24 volt solar panels

Solar panels are the ideal way to keep 24 volt battery banks topped up and bursting with power - all without the smell and hassle of a diesel engine (and more importantly, without damaging the planet). Solar panels are very eay to install, and as they have no moving parts they are very reliable and long-lasting - and maintenance is limited to wiping them clean from time to time.

If you are trying to find a 24V solar panel though.... don't bother. There are a couple of panels that are manufactured to give a 24V nominal voltage, but they are huge beasts, designed for big grid-connected applications rather than for boats or mobile homes. Don't stop reading though! Luckily, there is a simple, efficient alternative - just use two 12V solar panels, and wire them in series. In practice, that's all a 24V solar panel is anyway, so electrically you won't notice the difference.

12V solar panels are readily available in a wide variety of sizes and formats, from dinky but sturdy 5 watt framed panels, to the remarkable and powerful Unisolar flexible adhesive-backed panels. They give an excellent output in summer, although of course in winter they produce a lot less as there are fewer hours of daylight (and it's often cloudier too). If you want to know roughly how much power you can expect from a solar panel array, take a look at the solar panel calculator from Midsummer Energy.

Don't forget when installing solar panels that you should place a solar regulator between the solar panel and the battery bank to prevent the batteries being overcharged. We sell a range on our 24 volt solar regulators page.

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