Solar Panel Installation

We added a Kyocera 135 Solar Panel obtained from Hotwire to the top of the KATO Davit Spreader Bar. KATO welded on another piece of 1" stainless to the top of the Davit Spreader Bar at an angle of 7 degrees such that this bar would be perpendicular to the horizon when the Davit Spreader Bar war mounted to the Davits. The Solar Panel was mounted to this Davit Speader Bar using three (3) aluminum mounting bars obtained from Hotwire and Helm HR-200 Rail Clamps.

A Blue Sky Solar Boost 2512i (X) is mounted to a stainless steel bracket which is located behind the B&G hydraulic piston for the rudder on the aft shelf located in the starboard lazerette. The enclosure for the Solar Boost 2512i (X) was obtained from the altE store.

A Blue Sky IPN Remote obtained from Hotwire is housed within the port-side Navigation station Auxillary panel.

Miscellaneous wire, feedthrough, fuse and electrical connectors were obtained from the altE Store and Peter Kennedy Yacht Services.

For other photos go to:

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Larry & Gerry Rossi
s/v Galileo IP 37-44

Larry & Gerry:
That is a very nice install, and exactly how I plan to add a third panel to my setup. I have two over the bimini and want a third panel and will do it this way. I also want to change out to the Blue Sky solar boost like you have. I have all ample power right now, and this solar boost seems to be the best on the market. Thanks fo showing your set up.
Hayden

Hayden,

One thing I forgot to mention, because I haven't done it yet, is that KATO Marine recommended that I place a spacer washer of some sort (nylon) underneath of the pins that hold the Davit Spreader Bar to the Davits to prevent it from dislodging. They indicated that when in weather with the boat rocking side-to-side that possibly the motion of the dinghy could cause this to occur. Don't know if they have had any instances of this kind of consequence occurring, but they did bring that to our attention when we asked them to modify our Davit Spreader Bar.


Larry & Gerry Rossi
s/v Galileo

Hi folks, I see you have the panel mounted onto the bar with the curve in it with 3 rail mounts. That holds it, does it?

Yes, that is how it is attached. I have thought of adding a swaged stainless cable in the area of each attachment fitting that would go around the aluminum bar and the Kato Davit solar panel support bar if we were to go offshore.