Sailing Solévideo
EP21 - Catalina 30 Solar & Lithium Battery Installation
June 29, 2023 · 20 min · 3K views
Man adjusts solar panel on Catalina 30 stern rail
What this video covers
Andy installs a 200-watt solar system and two 100 Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries on a Catalina Yachts 30. The solar array uses two 100-watt Renogy panels mounted on custom tilting stern-rail brackets fabricated from 316 stainless steel tube, Bimini fittings, Sea Dog rail clamps, and a dual-axis pivot fitting that lets the panels angle toward the sun while keeping the grab rail accessible.▶ 18:42 Andy switched from a mahogany backing plate design to stainless steel mid-build, polishing the brackets through 600-grit before mounting.▶ 2:28 Wiring runs through the stern light hole and a newly drilled penetration, routing under the quarter berth to a battery box where a solar charge controller, positive and negative bus bars, and a battery shunt feed a battery monitor.▶ 8:20 The two 100 Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries were too large for the original battery box orientation, so Andy built a small platform shelf to mount the second battery vertically against the bulkhead.▶ 14:11 A 2000-watt Renogy inverter powers AC outlets via a manually connected cable when off shore power.▶ 16:38 Andy chose a single battery bank rather than two, reasoning the boat previously ran on a single lead-acid bank without issue.▶ 13:33
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