Someone on another channel had a similar issue. They dug out the black blocks on the panels where the wires are connected and found corrosion in there. If I remember correctly, the fix was to cut the wires, clean the panel side contacts, re-solder, and bed everything back in with Sikaflex.
A great idea. We checked that also, they were suprisingly sealed very well with no moisture or corrosion after digging out what looked like Sika. May have some video of those tests to share next week.
Hey Kate and Curtis as you were talking about the flexible panels going bad I was yelling at the computer that you needed to have rigid panels. The flexibles just don’t seem to hold up on a boat. I went through 3 sets of flexibles while I am on my original set of rigid panels. I still have some flexibles but they are not responsible for most of my production, 2 200 watt rigid panels mounted on my railing and held up with struts that allow me to vary the angle are my primary energy producers. My system is a bit of overkill until I have a week of cloudy weather then I need every watt! Good luck with the install. Ben S/V DAWN in Nuku-Hiva French Polynesia
I had the same problem, the moment I connected the panel to the controller there was no power. The fault was not on the panel, the cause was the temperature sensor on the battery controller. In the settings of the solar charge controller it was set that the charge is switched off at a temperature of less than 5 degrees. The sensor delivered a value of minus 18 degrees, so that the charge controller switched off. After I turned off the auto power off feature, the panel started working again. So far I haven't found out why the temperature was displayed incorrectly (the true temperature was 22 degrees). I hope your fault lies with the panels, otherwise you would have bought and installed the new panels for nothing.
Thanks for the tips about the temp sensor! We never thought of that, so it is good to know for the future! Ours did end up being the panels, all is well now :-) Cheers & Safe Sailing to you!
Adding 54 pounds of weight doesn't seem like a big deal...it's like 4 cases of beer. LOL! Great episode, especially the testing of the panels. Glad it all worked out in the end.
Thanks! Love that you follow the live PredictWind tracker on our site at www.sweetruca.com :-) Piriapolis is super chill and a great place for boat work and to explore Uruguay.
I very much appreciate how you allow us viewers into your world and the decisions you have to make. The scene at the beginning where you are talking about your decision to stay or go and you are open enough to show us your vulnerability most evident in Kate's tears - that's really quite something. Thank you.
great video guys, I believe your problem will be in the panel to wire join, either corrosion or partial joint failure leading to the lack of power under load. Since the warranty has been honoured may I suggest that you remove the protective covers from the panel at the wire junctions a good clean and possibly repair of the panel to wire join may bring them back to life. Some judicious application of a terminal sealer and your favorite sealant when assembling will prevent further issues
I love the button mashing when on hold. Hoping that someone on the other end realizes that you’re pushing a bunch of numbers so they decide to answer Great job you’ve become my Sunday morning routine.
What you measured with the flexible panels makes me think there’s a high resistance connection somewhere - corrosion more than likely. It’s the same symptom with corrosion on a starter motor cable, where it seems fine until you put it under load. That current is being converted into heat by resistance somewhere. I wonder if by their nature flexible panels are more vulnerable to connections opening up to corrosion? Anyway, a good outcome and a victory for pragmatism by simply buying what you could locally. You’ll always be able to use more lightweight panels somewhere! In look forward to seeing how the regalvanizing of the chain turns out!
We agree! We were pretty determined that the issue was internally in the laminated portion of the panels. We were pretty nervous about the re-galvanizing as we had never done this before (as racers we carried the minimum chain and never used it). Hopefully we have some good footage of it returning and the re-installation :-)
We are crossing the Atlantic in the spring, heading to Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, and Ilhabela, because Brazil looks like the Caribbean was 40 years ago. You inspired us!
Maaann. it's so fun finding a channel that's actually close to where i live. I live somewhat close (I even saw the name of my city in some previous episodes when you showed the chat map), but inland. Used to spend holidays in paraty and ubatuba (which i belive you guys stopped for a day). I know you wont be staying around for too long, but it's still nice to see! Happy sailing! I will be following along with the videos :D
Three panels failing at the same time, that is weird. Not knowing much about electric systems, I would suggest testing the wire that goes to the charger/controller (or perhaps test all connections at the charger/controller as well). I'm sure you have done it but just my 2-cents. Love your channel!
Thanks Paul! Yes that is such a bummer :-( We will have to skip some places we would have liked to go, but that is OK, we will find some cool places where Roxy is welcome :-)
I have a 12k system. My wires underground got cut and corroded out. This gave the same results you saw. I had to dig up 400ft of underground wire to correct the problem. Im assuming something similar happened within the panels or along the way to the charge controller.
My semi flexible panels on my camper van failed after two years. Replaced with standard panels too. I think they are a better option inspite of the weight
My 2cents, Anything that flexes often will develop fatigue cracks. Looking how you had them mounted instead on a non-flexible base would allow them to flex across their surface. Repeated flexing can induce micro cracks which would allow moisture intrusion. And we all know what moisture does to wiring. Lol. I’m not there so I can not say this was your problem. Food for thought.
@@SailingSweetRuca , you must use an agent, this is an adding cost. That’s why I suggested you doing it at YCU in Montevideo. Even though it’s a small country, there would be an extra cost if they have to travel. And at the Y Club they will be able to help with the agent. I Will try to find some contact.
