[Rhodes22-list] Solar panel inquiry

[PBR]

Charles,
There are some previous posts about batteries, panels, and charge
controllers.  A charged battery should be able to run your instrument
panel only for days easily especially with solar panel(s).  So
something is amiss.  Check your water levels.  Do you have a charge
controller?  If not, that may have contributed to earlier battery
degradation.  Four years is not bad, but with your light use I would
expect them to last longer.  To test you solar panels you can check
open circuit voltage with a voltmeter.  Disconnect the panels or
disconnect you battery with everything else off.  In good sun your
panels voltage shout produce an open circuit voltage significantly
higher than battery voltage, say 15-20 volts.
-PBR


On Sat, Jul 14, 2012 at 1:48 PM, Charles Nieman
<blue66corvette at hotmail.com> wrote:
> So I left the instrument panel on when I left the boat a few days ago and came back to dead battery!! The penalty for being stupid.
>
> Hooked up a trickle charger to the battery and am now recharged.
>
> The question is, what is the best way to verify if my solar panels are still operational (I think they are original equipment and few things last forever)?
>
> And how much charge would one expect to get from fully operational solar chargers?
>
> The batteries are dated 2008, how many years could one expect these to last? (boat does not have electric motor hoist or electric start on outboard; batteries only power lights, AM/ FM radio, and compass/depth gauge/knot meter).
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Charles Nieman
> 98R22
> DayDream
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