We’re having to run the generator. Again. Seems like every other day. Our solar just isn’t keeping up. Welcome to solar panels in winter.
Does that sound like you? Lots of people have been saying that lately – even us. So what’s the deal?
The basic problem is that it’s winter (if you’re in the northern hemisphere, of course). And even though the refrigerator may run less at this time of year, it’s not enough to compensate for the problems that the solar panels are facing:
- Days are shorter, with fewer hours of sunlight
- The sun is lower on the horizon, even at noon – and solar panels are less efficient when the sun is closer to the horizon
- The sun being lower in the sky can also cast more shadows on your solar panels
- In many places, it’s cloudier
- Depending on where you are, and how your solar panels are mounted on your boat, the wind direction may be such that your panels are more shaded
Every year, for about a month on each side of the winter solstice, our solar panels just can’t keep up and we end up running our generator more often than we’d like. In the middle of summer – even with needing more power for the refrigerator and freezer – the batteries are usually full by mid-afternoon.
Bottom line: if your solar just isn’t keeping your batteries charged as well in the winter, it’s probably not a problem with the panels, the wiring, or the controller. Patience . . . spring is coming!
Flatten the learning curve with practical how-to info that gives you the confidence to step into life aboard.
Start Learning Today
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Leave a Reply