Author Topic: Solar Generator Anker F2600  (Read 526 times)

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sprig1

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Solar Generator Anker F2600
« on: June 29, 2024, 07:24:19 PM »
 What am I missing? Couldn?t you use a solar Generator on a boat? Then be able to use it other places to. Like in your camper or house if you had a power outage. It seems like it would solve so many issues. If it ran. Was good around moisture and well built.
  I was looking at the Anker F2600.With 400 watt solar panels. Home Depot has Fourth of July sale going on now. Just wondering on your thoughts. Thanks Chris

Brian.Dixon

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2024, 07:20:35 AM »

Our resident expert on solar is Dan Boccia ... hopefully he'll chime in on this ...
The Great Alaskan - Professional performance - Easy to build! - https://www.glacierboats.com  ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?>

sprig1

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2024, 12:11:29 PM »
Thanks Brian! I?ve been looking more. Looks like a Bluetti P240 is the one. I think it was ip65 water rated.
   Happy 4th! 

Dan Boccia

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2024, 04:04:16 AM »
A solar generator to me is a poor choice. A solar generator is basically a handful of smaller foldable solar panels, charge converter, and battery all-in-one. Your boat already has the house battery, which in most cases is larger than any reasonably sized solar generator. Thus most of the weight of the solar generator (battery) is redundant and just extra weight on the boat, decreasing fuel efficiency and taking up valuable space. The better solution is to install solar panels on your roof and wire each panel to a Victron charge controller that feeds the solar power to the house battery bank. It makes a huge difference and I can't imagine running a boat without solar power, since I often go for 3-5 day trips and may not run the engine enough to charge the house battery some days. So rather than a solar generator, I'd first add solar permanently onto the boat, and then possibly add more house battery capacity if needed. Especially with lithium batteries, it's easy to add a LOT of capacity with minimal weight.

Brian.Dixon

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2024, 07:11:37 AM »
A solar generator to me is a poor choice. A solar generator is basically a handful of smaller foldable solar panels, charge converter, and battery all-in-one. Your boat already has the house battery, which in most cases is larger than any reasonably sized solar generator. Thus most of the weight of the solar generator (battery) is redundant and just extra weight on the boat, decreasing fuel efficiency and taking up valuable space. The better solution is to install solar panels on your roof and wire each panel to a Victron charge controller that feeds the solar power to the house battery bank. It makes a huge difference and I can't imagine running a boat without solar power, since I often go for 3-5 day trips and may not run the engine enough to charge the house battery some days. So rather than a solar generator, I'd first add solar permanently onto the boat, and then possibly add more house battery capacity if needed. Especially with lithium batteries, it's easy to add a LOT of capacity with minimal weight.

What's your solution for putting things like rafts and fishing nets on the roof of the house when there are solar panels up there?  Can you have both ... roof storage AND solar panels?

The Great Alaskan - Professional performance - Easy to build! - https://www.glacierboats.com  ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?>

Dan Boccia

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2024, 12:16:39 PM »
I think the roof of my boat is over 12 ft long. Lindy's was even longer I think. Look back to pics of my build and Lindy's and you'll see that with the radar mounted forward as possible and solar panels right behind that, there's still room for a smaller dinghy. Even if the dinghy covered the panels while you're running, when you get to your anchorage, you usually plunk the dinghy in the water, in which case the solar panels would be open to the sun when you need them most - at anchorage. So yes, if it's part of your design criteria up front, and especially if you tilt your for'd cabin windows forward, there's a LOT of roof surface to work with. 200 watts of panels makes a huge difference. Of course, you could also have some portable panels that you deploy at anchorage, plugging them in with MC4 connectors to permanently-mounted solar charge controllers feeding the house battery - if I was worried about power I'd explore that option fully, then look at upsizing the house battery system, especially with lithium.

Brian.Dixon

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2024, 03:27:20 PM »

... Good to know, and a good thing to keep in mind when designing your layout.
The Great Alaskan - Professional performance - Easy to build! - https://www.glacierboats.com  ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?> ... ><((((?>

sprig1

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2024, 09:18:58 PM »
 Thanks so much Dan! That gives me a lot to think about.  Your comments and advice are much appreciated!

Todd j

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Re: Solar Generator Anker F2600
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2024, 10:42:35 PM »
I have 2, 100w panels on the roof of Fishin Impossible.  I have a single 206 AH house battery.  I was able to hang on the hook and didn?t need to run the engine until the 4th day.  That was with a large fridge, lights and multiple devices charging, pumps running and so on.  My lifepo4 battery SOG I think is NOT a direct replacement size battery.   This allows it to be much smaller in size.   FWIW it is only about an inch larger in every dimension than my starting battery.   I am very happy with my solar house system from Renogy