Aww thanks fot sharing! They are the best! Roxt is approximately 12 years old and has been living with us for over 8 years! Hope yours get to gray hairs as well 😀
@@SailingSweetRuca I’ve had two that I adopted both as adult dogs one at 4 years old and then one at 3. They both lived to about 14 and definitely got those gray muzzles. They passed about a year apart from each other and that was about a year ago. I’ve now adopted another pibble found as a stray and hope he’s around until he’s gray too. I plan to introduce him to the sailboat in the spring and see how it goes. Give Roxy a big head scratch from me. 🐶
Wow thag is excellent knews! We would love it if Roxy has another two years in her! Hard to think about for sure. Glad you've got a new buddy to keep you smiling big 😁 thanks again for sharing
@@SailingSweetRuca cheers, because there is not point me hitting the Notification bell, mines already constantly on! 300+ sailing channels i subscriber to for Obvious reason’s, i do tend to miss a few episodes…
Don't worry, you didn't miss anything, the grinder, epoxy, balsa, and vaccum bags will come out eventually. Our patrons have the pics and repair details already ;-)
Hey @TaffytheGreat! Thanks! Yeah we can remove the rust, but we try and use the acids as little as possible for less long term wear and tear on the paint. It does wipe right off with the right chemicals, but we aren't at the boat show or or have to impress charter guests :-)
Thank you for this. For me, lack of electrical expertise is my biggest drawback for owning a boat. All the mechanical and plumbing, engine work, repairs... no problem. I really need to upgrade my skills on electricity.
I don’t know if wearing a white sweatshirt was the best plan for cleaning a rusty chain locker. Lol. But you got the job done. Good thing you used Curtis toothbrush while he was gone…
Haha! That is an old swim shirt I use to clean the bottom of the boat and keep the sun off! But you're right about the color for sure! And you definitely made me laugh with the toothbrush comment! 🤣
Renogy didn't have us test the diodes as part of the process, as they were sealed and it would void the warranty. After the warranty was complete we did dig them out and test them. We had hoped to replace the diodes, easily available in Brazil, but those tested OK also.
Have you met with "Odd Life Crafting" whilst in Brazil? They're another UA-cam sailing channel and they are based there. Not sure where they are atm, but yeah. They are down there somewhere...
Awesome that you are following channels in Brazil, it is a cool place to sail :-) A few more we met are Chicama and Touche (tell them we said hello :-)
Hi Al! Woof, the maintenance list never seems to end :-) Lots of boat work to come. We have yet to find the damage from the whale, so a big project ahead.
Kate, I think you’re trying to trick us about keeping Sweet Ruca going, you guys are experienced sailors, I’m confident that if you didn’t think Sweet Ruca couldn’t make the journey you would not have started. I also think you at least suspected there could be trouble along the way and had backup plans to your backup plans with a little luck and ingenuity tosses in. I’ve been tracking you real-time and this video explains a lot. I look forward to your next video.
Hi Gary :-) You are correct we have backups on backups! When we left the USA pre-covid we had planned on going RTW in about 2 years. We didn't plan for that in our maintenance or budget spreadsheets (which amazingly Curtis can forecast almost to the penny, just like his weather routing). So now 3 years in we have to do a little more maintenance "on the go" than we had planned for. Nothing like boat work in paradise :-) When we started we knew our soft panels and anchor chain would have a limited life, but thought we would be back in the USA and removed them for racing in the Camden Classic already!
Rigid panels hold up better anyway. Flexible panels flex,, so you can create shorts inside the membrane. You will be much happier with rigid. They hold up a lot better. Flexibles are good for installing on biminis and dodgers
I think you nailed it with the shorts inside the membrane! So far so good with the rigid panels. The soft panels on the dodger are beginning to show their age now as well.
My first thought about your solar panels was- are they connected series, or parallel? Would that have anything to do to your controller? Just wondering.
They are in parallel to reduce the impact of shading. The controller would work with our spare 100w flexible, and you will see how next week it works with the new panels, so we were pretty sure the controller was functioning OK.
You've made no mention of the inside connections possibly failing or having corrosion. All that must be OK. Seems that most of the performance catamaran builders say that the solid glass panels are better performers than flexo panels (1-source: Balance Catamarans). Best wishes and remember to keep the panels cleaned frequently. Looking forward to seeing the new install and the chain. ✨🌊💨⛵️🏝👙🌞✨
You are correct. We went for the connections first, even put new ones on in places that were questionable, no improvement. The flexibles performed awesome at the beginning, in fact they hold the record for amps (optimal sun in caribbean) when they were new. So, for power to weight they are optimal. It seems for longevity though, the hard panels are the winner. Wish we could find the best of both worlds! Still, even hard panels and LifePO4 are a weight savings over just the original AGM batteries alone.
Not being familiar with the particulars of your solar arrangement and whether you have other flexible panels on your boat that run through the same charge controller ., The charge controller converts the higher voltage the panels produce to 12volt ,my guess is the controller itself might be the issue . Of course you've probably already installed the new ones by now and if this was indeed the issue you would've probably already discovered it ,being the new panels would display the same problem . Cheers 🥂
I don’t hear you mention it, but did you have a second Anchor while you removed the chain? I know you were on a mooring, but them bastards can’t be trusted, basically ive never seen this done outside a marina before, and i think there maybe a reason?
