Solar panels on 411

Has anybody fitted solar panels on their boat? If so what location has been used such as a stainless steel frame on the stern (somehow avoiding the backstay), flexible panels on the deck or bimini, tilting flip up panels on the safety lines or some other configuration. 

What wattage and type of panel is considered suitable.

I'm upgrading a Swan 411/022 with lithium ion batteries (3x200 ah) and would like to add solar charging from 400 to 800 watts at 12 volts.

 It looks as though it may be difficult to retain the Classic Swan deck profile with 800 watts of solar panels hanging off the back! 

Many thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. 

Michael Dalton 

Swan 411/022 - Sundance 

Hi Michael, 

we have a 200 Wp flexible panel on top of a bimini, plus a 50A B2B charger. Being in Greece, there is plenty of sun, and we never need to run the engine just to load the batteries (300 AH AGM 12V). 

Kind regards,

Christian 411/028 IF

Hi Christian 

Thank you for your advice and photo 

Your combined bimini and solar frame looks good and does not obviously detract from the classic lines of a Swan 411.

My surveyor has suggested 2 x 410 watt REC Alpha solar panels. These would be a tight fit on Sundance but very effective in charging the 3 x 200 ah lithium ion batteries. 

I'll see how we can install something similar to your arrangement. 

Kind regards 

Michael Dalton 

Swan 411/022 - Sundance 

Hi Michael,

if I needed more power on my setup I would add panels on both sides of the wheel, connected to the railing, with the possibility to orient them to the sun. This would be another 200 Wp, to a total of 400 Wp. A second alternator, and Watt@Sea, are also options. I assume 800 Wp will be difficult to achieve with just solar, without spoiling the beautiful looks of the 411. Our setup can be removed from the boat without leaving a trace. The small bimini is a copy of that which Stefano Cioni had on 411 Oracabessa. I think I will soon be where you are, as our AGMs are 8 years old, and next would be lithium also. So I am curious to see what you will install.

Kind regards,

Christian 411/028 IF

Just for clarification, as both of you mentioned lithium ion batteries -- do you mean lithium ion batteries or lithium iron phosphate batteries, more commonly referred to as LiFePo4? The technical aspects then belong in a different thread, of course.

Best, Martin

Hi Martin,

I have in my mind LiFePO4. Other technologies may become available later on, like Sodium-Ion batteries.

Kind regards,

Christian

Hi Martin 

You're right, we should refer to the right chemistry that is recommended for marine applications known as lithium iron or LIFePO4.

I believe the other lithium chemistries are not recommended for marine work. 

Kind regards 

Michael Dalton 

Swan 411/022 - Sundance 

Just for clarification, all the lithium chemistry batteries are Lithium Ion.

LiFePO4 is one type of Lithium Ion battery, and it is indeed the safest one readily available, unlike the LiPo in phones and drones etc which are far more likely to cause a problem.