Everything You Need to Know about Marine Solar Panels
A boat can be a fun way to relax and spend time with your family and friends. Many people take extended boating excursions during the warmer weather months. During this time, they may have figured out a way to enjoy all the luxuries of home while on their sailboats, cabined boats or their yachts. The problem is that most of the time, their relaxation may be interrupted by a dead battery. If you are someone who struggles with your boat’s battery in addition to considering a better brand of marine battery, you may want to consider installing solar panels on your boat or maybe even a wind generator (for those on sailboats)
Jump To> Marine Solar Panel Reviews
What is a Marine Solar Charging Panel?
Everyone knows that solar panels on land can capture the sun’s energy and turn it into a fuel that can be used to power their homes. It works the same whether it is a solar panel on a boat or on the land. When light hits the solar panel it activates electrons that are on its surface. These electrons begin to jump from one atom to another and creates an electrical current that takes on the form of a DC charge. It is then transferred to and stored in your battery to be used as needed. There are three common types of solar powered cells used in marine solar panels. Each type will have pros and cons. You will need to decide which one is the best for you. These three types are:
- Common Solar Panels: These panels work very well, but they are sensitive to shade. This means that shade can lower the amount of charge that you will get from your solar panel.
- Monocrystalline: This is a smaller solar panel than most so they take up less space, but it does not lack in efficiency. It simply uses silicon cells that form into larger crystals and then cut to form individual cells. However, if you choose the multicrystalline polycrystalline cells, which also fit into this category, you will have less power during shady times.
- Amorphous Silicon: This is the cheapest way to get solar panels. They are not as efficient as the two other types, but they are shadow protected which means they will continue to charge regardless of the light that is available to them. This is a true benefit when it comes to sail boats.
What are Marine Solar Panels Used For?
Most often marine solar panels are used by avid boat enthusiast who spend a lot of time on the water. They are used on sailboats that may spend extended periods of time out on the water. They can be useful for anyone who run a lot of electronics on their boat, but want to save gas and not leave their boat idling. This means that instead of having to worry about running your electronics while not running your boat and killing your battery; you will be able to relax.
Do You Need A Marine Solar Panel?
If you often spend a lot of time on the water and find yourself dealing with a dead battery, you may want to consider installing solar panels to save your sanity and your gas. You will want to consider them if you have a cabin that uses an air conditioner or has a refrigerator that needs to run off your battery. Even people who enjoy night fishing with a spot light may want to have a backup battery charging source for those times when you venture out onto the water during the late afternoon and need battery power to get you back to land the next morning. Many people use them to slowly trickle power to their battery so that the risk of ending up with a dead battery is lessened. It will not matter how much power you use, there will be a steady trickle of energy being replaced so that you can simply kick back and enjoy the fun of boating. This trickle type panel is not something that will charge an already diminished battery. It is simply designed to help you maintain the battery life that is already there.
Marine Solar Panels To Consider
If you are considering a solar panel for your boat, here are a few popular marine solar panel reviews for you to consider. 
The Sunforce is a 5watt solar battery trickle charger which is great for maintaining a 12 volt battery. It is made of ABS plastic as well as amorphous solar cells. It is weather proof and will charge in all daylight conditions which means you will not have to worry during cloudy days. It is easy to install with only four screws. It comes with a 9.5’ wire, battery clamps, and a 12V DC plug. This is an effective trickle system for all areas, whether you live in an area with extreme sun exposure or not.
___________________________________
2 Piece 100W Solar Panels 12 Volt for RVs & Boats
This is a Monocrystalline solar panel that is rated for 100 watts. This means it is high powered and ideal for all off-grid applications. It is rated to provide 95% efficiency after 5 years of use and 80% after 25 years of use. To back this up it comes with a 25 year transferable power output warranty and a 5 year material and workmanship warranty. It is made with an aluminum frame and works well even in low light situations. 
_____________________________________
RDK Products 15W Monocrystalline Solar Panel
RDK creates very popular semi-flexible solar panels marine items and these are no different. They are made wafer thin. This panel is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, water, and severe weather conditions. The panels themselves are durable and strong enough for a person to walk on. They provide a continuous charge to all 12 volt batteries by using the sun. All that you have to do is mount it to a window with the provided suction cups or mount it to any other area that can get direct sunlight. It comes with a 2 year limited warranty. 
