{"id":47747,"date":"2019-05-18T11:41:34","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T16:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=47747"},"modified":"2019-05-18T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2019-05-18T16:48:20","slug":"fpb-781-cochise-solar-update-spring-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/fpb-781-cochise-solar-update-spring-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"FPB 781 Cochise Solar Update Spring 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It is late spring in the Bahamas, water temperature is 83\/85F and air that or more. Humidity often is in the 80% range. We are making water, staying comfortable with air conditioning in the evening, generally leading a carbon neutral existence. Welcome to the new world of solar panel cruising.\u00a0 What follows is a bit of data and several suggestions that might help on your own vessel.<\/p>\n

FPB 781\u00a0Cochise<\/em> has 16 solar panels with an average output of 340 watts each. The six on top of the Matrix deck roof are unshaded 100% of the time. The other ten, at each end of the Matrix deck roof we think are producing 65% of the time. Our present output varies between 18.5 and 31.9kWh per day. That is a lot of electrical power.<\/p>\n

If you discount HVAC (air conditioning) from the energy calcs this solar array easily handles all of the rest of the loads. With temperatures and humidity levels a touch lower we are energy neutral. But now that it is warming up we need a bit of air conditioning for cruising equanimity.<\/p>\n

The FPB 78s have excellent natural air flow at anchor. Couple this with massive insulation and normally just the sleeping cabins need air conditioning in the evenings. Our 1600 amp hour traction battery bank has the capacity to\u00a0take us through several evenings. But when the breeze becomes light, as it is now, natural air flow needs augmentation. Step one is to run the air conditioning during the sleeping hours. With one guest cabin and the master suite in use our basic solar array takes care of 95% or more of our needs.<\/p>\n

The last couple of days have been warmer, with light winds, and high humidity. This calls for more air conditioning. Before we bring the genset online aboard Cochise <\/em>we:<\/p>\n