ShoelaceExpress wrote:
I paid $180 CDN + tax (on sale) for the two 40W panels. I hadn't done much research before now. I liked the idea of having the two 40W panels as they're about 14" wide and when traveling I can put them face to face (maybe with a soft cloth between) and strap them together - easy to transport around. I want to keep them portable instead of mounting, or else I would have looked into larger options for roof mounting.
I hadn't thought of the solar panel idea of maintaining the batteries while in storage. With them sitting in my garage I would have to figure out a way to mount the panels outside. I don't mind keeping the trickle charger connected inside the garage though.
Thanks for the link. I may also look for a similar connector to leave permanently connected to the battery and leave one end of the SAE connector (capped) dangling outside the battery box so I don't have to unstrap the boxes every time I want to charge the batteries with the solar charge controller.
Good plan with the connections but you may find that the controller needs to be connected first so that can be hard wired and the panel connection made to the controller. Some controllers will fail if not connected to batteries first.
If the panels have a covered terminal box on the back, you can remove the cover and put any manner of wire or connector on the terminals.
For portability, I'd suggest to use two stainless butt hinges and fasten them to the panel sides if you have an aluminum frame. The panels can then be hinged together with faces together for transport.