We have seen a few mooring balls float away! We even assisted a boat drifting away one night in the USVI. Is that anchor light moving???? Funny to see a boat with a mooring ball still attached to the bow float by! Always good to set anchor alarms, leave AIS on, and even the sat tracker. Also good to dive and check moorings if possible (vis in this case made it impossible). We trust our oversize Rocna and chain more than any mooring. In this case we we knew the owners and trusted their maintenance standards. Anyway, yes we carry a second set of full size ground tackle which can be deployed quickly. Important not only for instances like this, but there also can be reasons one needs to cut away their primary anchor in an emergency (stuck anchor, dragging to lee shore, tangled with another boat, etc.).
@@SailingSweetRuca the other thing I wondered, because ive personally used Aerosol cold Galvanise (they don’t call it paint, but galvy repair, it just looks like sliver/grey paint to be honest, but it does actually work, Galvanise is naturally self healing, depending on the damage, (scratches and chips) and this stuff is like a spray filler to help this, actually Galvanise platers use it on Imperfections, that’s how i know about it, but And it’s a big but! Ive never seen or heard of any sailing boat using it in a saltwater Environment, so obviously after this chain is done, is it even worthwhile Periodically, giving the chain a light coat over? I’m not a metals treatment expert, but that would be interesting to know? And from memory it wasn’t even expensive.. idk?
@@trevhedges we have used the spray stuff as a coating for our prop (interesting results), so familiar with it. It is much thinner than real galvanizing, and easily went throug a can for our prop, so would need quite a few cans to do the anchor and all the chain. Also, prep is the key to getting coatings to stick to metal and protect them. Touching up rusty spots doesn't do much other than make it look better if the rust isn't removed. Easy enough to do some sanding on the anchor, tough and time consuming to do on a chain properly. I have seen people also paint their anchors. I don't claim to be an expert on this, my opinions only, YMMV.
It's a very strange issue with the panels, especially with all 3. From your measurements 19V x 4.5A = ~85 W, which is relatively true for 100 W panels. We have similar panels on our sailboat, but 150W, and I can measure 6.5 A at the same voltage, which produces around 125W. What I would check is the current between the panel and the charger, as well as the current between the charger controller and the battery. This will gives you real numbers of the energy that is delivered to the battery. I assumed that you guys have an MPPT charger, thus the battery current will be greater than from the panel. But it depends on the battery's charging stage. If the charger controller has a dedicated shunt, I would check it, as commonly it has thicker wires and is suspected of corrosion pretty much. Mine have a PWM controller, so I can see only the same current or less, depending on battery charging status. I'm pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with your panels.
@@SailingSweetRuca yeah, I know what you mean. If you plan to stay longer there, I would suggest you to find a foreign trade agent (agente alfandegário). They will charge you a fee (normally $100) and process all the paperwork for you. I'm suggesting an agent, because a normal person in Brazil has to import paying taxes and they won't know how to handle this situation, but an agent will have the knowledge to walk the bureaucracy and get the job done. It will be easy. Also the CPF is not a social security number. It is a tax id number and anyone can get one. Cheers
It’s quite common in all flexi panels they have limited life span in hot country’s. Some companies make semi flexible and put a backing plate in to dissipate the heat. Mesh backed panels appear to be a better option as they get away from front soldiered panels, but I can’t confirm this as we never tested them further
We even dug the sealant out and tested those also. They tested OK also. We still have no idea why they would test OK, but once plugged into the controller they had no output. Same controller, new panels, all good??
@@SailingSweetRuca They have spent a couple of years on the hard refitting their boat and could be a valuable resource for information on who, where and how to get things done in Brazil. Also for interesting places to sail to.
Roxy is absolutely the sweetest. Don't tell the pirates, but she wouldn't hurt a fly! I'm sorry about your loss but must congratulate you on the long life of your pet. What luck to have them for so long. Pits are the sweetest. Roxy is approximately 11 or 12. She's getting up there!
@@SailingSweetRuca I agree. Your panels are fine. It may be a loose or corroded cable maybe a fuse blown- and not in the panels since their Isc (shortcut current) and Voc (voltage open connection) look fine.. check your cabling first before buying new panels.
If you are very worried about the WT of your panels being up high you could mount two on the side rails and angle them better to catch lower sun at high latitudes or early/late sun ☀️ Panels can quickly break dow...in high temperatures caused by full tropical sun ...and efficiency also drops off. The best solution is Hybrid PVT panels where they can be kept cooled by water piping on the backs the heat can be channeled overboard or via a heat exchanger for heating water.
A great idea Clive! Thanks! We will have to google up on the hybrid panels. We enjoy learning about solar and are excited for new technologies in the future.
