Solar panels

All lead-acid batteries benefit from a full charge. A full charge is when the charger patiently fills in the last few percent in a battery bank, even though it goes slowly due to the batteries’ resistance.

All boats should have a solar panel to support the alternator, but above all to fully charge the batteries when the boat is not in use.

For sailboats, the solar panel’s contribution to the energy balance is even more important, and it may be worth investing in more or larger panels.