Subject: Load sharing of solar panels and batteries in solar boat.

My final engineering design project is a solar boat for the Solar Splash 
competition, this year being held in New Orleans.  One part of the 
competition is an endurance race, the goal being distance covered over two 
hours using solar panels and a full battery charge.

My question involves the arrangement of solar panels and batteries in the 
power system circuit.  In the past, our team has connected the panels in 
parallel with the batteries.  This year, we have been attempting to use a 
DC/DC converter to step the voltage of the panels up or down so as to 
achieve max power from the panels.  I have been reviewing this design 
recently, and think that the basic concept may be in error.  The converter 
is a controller, not a transformer, and because it senses a load voltage 
equal to the battery voltage, which does not vary, it cannot act as a 
transformer to step the voltage of the panels up or down.  

I was wondering, in the many other solar vehicle competitions, what is the 
preferred arrangment for the panels and batteries?

Re: Load sharing of solar panels and batteries in solar boat.