Solar (Dokio 100W folding panel) - Boat Projects

In this video, we test a solar panel so that we can stay at anchor a little longer without having to run the engine. We run some initial tests and then fit the charge controller and an external socket so that it's just plug and play.
Solar Panel Kit:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YKQGRT...
Pro-Elec Connectors:
cpc.farnell.com/w/c/cable-lea...
Our Website:
boatingwiththebaileys.com
Social Media:
Facebook: / boatingbaileys
Instagram: / boatingwiththebaileys
KZbin: / boatingwiththebaileys

[@mendozaconsultation]

Got kne year or so ago and works really well. I wish it had Gromet anchors so i can attach it to vehicle when parked in windy weather.

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Glad to hear this. Yeah that’s a good point, we have to tie ours all the time.

[@jimhafer212]

My Dokio panels arrived with a DOA controller. I contacted Dokio’s customer service in China to see about replacement. I am still without a replacement offer or solution fifteen days later. Brand new panels and I cannot use them without major modification. No customer service - no option to purchase replacement/repair parts. Keep this in mind when making your solar panel purchase. Caveat emptor!

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Hi - Thats not good at all. Are you able to go back to the supplier you purchased them off and get anything that way?

[@christophebaboulin4869]

Thank you for your very good vidéo... I will try the same, 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Thanks for your comments

[@simensimonsen5261]

In the middle of similar projects too. Almost same boat and motor👍 Great videos, subscribing! Best tip for me in this video was the “mate and lok” connectors. I have really wondered where to get the proper pins. Did you have a link for the correct type to attach to the upper connector? Male pins right?

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Hi, Glad to have you onboard. If i remember correctly they were these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140938481472 and i think that same clip appeared in this video at the end. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5zMZZt4bNGAi68 We also had to repair a couple of the light switches but other than that all good.

[@leec3073]

How did you secure the controller in one place? There is no screw holes to fix it anywhere

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Yeah, I haven’t secured mine it’s just sat on top of the battery charger. It’s never got hot so I don’t see why you couldn’t attach some sticky Velcro to it. I have considered upgrading the controller to see what a difference an MPPT like a Victron for example would do to the performance.

[@paulrigley8457]

hi would you know if the battery and lightbulb symbols on the solar charge controller do exactly the same job ?

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

Hi, they don’t do the same job. The lightbulb output can be used to switch a light on for example and will switch off at a predetermined battery voltage. You can use the usb outputs without a battery but anything else needs a battery to be connected.

[@paulrigley8457]

ahh right thanks for clearing that up,mine is slightly different to yours it has the 2 usb outlets but instead of an xt60 it has a wire with 2 crocodile clips. i’m planning to cut them off and fit mc4 solar connectors instead. would you see that as a problem ?

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

@paulrigley8457 yeah I don’t see a problem with that. Is that the connection to the battery?

[@paulrigley8457]

yes it is , i’ll only be using it as a way of charging my ecoflow powerbanks when camping off grid

[@BoatingwiththeBaileys]

@paulrigley8457 you might be able to change the Ecoflow directly from the panel. Don’t they have an inbuilt charge controller?