Well the solar panels are hooked up without a controller and are doing fine. If anything I wish I could over charge the batteries to equalize them but they just aren’t putting out enough. One certainly needs a controller if you don’t live on your boat and watch the voltage all day like I do.
I did however buy a controller today. I went with BZ products MPPT500 (http://www.bzproducts.net/) This controller will allow me to expand my solar system to 45amps, and input my voltage @ 24 volts which makes for a more efficient system. The controller will bring it back down to 12 volts and convert the excess voltage to amps. I’m having it delivered to my buddy Chuck’s house, so I should have it in a week or so.
Sam and I are pulling our hair out trying to get out of here. There is so much to do and we are soooooo CLOSE!
I’ve plotted my course to my buddies house in Stuart. We will sail down to the keys and go through at lower Matacumbe Kay. There is a 65′ bridge there. Then we will sail up the east coast to the Lake Worth inlet and go up the ICW to Stuart for a few days.
The weather is not optimal to sail south at the moment anyway so a few more days wont kill us.
Peace everyone.
Sail far and live slowly.
– Alex