@@SailingSweetRuca This will give you a quick clear start on how and why.. This is with the current generations of Silicone panels .... Flexies are particularly prone to overheating as they are normally fixed to the deck or cabin roof if they flex too much they will break up internally.. people have kept temps down by fixing them to corrugated plastic sheeting that air can flow through.. ua-cam.com/video/vzRTtaDVVW0/v-deo.html
It's good that you got rid of the FLEXABLE panel's, they are JUNK. Rarely do they last more than 2 years and the ones that do have less than 1/2 of the rated output . 12 Volt panels are so terribly overpriced and watts for size are low, so they are not a great option either. Go for residential solar panels of 36 Volts or even 56 volts , these can be had for 50 cents a watt to $1.00 a watt and give more power per ft squared than 12 volt panels. Often when a panel fails you can repair it by opening the black box on the back and replacing the reostat [ fuse } it is soldered in, they can be bought on amazon 10 for $5. and the panel will work again , not at 100% but at what ever efficiancy is left depending on the panels age. 25 years old maybe 80% of new capacity . That is the only thing that can really go wrong short of solder joints in the actual cells. Flex panels go bad because of the flexing between all the cells gradualy weakens the connections and output goes almost to 0 depending on where the break is, often more than one. There is a reason that glass panels are guarentead for 25 years and flexable ones at 1 year. CHEERS AND FAIR WINDS Steve h. Edit; NEVER CONNECT panels when they are IN SUN, the power surge will take out your solar controller. ALLWAYS COVER panels before plugging them into the system . Unless you have a disconnect between the panel and the solar copntroler that is, but still not a good idea to connect MC4 connectors when they have live voltage.
Hello Wayne! Thanks for your question. Spanish and Portuguese have many more similarities than English in my opinion. Speaking Spanish definitely helped me learn faster, but pronunciation was difficult to get used to. It mostly helped because I could understand people or read and receive input because of my knowledge of Spanish, primarily. But ultimately it helped in speaking as well.
![WE TOOK IT OFF - FIRST LOOK at Our Re-Galvanized Anchor [Ep. 79]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bqlGqlyJ4cA/mqdefault.jpg)
![WE TOOK IT OFF - FIRST LOOK at Our Re-Galvanized Anchor [Ep. 79]](/img/tr.png)
![We Should Keep This a SECRET! [Ep. 80]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rrqzQon-AT8/mqdefault.jpg)
![You Won't Believe What We Woke Up To While SAILING in Brazil [Ep. 81]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/udPSmZWTJBc/mqdefault.jpg)
Making the best of a bad situation is the hallmark of character! You guys rule! That’s an 80’s expression. Lol.
Haha we love the 80s! Thanks for the positive comment! Cheers 😊
Someone on another channel had a similar issue. They dug out the black blocks on the panels where the wires are connected and found corrosion in there. If I remember correctly, the fix was to cut the wires, clean the panel side contacts, re-solder, and bed everything back in with Sikaflex.
A great idea. We checked that also, they were suprisingly sealed very well with no moisture or corrosion after digging out what looked like Sika. May have some video of those tests to share next week.
Another great video, Thanks
Thanks Randy!!!
Hey Kate and Curtis as you were talking about the flexible panels going bad I was yelling at the computer that you needed to have rigid panels. The flexibles just don’t seem to hold up on a boat. I went through 3 sets of flexibles while I am on my original set of rigid panels. I still have some flexibles but they are not responsible for most of my production, 2 200 watt rigid panels mounted on my railing and held up with struts that allow me to vary the angle are my primary energy producers. My system is a bit of overkill until I have a week of cloudy weather then I need every watt! Good luck with the install. Ben S/V DAWN in Nuku-Hiva French Polynesia
Hey Ben! Cheers! We did end up replacing with rigid panels and all is well now. Maybe we will share an anchorage one day in the Pacific?
I had the same problem, the moment I connected the panel to the controller there was no power.
The fault was not on the panel, the cause was the temperature sensor on the battery controller. In the settings of the solar charge controller it was set that the charge is switched off at a temperature of less than 5 degrees. The sensor delivered a value of minus 18 degrees, so that the charge controller switched off. After I turned off the auto power off feature, the panel started working again. So far I haven't found out why the temperature was displayed incorrectly (the true temperature was 22 degrees). I hope your fault lies with the panels, otherwise you would have bought and installed the new panels for nothing.
Thanks for the tips about the temp sensor! We never thought of that, so it is good to know for the future! Ours did end up being the panels, all is well now :-) Cheers & Safe Sailing to you!
Adding 54 pounds of weight doesn't seem like a big deal...it's like 4 cases of beer. LOL! Great episode, especially the testing of the panels. Glad it all worked out in the end.
Hahaha. Love this! Another guy commented on math skills calculating the wrong percentage, you measure in cases of beer!!! #winning
Piriapolis, Uruguay. Nice progress!
Thanks! Love that you follow the live PredictWind tracker on our site at www.sweetruca.com :-) Piriapolis is super chill and a great place for boat work and to explore Uruguay.
Excellent Man!
Thanks man!!! Woooot!!!! :-)
great video! fun to "visit" yet another new anchorage... hmm just a thought. white vinegar sometimes removes or reduces rust stain
Thanks D D! Good call on the white vinegar, can't have enough of that on board!
