Solar Array repaired/reattached

Trip dates: 
Monday, February 20, 2023
Trip length: 
1 day
Type of watercraft: 
Sail

I had added solar to Bubbles last July and have been very pleased (two Renogy 175 watt flexible panels) with those two panels providing all the energy I needed plus! In the big Christmas Eve blow that came through, evidently the engineering of  the connection of the panels to the frame proved to be inadequate.  I had attached the panels with nylon cable ties and one panel was completely gone and the other, while still attached, was barely attached with the connectors broken. The frame was undamaged, so I ordered a new panel and began exploring new ways to connect the panels a bit more securely. I found some stainless steel cable ties that had a strength rating that was more than double the nylon cable ties and of course won't suffer UV damage.

So today, I reattached the old solar panel and the new one and then lifted the frame up to what used to be the radar mast and reattached it. Hooked up the MPPT (again, renogy) and I once again have solar power which meets all of our needs! When I purchased the solar panel and the necessary connectors - also got a great deal on a 1000w inverter - which will be installed later.