Hey everyone! I have a really cool kayak setup that includes a 65lb thrust brushless electric trolling motor running on a 24v, 60ah LiFePo4 battery. I'm looking to create a solar charging array that I can mount on top of my sunshade or bow, so I can keep the battery topped off during long trips or while I'm camping for several days without access to power.
I want to make sure the solar panels I get are lightweight and modular since space and weight are limited on my kayak. I'm considering options and even looking at this solar panel I found on Amazon, but I'm completely new to solar power and not sure if it's actually a feasible choice for my kayak setup. Also, they need to be semi-marine grade to survive the elements like saltwater, sun, and wind. Any thoughts or recommendations from the DIY community would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
You should definitely consider flexible solar panels! They're lightweight and can easily be mounted without adding too much structure to your kayak. This way, you won't have to worry about weight distribution too much, and they should hold up well against the elements. Those rigid panels you mentioned might work, but flexible ones could be better for kayaking.
Just a heads up, putting a solar array on your kayak could affect its balance. If you're not careful, it might lead to capsizing in strong winds. It might be safer to set up solar charging on the shore instead, where you can keep it secure and stable.
I see what you're saying. I never thought about the balance with the wind. My kayak is set up quite low to the water so hopefully, it should handle it well! But shore charging does have its perks.
The linked solar panel might only provide a trickle charge for your 60ah battery, which is pretty large. You'd need around 20 watts of solar power to charge such a battery, but in perfect conditions, that would take a really long time. Consider using more powerful panels to make the setup viable during your trips! Sorry for the downer, but I want to set you up for success!
I would suggest custom building your solar setup. Look for waterproof, lightweight panels that can handle drops. You might also need a boot controller to control the charge effectively. Just remember that the 24v battery complicates things a bit since you'll need MPPTs for efficient charging. Consider getting two flexible panels (around 100-130w) in series to optimize charging.
Thanks for the tip! I was thinking rigid could work since my sunshade is pretty stable, but I'll look into flexible options more closely.