I very much appreciate how you allow us viewers into your world and the decisions you have to make. The scene at the beginning where you are talking about your decision to stay or go and you are open enough to show us your vulnerability most evident in Kate's tears - that's really quite something. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing and for following along. Glad we can share with you
your at the mercy of being in another country when it comes to repairs on a boat .you did well with the warranty . good video thanks for sharing
Thanks bill. We were really happy that Renogy honored their warrany on the panels. Despite the hold time, their support team did a great job for us.
great video guys, I believe your problem will be in the panel to wire join, either corrosion or partial joint failure leading to the lack of power under load. Since the warranty has been honoured may I suggest that you remove the protective covers from the panel at the wire junctions a good clean and possibly repair of the panel to wire join may bring them back to life. Some judicious application of a terminal sealer and your favorite sealant when assembling will prevent further issues
We think you may have the best assesment of all the comments so far. More next episode as we dig deeper ;-)
I love the button mashing when on hold. Hoping that someone on the other end realizes that you’re pushing a bunch of numbers so they decide to answer Great job you’ve become my Sunday morning routine.
Haha Ken, glad to know we aren't the only ones. For some reason it is so gratifying :-)
Very interesting video, great information. @4:00 is the best. Cheers
I'd have to agree with you! 🐶❤️
What you measured with the flexible panels makes me think there’s a high resistance connection somewhere - corrosion more than likely. It’s the same symptom with corrosion on a starter motor cable, where it seems fine until you put it under load. That current is being converted into heat by resistance somewhere.
I wonder if by their nature flexible panels are more vulnerable to connections opening up to corrosion?
Anyway, a good outcome and a victory for pragmatism by simply buying what you could locally. You’ll always be able to use more lightweight panels somewhere!
In look forward to seeing how the regalvanizing of the chain turns out!
We agree! We were pretty determined that the issue was internally in the laminated portion of the panels. We were pretty nervous about the re-galvanizing as we had never done this before (as racers we carried the minimum chain and never used it). Hopefully we have some good footage of it returning and the re-installation :-)
We are crossing the Atlantic in the spring, heading to Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, and Ilhabela, because Brazil looks like the Caribbean was 40 years ago. You inspired us!
Awesome!!! Maybe we will get the chance to say hello in person!! :-)
It is so endearing to come back to boat and Roxy is there to greet you with tail awagin.
She's the best 🐶
Another amazing video from @sailingsweetruca making the best of what you can good call on using locals with the chain ! Thank you !
Thanks @Neal Christensen! Saco de Ribiera was a great place to get boat work done. Lots of friendly people there and good boat services :-)
Thanks for sharing...Very nice recordings and good story line.. Keep up the good work..
Hi Frans! Good to hear from you. Happy #sailingsunday
Maaann. it's so fun finding a channel that's actually close to where i live. I live somewhat close (I even saw the name of my city in some previous episodes when you showed the chat map), but inland. Used to spend holidays in paraty and ubatuba (which i belive you guys stopped for a day).
I know you wont be staying around for too long, but it's still nice to see!
Happy sailing! I will be following along with the videos :D
Very cool! Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed 😀
Man I am such a geek for loving the tech vids and the nitty gritty details of what it takes to keep Sweet Ruca going.
Thanks! Cheers 😊
Three panels failing at the same time, that is weird. Not knowing much about electric systems, I would suggest testing the wire that goes to the charger/controller (or perhaps test all connections at the charger/controller as well). I'm sure you have done it but just my 2-cents. Love your channel!
Hey Raul! Thanks! We agree with you. We still haven't solved the mystery, we did try new wires, connectors, etc. It was like chasing a ghost.
I would say the controller is the main suspect. Good luck!
AS for the chain rust stains oxalic acid can convert it to a soluble form to remove it. I get mine free from my rhubarb.
Great Idea!!!!!
A “catch” was my first choice for Island hopping. A beautiful boat your friends have
👍👍👍💯
Great videos guys!! I am not sure where you are going in the Pacific, but bear in mind that Roxy can't go to some counties!!!
Thanks Paul! Yes that is such a bummer :-( We will have to skip some places we would have liked to go, but that is OK, we will find some cool places where Roxy is welcome :-)
Olá amigos queridos, muita saudade de vocês! Mais um episódio incrível, quantas coisas lindas vocês estão vivendo, sempre bons ventos !!
Saudades sempre!!!! Muito obrigada y boa sorte a vocês! Nós vemos outra vez!
So much boat work! Glad my house doesn't need that much maintenance.
Got to keep everything tip top :-)
I would like to see the new panels connected to the same wire, if the plugs are the same.
You will get to see this on Sunday ;-)
I have a 12k system. My wires underground got cut and corroded out. This gave the same results you saw. I had to dig up 400ft of underground wire to correct the problem. Im assuming something similar happened within the panels or along the way to the charge controller.
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing!
Nice video folks
Thanks!!!! Happy Sunday @JanHB Hugo! :-)
Hi guys, great video, I think alot of Flexible solar panels are somehow engineered to die after 2 or 3 years.
Well Done!!
Hi @ASWAN! Thanks! We bet you are right :-)
Had that had been me working on the anchor winch at 13:33 all of the allen screws would have been at the bottom of the bay.
😂
My semi flexible panels on my camper van failed after two years. Replaced with standard panels too. I think they are a better option inspite of the weight
We would have to agree with you!
My 2cents, Anything that flexes often will develop fatigue cracks. Looking how you had them mounted instead on a non-flexible base would allow them to flex across their surface. Repeated flexing can induce micro cracks which would allow moisture intrusion. And we all know what moisture does to wiring. Lol. I’m not there so I can not say this was your problem. Food for thought.
