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Everyone loves a day out on the water. The scenic views, the smell of the sea, and all
the wildlife—what’s not to love?
However, loud and expensive gas-powered generators often generate just as much toxic emissions as they do power for your boat. Thankfully, there are now powerful alternatives, like solar-powered chargers.
If you want to enjoy a peaceful day on the water while simultaneously being more environmentally and fiscally responsible, solar chargers can provide power at sea.
How Do Solar Battery Chargers Work for Boats?
Solar battery chargers function identically to any other solar-powered device.
Solar-powered batteries start by harvesting solar energy through special panels. These
panels take the energy made by the sun and turn it into an electrical charge, which
becomes a Direct Current (DC).
The wiring in the solar panels collects DC. An inverter inside the panels converts the DC electricity into Alternating Current (AC), which we use to power our electronics.
Solar power is often used on the mainland to energize homes, appliances, electric
vehicles, and a variety of other devices. However, you can also take solar energy
offshore on your seafaring adventures.
Having a reliable energy source on the water allows you to charge your equipment without returning to a marina, extending your stay on the water.
What Are the Benefits of Solar Chargers for Boats?
Using a solar charger on your boat will have many benefits. Following are just a few:
- They allow you to charge your boat battery while on the water, allowing you to stay out longer. You won’t have to worry about your battery losing charge while offshore, ensuring a more relaxed and stress-free day.
- They’re incredibly cost-effective. Gasoline-powered generators require regular fuel purchases, which add expense. Furthermore, solar chargers are a one-time purchase and are about the same price as gas-powered generators, making them more cost-effective.
- You can power your GPS and Sonar devices. Your GPS and Sonar are critical pieces of equipment that you would surely get lost at sea without.
A generator like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) would ensure your equipment is always operational, allowing you to safely navigate the seven seas. - Many of these chargers are strong enough to charge personal devices and small appliances while powering your boat battery and navigation equipment, allowing you to stay connected to the mainland while on offshore adventures.
- They’re a green and eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered generators. They produce no emissions and are much quieter than the gasoline alternatives. No emissions mean no pollution, and a quieter charger means you won’t be as disruptive to your environment.
- They’re also less of a safety hazard. Carrying around several gallons of gasoline is a major fire hazard and can pose life-threatening circumstances to wildlife if spilled into the ocean.
Types of Solar Battery Chargers for Boats
If you’ve tried looking into solar chargers for your boat, you may have noticed that many types are available, all with slightly different purposes and strengths.
Following are some key types currently available and a bit about what makes them stand out.
Trickle Chargers
Trickle chargers are an excellent option for slowly charging your battery over time. They allow for a slow and steady charge that keeps your generator at a steady working pace for longer. They’re typically used while a boat is docked to keep its battery and equipment from draining while idle.
Solar Power Bank
Power banks are great for personal devices and small appliances like electric coolers. They are usually small and easily transported, making them great for day outings. However, it is not ideal for large batteries that require a lot of wattage.
Fixed Solar Chargers
These chargers are usually much larger and are capable of greater power output. They’re often fixed to wherever they’re being used and are primarily utilized in RVs and boats. These are ideal for marine and car batteries while they’re actively being used.
MPPT Solar Chargers (Maximum Power Point Tracking)
These are a great option for any sized battery or device. They take the power output from solar panels and optimize it for whatever device is receiving the energy. It converts any excess charge into extra current, allowing the battery to receive the maximum possible power. Also, they’re especially useful in cloudy weather.
What Do I Need for a Solar Battery Charger for a Boat?
Solar Panels
Without a reliable solar panel, this whole operation would crumble. Having a set of panels, such as the EcoFlow RIVER 3 + 45W, will fulfill all your needs. It’s capable of fully charging its generator in as little as two and a half hours. It can also directly power your personal devices and has a 300-watt output. All while being able to fold into the size of a laptop, making it one of the most portable on the market.
Power Station
The power station connects you to the energy. You must ensure that whichever power station you purchase meets the power output your boat needs. The key to this is understanding how many watts your battery needs to be charged. Generally speaking, depending on your battery’s voltage, you will need about a 120-360-watt output.
Wiring
Having efficient wiring is essential for ensuring quick and effective charging. The wiring is what brings all the pieces together. It connects the panels, power station, charge controller, and the device being powered. Make sure to have the proper wires to ensure a safe connection between all devices involved.
Charge Controller
Having a charge controller is one of the most important safety measures you can take. A charge controller regulates the electrical currents and voltage of batteries. This helps prevent batteries from overheating or overcharging. An overcharged battery may begin leaking battery acid, causing a variety of environmental catastrophes, something no one wants on their conscience. You’ll always need a charge controller if you have a fixed solar charger.
What Size Solar Charger Do I Need for a Boat?
The charger you need depends entirely on your boat’s battery, how you operate it, and any other electrical devices, such as navigation or fishing equipment.
You will also want to note how many hours of sunlight you will have for the day, as that directly affects how much energy can be generated. Thankfully, using some basic math, you can figure out the minimum wattage needed to recharge your battery.
Generally, most marine batteries run at 100 Amps per Hour (AH) at 12 Volts. You can multiply those numbers to know that a typical marine battery runs at 1200 watt-hours (Wh).
For a battery that runs at 1200 Wh, divide that number by the hours of sunlight you expect to have, which should tell you the generator’s ideal watt output.
In most cases, this will be between 100 and 400 watts. However, that is just for the battery and does not consider any other equipment.
Because of this, you can safely assume that a solar charger capable of producing a minimum of 300Wh-1000Wh, such as the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series Solar Generator (PV220W), will be more than enough for most people’s seafaring needs, as it can run at 2200W.
It must also be stated that not all boats run off of one 12v battery. Many boats, such as houseboats, often have several batteries, ranging from 12v to 48v, and will need larger and possibly more than just one charger.
Having an MPPT system would be especially beneficial in this scenario as it would automatically help find the best output at which to run the batteries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a solar charger capable of producing about 1000Wh is more than capable of keeping a boat battery charged and running any extra equipment you may have.
Yes. Many generators can power multiple appliances beyond just your refrigerator. Depending on battery capacity and wattage output, a generator can run lights, medical devices, WiFi routers, TVs, and even small air conditioners.
If you need to power multiple devices simultaneously, look for expandable storage or higher-wattage models like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3, which supports whole-home backup and scalable energy solutions.
Final Thoughts
Boating makes for a great day out of the house. It is even better if your outing is cheap and eco-friendly. Solar chargers are quiet, cost-effective, and produce zero emissions, making them superior to gas-powered generators.
While many people worry that solar energy isn’t as powerful as the standard gasoline-fueled options, modern solar-powered generators are more than capable of doing the job.
Chargers such as the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) can produce a minimum output of 1000Wh, which is recommended for running your battery, navigation, fishing equipment, and any appliances and devices you may have.