GUIDANCE In port, the solar panels could be oriented along the sun's position for maximum performance at all times of day. Sailing, due to random motion of the ship and its variable course, the best option is to guide the panel horizontally. As it is odd that the port install a monitoring system the sun, consider the maximum height by latitude and season in which it is located. If you do not want to overly complicate your life, leave the panel in horizontal position.
LOCATION Some panels are too sensitive to the presence of shadows, even a narrow shade of a stay or a shroud can affect a decrease in output voltage. The solution always lies in placing the solar panels in places where we have guaranteed sunshine without shadows, especially in the middle of the day.
VENTILATION
As mentioned above, the panel operating temperature significantly affects the output voltage, so a well ventilated panel or two panels with ventilation between them is a wise consideration.
GAUGE WIRING
In relation to the peak current (maximum current snapshot) that can provide a solar panel, it is advisable to oversize the wiring used, since the difficulty of obtaining a good exposure to sunlight combined with the cost of a solar panel will not want to lose even a tiny bit of power because of an undersized cable. PANELS COMBINE
Like that batteries, multiple panels can be combined to increase the current provided. DIODES
A diode installed in the output + panel lets current flow to the batteries, and prevents night a flow of reverse current that may damage the panel.
A diode at the output of each panel in combination systems provides electrical isolation between them. However
to know that the diodes cause a small loss of voltage, which is another reason to use panels of 36 cells. There Schottky diodes that minimize voltage loss.
FUSE Any cable connected directly to the positive of a battery must incorporate a fuse as close to this as possible. In another case a short in the cable represents a serious fire hazard. REGULATOR
If the solar panel output exceeds 1% of battery capacity you need a regulator to prevent overcharging. In fact, anyone with a true appreciation of the wiring in your boat should install solar panels without the appropriate regulator. Some regulators have the function of detecting reverse currents, which would allow the elimination of diodes lock. BYPASS SWITCH
Due to the convenience of submitting periodic deep discharge batteries (the service should be of this type) to a process of equalization (temporary application of a voltage of 16 V with low current current), a switch that disables the temporary regulations allow us to do.
INTERACTION BETWEEN REGULATORS
With the batteries connected to solar panels can be given the fact that the engine alternator controller detects a considerable voltage charging circuit and lock the alternator considering that batteries are fully charged. This problem can be solved by inserting a switch output + panel (see the figure above with the blocking diode), or more automatically using a relay to cut power to the panel when the engine ignition is connected.