Definitely not a problem with the charge controller? I presume that is working ok with the other remaining panels?
Your presumption is correct Andrew. :-)
Love your video and live vicariously through you guys...Would anyone know the sons that starts around 1:15 of the video?...
Thanks Maxx for the nice comment! The song is called "Dont Let This Go" by Peter Crosby. Definitely was a must have once I found it!
Uruguai is a good place to receive your goods at a minimum cost.
I have already done it.
Fair wind and following seas.
Excellent to hear. Did you use an agent or DIY the shipment?
@@SailingSweetRuca , you must use an agent, this is an adding cost. That’s why I suggested you doing it at YCU in Montevideo. Even though it’s a small country, there would be an extra cost if they have to travel.
And at the Y Club they will be able to help with the agent.
I Will try to find some contact.
I love old gray muzzled pibbles! I’ve had a couple myself. How old
Is Roxy?
Aww thanks fot sharing! They are the best! Roxt is approximately 12 years old and has been living with us for over 8 years! Hope yours get to gray hairs as well 😀
@@SailingSweetRuca I’ve had two that I adopted both as adult dogs one at 4 years old and then one at 3. They both lived to about 14 and definitely got those gray muzzles. They passed about a year apart from each other and that was about a year ago. I’ve now adopted another pibble found as a stray and hope he’s around until he’s gray too. I plan to introduce him to the sailboat in the spring and see how it goes. Give Roxy a big head scratch from me. 🐶
Wow thag is excellent knews! We would love it if Roxy has another two years in her! Hard to think about for sure. Glad you've got a new buddy to keep you smiling big 😁 thanks again for sharing
Cheers guys! Please post part 2 to the group YTSCS and tag me, I’m actually really interested in seeing the Conclusions..
Thanks again!
Cheers Trev! Will do!! Glad you enjoyed :-)
@@SailingSweetRuca cheers, because there is not point me hitting the Notification bell, mines already constantly on!
300+ sailing channels i subscriber to for Obvious reason’s, i do tend to miss a few episodes…
What happened to the rudder when you were mid ocean? Did I miss that episode describing any damage and possible repair?
Don't worry, you didn't miss anything, the grinder, epoxy, balsa, and vaccum bags will come out eventually. Our patrons have the pics and repair details already ;-)
Hi, if you short out each panel individually and use a tong tester (Dc) You will get a true reflection of it's capability.
Can’t you remove the rust from the deck? Glad you got your panels sorted 👍👍
Hey @TaffytheGreat! Thanks! Yeah we can remove the rust, but we try and use the acids as little as possible for less long term wear and tear on the paint. It does wipe right off with the right chemicals, but we aren't at the boat show or or have to impress charter guests :-)
@@SailingSweetRuca that’s fair enough. Your boat is a functional work horse 😂😂. Keep the videos coming 👍👍
Thank you for this.
For me, lack of electrical expertise is my biggest drawback for owning a boat. All the mechanical and plumbing, engine work, repairs... no problem.
I really need to upgrade my skills on electricity.
Heya Rick! Thanks for commenting. Don't let it hold you back, if you can do plumbing, you surely can handle most electrical projects on board.
The charge controller!?
I don’t know if wearing a white sweatshirt was the best plan for cleaning a rusty chain locker. Lol. But you got the job done. Good thing you used Curtis toothbrush while he was gone…
Haha! That is an old swim shirt I use to clean the bottom of the boat and keep the sun off! But you're right about the color for sure! And you definitely made me laugh with the toothbrush comment! 🤣
Btw, blocking diodes are very cheap and easy to replace. Hope you saved your old panels
Renogy didn't have us test the diodes as part of the process, as they were sealed and it would void the warranty. After the warranty was complete we did dig them out and test them. We had hoped to replace the diodes, easily available in Brazil, but those tested OK also.
Have you met with "Odd Life Crafting" whilst in Brazil? They're another UA-cam sailing channel and they are based there. Not sure where they are atm, but yeah. They are down there somewhere...
Awesome that you are following channels in Brazil, it is a cool place to sail :-) A few more we met are Chicama and Touche (tell them we said hello :-)
What other maintenance or upgrades are in the cards before your foray into the southern ocean?
Hi Al! Woof, the maintenance list never seems to end :-) Lots of boat work to come. We have yet to find the damage from the whale, so a big project ahead.
Kate, I think you’re trying to trick us about keeping Sweet Ruca going, you guys are experienced sailors, I’m confident that if you didn’t think Sweet Ruca couldn’t make the journey you would not have started. I also think you at least suspected there could be trouble along the way and had backup plans to your backup plans with a little luck and ingenuity tosses in. I’ve been tracking you real-time and this video explains a lot. I look forward to your next video.
Hi Gary :-) You are correct we have backups on backups! When we left the USA pre-covid we had planned on going RTW in about 2 years. We didn't plan for that in our maintenance or budget spreadsheets (which amazingly Curtis can forecast almost to the penny, just like his weather routing). So now 3 years in we have to do a little more maintenance "on the go" than we had planned for. Nothing like boat work in paradise :-) When we started we knew our soft panels and anchor chain would have a limited life, but thought we would be back in the USA and removed them for racing in the Camden Classic already!
oxalic acid works wonders on rust stains. not sure if it's safe for GRP hulls.
