Our Canal Boat Solar Panel Kit Parts List

After much reseach we have built up a kit of parts to install our 870W solar panels on the roof or our narrow boat, I will need to add a few cables and some mounting wood plates.


Image Description Price

Longi Solar 435WP Longi Solar 435WP Black Frame PV Module LR5-54HTH-435M

Selected as they have a 3.2mm glass rather that the much cheaper 1.6mm and provide almost the maximum output when combined for the Victron SmartSolar MTTP 100|50 MPPT solar controller.
Ordered 2 from City Plumping, they deliver free next day from stock, for £91.76 (£110.11 inc VAT) each. (Prices have dropped since)
£220.22

Semi-Permanent Adjustable Mounting Set for Narrow Boats

Ordered and built to size by Midsummer Energy
2 needed 1 per panel installed at £98.00 each

£196.00

Victron SmartSolar 100|50 Victron SmartSolar MTTP 100|50

Ordered from Nomadic Conversions eBay shop
£220.00

Solar PC Cable 

25m Red and 25m Black 6mm Solar PV Cable from Superlec Direct at £1.19 per meter.
£59.50

WYLEX 100A DP ISOLATOR WITH ENCLOSURE (321FR)

Wall mounted 100 amp isolator from Screwfix Direct
£20.49

Water proof cable access

IP68 Waterproof cable access, designed for Solar Installations
Scanstrut DS-HD6-BLK Horizontal Double Cable Seal – Black 
£9.99

Circuit Breakers / Fuses

RED WOLF 60A Circuit Breaker from Amazon.co.uk

£14.99

Solar Connectors

See video on installing MC4 connectors
4 off MC4 Connectors from Superlec Direct at £1.74 each

£3.48

Misc Bits

1 off 6.1mm Drill bit
1 off M8 Tap
16 off  M8 Allen Flanged Bolts
16 off M8 Nylock Nuts
Tube of Sikaflex etc

£20.00

  Total (Inc VAT) £768.15

There will be some additional cost from Steve for his time, so I would expect this to have cost approx £1000.00 when complete, but cost have been falling even over the past 6 months.

Also see
Planning for Solar Panels – Part 1
Planning for Solar Panels Part 2 – Panel Mounting Options
Planning for Solar Panels Part 3 – Types of Panels
Planning for Solar Panels Part 4 – MPPT vs PWM solar controllers
Planning for Solar Panels part 5 – Cable sizes, lengths and resistance.
Planning for Solar Panels part 6 – Panels in Serial or Parallel
Planning for Solar Panels part 7 – Buying the cable and Circuit breakers
Planning for Solar Panels part 8 – Buying Solar Panels and Mountings
Planning for Solar Panels part 9 – Wiring
Planning for Solar Panels part 10 – Drilling, Tapping and Fitting

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