How does a solar charging system work?

 

  • A solar charging system works exactly the same as your on-board house battery charging system.  The big difference is that the solar battery charger is powered by the sun instead of shore power or a generator.
  • The solar charge controller is a full multi-stage battery charger that provides a bulk, absorb and float charge cycles, keeping your onboard battery bank in tip-top condition when you’re away from shore power.
  • Depending on the configuration, a solar charging system can provide between 6 to 50 amps of power, all harnessed from the solar panels installed on your boat.  This charging power replenishes the energy drained by fridges, lights, stereos, inverter loads, wash-down pumps etc.  This natural charging cycle means that your battery bank is never depleted, you can stay on your boat away from shore power for indefinite periods of time, using all of your on-board electronics freely without worrying about battery drain.
  • A Solar Charging System will significantly extend the life of your battery bank as it virtually eliminates the risk of detrimental deep discharges and keeps the charging cycles within the optimum ranges.  
  • Best of all, it’s noise and pollution free !

What are Inverters or Inverter/Chargers?

 

  • Most boats have a stock DC system which supplies power at anchor from a dedicated house battery bank.  A DC power system can supply energy to operate lights, refrigeration, navigational instruments, water pumps etc.
  • An inverter is a device that simply converts DC power to AC allowing you to operate larger higher power devices such as laptop computers, televisions, coffee makers, microwave ovens, toasters, blenders etc.
  • Without and inverter, these AC devices require you start up the generator, if your vessel is equipped with one.  The inverter affords you the ability to operate these AC devices directly from your DC battery bank.  When mated with a solar charging system, the power used by the inverter is easily replenished by the solar giving you virtually limitless power.  Many of our customers really appreciate the ability to make coffee in the morning and watch TV at night without running the generator.
  • Keep in mind that generally speaking, you cannot operate air conditioners, water heaters, or other devices that have super high current loads.
  • An inverter/charger is a very popular option as it combines an inverter with a high powered charger.  This allows you to quickly recharge your battery bank when connected to shore power or operating your generator.

What are Battery Monitor Kits?

 

  • Battery Monitor Kits are super easy to install and provide a ton of functionality at a very reasonable price.  They are programmed with your battery bank specifications and using that information, they calculate and display a realtime state of charge and current flow.
  • These are especially useful when a solar charging system is installed as the battery voltage is no longer an accurate measure of the battery’s state of charge.  When a solar charging system is charging, the battery voltage is inflated, giving the user a false nexus to the actual state of charge.  A battery monitor will always provide an accurate state of charge reading even when the solar is charging the battery.
  • Battery Monitor Kits can also be programmed to notify you if your house or starting battery falls below a pre-defined threshold.  This provides for a stress free boating experience.
  • We offer two versions of battery monitor kits.  The Victron BMV-712 displays it’s data on a physical screen and via bluetooth.  The Victron Smart Shunt displays it’s data via bluetooth only.  Both are equally reliable and offer the same functionality, one has the additional option of a physical screen.

How do our innovative products differ from the competition?

 

  • We are boaters, all of our systems are designed and engineered for the marine environment.  All components are rigorously tested to ensure 100% compatibility.  We use our solar systems every weekend and we are continuously conducting research and development on how to improve the operation and efficiency to offer our customers the best possible experience.
  • Customer  service is our #1 priority.  We encourage our customers to do their due diligence and research.   Our customer testimonial page provides numerous examples of what our customers have to say about our reputation within the boating community.
  • We offer the largest selection of solar panel kits and marine installation options in the industry.  From portable systems to fixed permanent installations, we have a solution for every boating application.
  • Authorized dealers for major industry brands such as Sunpower USA, Victron Energy, Solbian, Battleborn, Volthium and EPEVER, we offer our customers a comprehensive solution for every application.
  • Our semi-flexible panels are of the highest quality, manufactured in a state of the art ISO9001 facility.  We use only SunPower USA Premium Quality solar cells providing you with the most efficient performance.  Be careful of panels purchased on eBay or Amazon, they use low grade cells which are discounted due to cracks and imperfections.  Although the panels look similar, the cells are much less efficient resulting in very poor performance.
  • All of our solar panels are tested at the factory and our customers receive I-V Curve and EL reports detailing the performance of the specific panels they purchase.
  • Don’t be fooled by creative cosmetic finishes and other gimmicks designed to disguise sub-standard build quality and internal components.  All premium quality solar panels will utilize Ultra High Efficiency SUNPOWER cells backed by a solid warranty that gives the customer the assurance that they are purchasing a premium quality product
  • We offer the full line of Victron Energy products which provide a comprehensive ecosystem of devices that share data, interfacing with striking visual displays and remote monitoring options.