X2 on above guys... My only experience with solar panel is my back yard motion sensor light haha...
I do know something about how to charge batteries however thanks to likes of Don and others using bigger battery setups and the 5-6AMPS that usually is spec'ed for the 120WATT solar panels will take a considerable long time to get a 50% charged battery back up to its 90% charge state so you can start using it again.
I will build-up my solar panels to give me my required 14.4VDC boost charge at a minimun of 20AMPS DC current during high sun. Then I can start counting on at least charging one 12VDC battery in a three hour time frame. If I am in High Sun for many hours in the one day then I will do rather well. I learned along time back to not start each night run off my batteries unless they at the 90% charge state. Otherwise it usually gets dark on me at 10PM at night... If I don't get to at least a 90% charge then the next night will only get me to around 8PM etc... Then eventually I want damage my batteries. That was the main reason I lost one of 12V batteries early on. Over charging with 13.6VDC and boiling out fluids didn't help much either...
I am just now doing solar panels for my batteries. My battery box came with a 10WATT solar panel - woo hoo...
Forgive me for my simple comments but they are based on my recent experiences from 2009 to date camping off the power grid running my Ham radio toys and Momabear running her toys... We too have survived the tent camping years from the 60s up to present time where your power pack was a jug of white gas for the coleman stoves and outside light and bag full of D-CELLS for the interior lights and fans...
You would think some of my experiences would be helpful to some of the starting out guys... Maybe not...
All I know is my biggest PLAN B item has been my 2KW Honda generator sitting secured to the tailgate corner of my truck. If I am not allowed to run my generator I will remove a couple of batteries and head out for the public road and charge my batteries there on the side of the public road...
Always got a PLAN B...
Roy Ken
