best solar panels???

[walleyeaddict]

All right guys lets hear it. Which solar panel works best for a fish house and where can i get it? I run a 12 volt forced air furnace and lights off a trolling motor battery, i have 2 of them. Plan on adding a 12 volt tv soon. I am sick of lugging batteries back and forth. I spend alot of time out there so i need one that will keep up. Thanks in advance.

[JeffS]

If you want to run all that equipment you might need a generator. We have 2 deep cycles running the lights and radio in our fish house and when we plug in the TV we get up to 6 hours or so off of the batteries. Problem is that the solar panels take a strong 3-4 days of light to recharge the deep cycles. Even then I have a hard time getting the batteries back to full charge.

[slipperybob]

There's a lot of other equipment to go with the solar panels. Something like a piece of equipment to control the voltage and/or the amp. That's separate from the charger unit.

[Tom7227]

You need to figure out how much juice each of the things you use draw. That will give you an idea of how long you can expect things to work given your current setup. I'd bet the thing that's killing you is the fan on the furnace. Can you get by with just some of the small computer style blowers that move the air around?

The next question then is how quickly the solar panel can re-charge the batteries. Use it every day? Probably solar won't cut it. They aren't going to be oeprating at 100% efficiency all the time due to clouds and such.

Up at the resorts in Canada they have a couple of lights and a water pump and they have panels that are at least 18 X 24 and two batteries. I'm betting you're going to need to spend at least $150 to get the right size. Then you do need some additional equipment so that they don't overcharge the batteries.

[Se Mn FishSlayer]

check ut the one my boss sells for our canoes it might work it can be hooked up directly to the batterie the web sight is http://www.riverridgecustomcanoes.com

[walleyeaddict]

thanks for the rplys guys. but there are some pretty big panels out there. does any one with a wheelhouse have any experience with these??? Specifically on with the 12 volt forced air furnace??

[Bulldoggr]

Fish House Supply Check this link out. It will give you some ideas and other options

[walleyeaddict]

no one using solar panels out there?????

[blueroof]

I would not suggest installing a larger solar system to an ice shack. Too expensive considering potential vandalism. And, I would imagine towing down the road might be problematic for the cells.

If you're still interested, check out Outback for MPPT trackers and other components. BP, GE and all the other big manufacturers make pretty similar cells in regards to efficiency and costs.

IMO, a generator is a far better option. LB

[Mike #1]

For solar questions I would suggest the HSOforum r.v. net. Just type “solar” in the search and you should be able to get your questions answered.