Solar Panel Install - Hatch Garage

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   In Dec 21 I installed 2*39w Sunbeam panels (Tough+) (connected in parallel on own Victron MPPT ) and 1 82w Sunbeam (Tough+) (own Victron MPPT) on the hatch garage of my 355 and could not be happier with the look and performance of the panels.
 I dropped the wires into the head on port side under the hatch garage (which I removed to do the install. I used Scanstrut deck glands to waterproof the entry. From the head roof liner I could not get an internal run into battery compartment so I exited the wires in the corner of the head , ran them to floor level and then back to the head sink and into the compartment from there (following the wire run of the shower sump pump). I hid the wiring with cable boxes the same colour as the head liner and exited the wires from the roof in the corner where the door opens / closes so the run is invisible unless you are sitting on the head with the door closed. Where the wires exit the roof and enter the sink panel I used small Tenob cable covers to make the exit/entry look tidy. The Sunbeam flush cables are very good for this sort of run.

I have got the Sunbeam 121w Tough+Black on order and will install in front of the Mast this winter. I have already done the wire run for that. Route is via the goosneck at mast base , from there the 355 has a cable run from where the gooseneck enters the boat (2 small vinyl pads can be unscrewed from inside the boat to access this area) to the battery compartment. This run was easy to do as I had a spare cable run already left in that area from boat build (AIS maybe) that I attached a mousing line to and then pulled the solar wires through to the battery compartment.

We are a 50 amp per day (mostly the fridge which we run 24hrs) boat in cruise mode and the current install while small is very efficient and provides ~40amp  per day. With the 121w installed we are going to retro fit an electric toilet. I was worried that the 82w which was directly under mast would really suffer from shading but it appears that the Sunbeam Shadow Optimised technology does a good job.

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mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Solar Panel Install - Hatch Garage Posted: 28 March 2022 at 00:28
	In Dec 21 I installed 2*39w Sunbeam panels (Tough+) (connected in parallel on own Victron MPPT ) and 1 82w Sunbeam (Tough+) (own Victron MPPT) on the hatch garage of my 355 and could not be happier with the look and performance of the panels. I dropped the wires into the head on port side under the hatch garage (which I removed to do the install. I used Scanstrut deck glands to waterproof the entry. From the head roof liner I could not get an internal run into battery compartment so I exited the wires in the corner of the head , ran them to floor level and then back to the head sink and into the compartment from there (following the wire run of the shower sump pump). I hid the wiring with cable boxes the same colour as the head liner and exited the wires from the roof in the corner where the door opens / closes so the run is invisible unless you are sitting on the head with the door closed. Where the wires exit the roof and enter the sink panel I used small Tenob cable covers to make the exit/entry look tidy. The Sunbeam flush cables are very good for this sort of run. I have got the Sunbeam 121w Tough+Black on order and will install in front of the Mast this winter. I have already done the wire run for that. Route is via the goosneck at mast base , from there the 355 has a cable run from where the gooseneck enters the boat (2 small vinyl pads can be unscrewed from inside the boat to access this area) to the battery compartment. This run was easy to do as I had a spare cable run already left in that area from boat build (AIS maybe) that I attached a mousing line to and then pulled the solar wires through to the battery compartment. We are a 50 amp per day (mostly the fridge which we run 24hrs) boat in cruise mode and the current install while small is very efficient and provides ~40amp per day. With the 121w installed we are going to retro fit an electric toilet. I was worried that the 82w which was directly under mast would really suffer from shading but it appears that the Sunbeam Shadow Optimised technology does a good job.
	H355 , #47

Brufan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 16 December 2010 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 615	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brufan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 June 2022 at 15:34
	Matt, Interesting Have you got any pictures of wiring routing inside ? Did you easy remove the hatch garage moulding ? Best regards
	Bruno hanse 355 - 57 S/Y Spicy Ginger White hull, 2 cabins, Volvo D1-30, Selden rig, removable mainsheet track system, Simrad (now B&G)-Jefa autopilot.

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 June 2022 at 20:37
	Morning , I will post interior wire run pictures later this week , have been asked previously but have not got around to it. In terms of removing the hatch garage , easy but time consuming. Remove dodger from bolt rope track(we had sewing to do so had to do this anyway) , remove small screws from dodger bolt rope track , remove Sika between track and hatch garage , remove Sika around hatch garage areas where is connects with deck , remove hatch garage stews , done.
	H355 , #47

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 June 2022 at 20:39
	Tools required - screw driver , craft knife and patience.
	H355 , #47

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 June 2022 at 20:40
	Apologies for spelling above , no glasses with me!!
	H355 , #47

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 July 2022 at 03:33

	H355 , #47

Brufan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 16 December 2010 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 615	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brufan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 July 2022 at 12:20
	Thanks for these pics ! My install is not as neat as yours (see pics). I took another route to run the cables. I installed 3 Scanstrut cables flat entries under the side "wings" of hatch garage. Then a small square hole in ceiling just above chart table and ran the cables through a custom made wooden conduit (will add a led strip later) and then to the 2 MPPT controllers. Except for cables entries I did not made any holes to fit the panels. I use only one garage original screw and double sided tape to get them on deck
	Bruno hanse 355 - 57 S/Y Spicy Ginger White hull, 2 cabins, Volvo D1-30, Selden rig, removable mainsheet track system, Simrad (now B&G)-Jefa autopilot.

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 December 2022 at 20:46

	H355 , #47

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 December 2022 at 20:51
	I installed the Sunbeam Systems 121 Watt Tough + Black over the weekend , happy with how it looks in relation to the hatch etc. Wire run will be under the self tacker rail , into goose neck and then connected with a wire run I have already installed following the mast cables over to the Nav station. With last years panels we now have 280 watts and after taking into account efficiency losses for being deck mounted , shading etc expect to produce ~70-80 Amps per day which will be more then enough to be self sufficient for prolonged periods (assuming sun is shining which with the current NZ weather is not a guarantee!)
	H355 , #47

PalleT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 31 August 2017 Location: Aarhus, Denmark Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote PalleT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 February 2023 at 15:04
	mattplowman, nice job. Did you sand down the area for the two 39w panels ?



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