Solar
Marine Solar Panels & Charge Controllers
Harness renewable energy with professional marine solar power systems. Our solar collection features:
- Solar Panels - High-efficiency marine solar panels
- MPPT Charge Controllers - Maximum power point tracking by Victron Energy and Mastervolt
- Solar Connectors - MC4 and marine-grade solar connectors
- Solar Cables - UV-resistant solar cabling
Solar power reduces reliance on shore power and engine charging, perfect for liveaboards and cruisers. All systems designed for harsh marine environments.
Complete Solar System: Mount panels with Scanstrut Solar V mounts. Charge marine batteries, monitor with battery monitors. Integrate with power management systems. Use cable glands for waterproof installations.
MPPT against PWM, and other things to weigh
An MPPT controller draws more usable power from a panel than a PWM controller, particularly once panel voltage rises well above battery voltage, as happens on a cold, sunny day or with panels wired in series. PWM controllers are simpler and cheaper but really only suit small panels closely matched in voltage to the battery. Once a panel array exceeds roughly 100 to 150 watts, the efficiency gap usually justifies the MPPT.
Panel placement affects output as much as controller choice. Partial shading from a mast, rigging or bimini frame can drag down an entire series string, so parallel wiring or shade-tolerant panel technology is worth considering on boats with awkward deck layouts.
Cable run length and gauge matter too, since a long, thin run between panel and controller loses power to resistance before it reaches the battery. Check that a controller's charging profile suits your battery chemistry, particularly lithium, where the wrong absorption or float voltage can under-charge the bank or trip its protection circuit.
