a silicone slice from a single crystal, this is known as a monocrystaline panel and is usually a uniform black or grey colour. This is generally also the most expensive type of panel. (About 15% efficient). A polycrystalline panel is one where the cells are made from slices from a cast silicone block and often gives the appearance of shattered glass. This type is generally cheaper than the monocrystaline panels, but less efficient. (About 13% efficient). The cheapest type of panel suitable for marine use is the amorphous silicone thin film panel, where silicone is spread directly onto a backing material. This could be glass or stainless steel for example. This produces a panel that has about 50% of the efficiency of a monocrystaline panel of the same size. This type of panel is often used in calculators and children’s’ toys and does not normally have the same working life as other types of panel. (About 8% efficient). Copper Indium Diselenide panels represent the latest development in thin film technology. (About 11% efficient). Output On a clear sunny day you can expect a maximum of around 80% of the rated power output. Obviously if you adjust your panels to follow the sun and tilt them to the optimum angle, then more power can be gained from a panel. The optimum tilt angle is directly related to the boat’s latitude. This must be weighed up against practicality - even if you do track the sun with your panels, you are only likely to achieve about 50% of your panel’s power on an average day. Regulation If the maximum current supplied by your panel exceeds 5% of the capacity of your battery (in Ampere hours), then it is recommended that you install a regulator to avoid over charging. It is also necessary to install a diode which acts like a valve to stop the DC current draining back to the panel at night.
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