Hi jo! Yes it can be used.
Rigid panels hold up better anyway. Flexible panels flex,, so you can create shorts inside the membrane. You will be much happier with rigid. They hold up a lot better. Flexibles are good for installing on biminis and dodgers
I think you nailed it with the shorts inside the membrane! So far so good with the rigid panels. The soft panels on the dodger are beginning to show their age now as well.
My first thought about your solar panels was- are they connected series, or parallel? Would that have anything to do to your controller?
Just wondering.
They are in parallel to reduce the impact of shading. The controller would work with our spare 100w flexible, and you will see how next week it works with the new panels, so we were pretty sure the controller was functioning OK.
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You've made no mention of the inside connections possibly failing or having corrosion. All that must be OK. Seems that most of the performance catamaran builders say that the solid glass panels are better performers than flexo panels (1-source: Balance Catamarans). Best wishes and remember to keep the panels cleaned frequently. Looking forward to seeing the new install and the chain. ✨🌊💨⛵️🏝👙🌞✨
You are correct. We went for the connections first, even put new ones on in places that were questionable, no improvement. The flexibles performed awesome at the beginning, in fact they hold the record for amps (optimal sun in caribbean) when they were new. So, for power to weight they are optimal. It seems for longevity though, the hard panels are the winner. Wish we could find the best of both worlds! Still, even hard panels and LifePO4 are a weight savings over just the original AGM batteries alone.
Not being familiar with the particulars of your solar arrangement and whether you have other flexible panels on your boat that run through the same charge controller ., The charge controller converts the higher voltage the panels produce to 12volt ,my guess is the controller itself might be the issue . Of course you've probably already installed the new ones by now and if this was indeed the issue you would've probably already discovered it ,being the new panels would display the same problem . Cheers 🥂
You will have to see if your theory is correct in the next episode ;-)
I don’t hear you mention it, but did you have a second Anchor while you removed the chain? I know you were on a mooring, but them bastards can’t be trusted, basically ive never seen this done outside a marina before, and i think there maybe a reason?
We have seen a few mooring balls float away! We even assisted a boat drifting away one night in the USVI. Is that anchor light moving???? Funny to see a boat with a mooring ball still attached to the bow float by! Always good to set anchor alarms, leave AIS on, and even the sat tracker. Also good to dive and check moorings if possible (vis in this case made it impossible). We trust our oversize Rocna and chain more than any mooring. In this case we we knew the owners and trusted their maintenance standards. Anyway, yes we carry a second set of full size ground tackle which can be deployed quickly. Important not only for instances like this, but there also can be reasons one needs to cut away their primary anchor in an emergency (stuck anchor, dragging to lee shore, tangled with another boat, etc.).
@@SailingSweetRuca the other thing I wondered, because ive personally used Aerosol cold Galvanise (they don’t call it paint, but galvy repair, it just looks like sliver/grey paint to be honest, but it does actually work, Galvanise is naturally self healing, depending on the damage, (scratches and chips) and this stuff is like a spray filler to help this, actually Galvanise platers use it on Imperfections, that’s how i know about it, but And it’s a big but! Ive never seen or heard of any sailing boat using it in a saltwater Environment, so obviously after this chain is done, is it even worthwhile Periodically, giving the chain a light coat over?
I’m not a metals treatment expert, but that would be interesting to know? And from memory it wasn’t even expensive.. idk?
@@trevhedges we have used the spray stuff as a coating for our prop (interesting results), so familiar with it. It is much thinner than real galvanizing, and easily went throug a can for our prop, so would need quite a few cans to do the anchor and all the chain. Also, prep is the key to getting coatings to stick to metal and protect them. Touching up rusty spots doesn't do much other than make it look better if the rust isn't removed. Easy enough to do some sanding on the anchor, tough and time consuming to do on a chain properly. I have seen people also paint their anchors. I don't claim to be an expert on this, my opinions only, YMMV.
@@curtisjazwiecki thanks for the info! Appreciated..
Most likely your panels are ok ✅
We shall see next week :-)
It's a very strange issue with the panels, especially with all 3. From your measurements 19V x 4.5A = ~85 W, which is relatively true for 100 W panels. We have similar panels on our sailboat, but 150W, and I can measure 6.5 A at the same voltage, which produces around 125W. What I would check is the current between the panel and the charger, as well as the current between the charger controller and the battery. This will gives you real numbers of the energy that is delivered to the battery. I assumed that you guys have an MPPT charger, thus the battery current will be greater than from the panel. But it depends on the battery's charging stage. If the charger controller has a dedicated shunt, I would check it, as commonly it has thicker wires and is suspected of corrosion pretty much. Mine have a PWM controller, so I can see only the same current or less, depending on battery charging status. I'm pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with your panels.
If you are in a boat in transit in Brazil, you can import anything to fix your boat tax free. I think it's is called temporary importation.
Technically this is true by law, however in practice it is almost impossible to accomplish in Brazil.
@@SailingSweetRuca A lot of thing are very hard here in Brazil which make it hard to get good quality thing Brazil is one of the highest import tax !
@@SailingSweetRuca yeah, I know what you mean. If you plan to stay longer there, I would suggest you to find a foreign trade agent (agente alfandegário). They will charge you a fee (normally $100) and process all the paperwork for you. I'm suggesting an agent, because a normal person in Brazil has to import paying taxes and they won't know how to handle this situation, but an agent will have the knowledge to walk the bureaucracy and get the job done. It will be easy. Also the CPF is not a social security number. It is a tax id number and anyone can get one. Cheers
Soldered joints will have failed due to heat
It’s quite common on flexi panels
The ones internally soldered between the cells inside the panel?
I think you may be on to something here.
It’s quite common in all flexi panels they have limited life span in hot country’s. Some companies make semi flexible and put a backing plate in to dissipate the heat. Mesh backed panels appear to be a better option as they get away from front soldiered panels, but I can’t confirm this as we never tested them further
It's probably the blocking diodes
We even dug the sealant out and tested those also. They tested OK also. We still have no idea why they would test OK, but once plugged into the controller they had no output. Same controller, new panels, all good??
Are you familiar with the UA-cam channel Odd Life Crafting? They are a Brazilian couple sailing a red monohull.
Hi Jc! We crossed paths near where this video was shot :-)
@@SailingSweetRuca That's interesting because I saw a red boat in the background of one of your shots of the Harbor
@@SailingSweetRuca They have spent a couple of years on the hard refitting their boat and could be a valuable resource for information on who, where and how to get things done in Brazil. Also for interesting places to sail to.
Perhaps it was @SailingTouché?
How old is Roxy? She seems like the sweetest girl. I just had to put my 16yr old pit to sleep back in june.
Roxy is absolutely the sweetest. Don't tell the pirates, but she wouldn't hurt a fly! I'm sorry about your loss but must congratulate you on the long life of your pet. What luck to have them for so long. Pits are the sweetest. Roxy is approximately 11 or 12. She's getting up there!
I think your problem is in the wiring. Don't throw out the panels.
More next week ;-)
@@SailingSweetRuca I agree. Your panels are fine. It may be a loose or corroded cable maybe a fuse blown- and not in the panels since their Isc (shortcut current) and Voc (voltage open connection) look fine.. check your cabling first before buying new panels.
If you are very worried about the
WT of your panels being up high you could mount two on the side rails and angle them better to catch lower sun at high latitudes or early/late sun ☀️
Panels can quickly break dow...in high temperatures caused by full tropical sun ...and efficiency also drops off.
The best solution is Hybrid PVT panels where they can be kept cooled by water piping on the backs the heat can be channeled overboard or via a heat exchanger for heating water.
A great idea Clive! Thanks! We will have to google up on the hybrid panels. We enjoy learning about solar and are excited for new technologies in the future.
@@SailingSweetRuca
This will give you a quick clear start on how and why..
This is with the current generations of Silicone panels ....
Flexies are particularly prone to overheating as they are normally fixed to the deck or cabin roof if they flex too much they will break up internally.. people have kept temps down by fixing them to corrugated plastic sheeting that air can flow through..
ua-cam.com/video/vzRTtaDVVW0/v-deo.html
Lol it the same way with every one you call. Now adays
:-)
You do have continuity problems from the conector in the panels and the controller check for continuity 🤜🤛
We thought possibly so also, we checked that and all good. 🤷♂️
Lemon or lime juice will remove rust!
We will have to try this!
It's good that you got rid of the FLEXABLE panel's, they are JUNK. Rarely do they last more than 2 years and the ones that do have less than 1/2 of the rated output . 12 Volt panels are so terribly overpriced and watts for size are low, so they are not a great option either. Go for residential solar panels of 36 Volts or even 56 volts , these can be had for 50 cents a watt to $1.00 a watt and give more power per ft squared than 12 volt panels. Often when a panel fails you can repair it by opening the black box on the back and replacing the reostat [ fuse } it is soldered in, they can be bought on amazon 10 for $5. and the panel will work again , not at 100% but at what ever efficiancy is left depending on the panels age. 25 years old maybe 80% of new capacity . That is the only thing that can really go wrong short of solder joints in the actual cells. Flex panels go bad because of the flexing between all the cells gradualy weakens the connections and output goes almost to 0 depending on where the break is, often more than one. There is a reason that glass panels are guarentead for 25 years and flexable ones at 1 year. CHEERS AND FAIR WINDS Steve h. Edit; NEVER CONNECT panels when they are IN SUN, the power surge will take out your solar controller. ALLWAYS COVER panels before plugging them into the system . Unless you have a disconnect between the panel and the solar copntroler that is, but still not a good idea to connect MC4 connectors when they have live voltage.
Curtis, why does Kate get all the dirty jobs?? :-)
🤔🧐 good question
Math…. 6 lbs to 60 lbs is increase of 10 times, is that 1000%?
Shoot, we forgot to bring the calculator in the dinghy that day. Someone call the fact-check police ;-)
@@SailingSweetRuca moving the decimal point is always tricky😆
Does your ability to speak Spanish help speaking Portuguese? Sorry I am illiterate English speaking person😁
Hello Wayne! Thanks for your question. Spanish and Portuguese have many more similarities than English in my opinion. Speaking Spanish definitely helped me learn faster, but pronunciation was difficult to get used to. It mostly helped because I could understand people or read and receive input because of my knowledge of Spanish, primarily. But ultimately it helped in speaking as well.