Portable Solar Panels

Those portables go against everything you guys taught me.
You can buy a panel and a controller, for no more money, maybe less, and like BLF says, put the controller near the batteries where it is the most efficient.
I am thrilled w/ my "home made portable" 200 watt system !

The dealer here I prefer, recently was selling a "160w" for $160 that was not mentioned in his main list of panels. Turned out, he was getting rid of some 80s. (an 80w was/is $87) (he is sold out now waiting for his next order to arrive so he is taking a break)

With it propped up like that there would be air cooling of the back, but still, you want the controller over by the batteries and your long wire out to the panels to be on the "array" side of the controller.

For a kit, that is a pretty reasonable price. I have seen $399 kits with only a 50 watt panel.

You can buy a 100 - 150 watt solar panel from this place, and look for a 12 volt nominal volt panel, and use a PWM controller. Then mount it to the roof, and practically forget it is up there. You can expand the system as needed too! And attached, it is much less likely to be forgotten or stolen.

SunElec.com

Fred.

The price is good compared to other kits I've seen. I know it doesn't take much of a PWM CC but would be concerned about it being behind the panel where it gets so hot. If my CC gets hot a sensor clips the amps.

Otherwise that 160w kit would do us well and be easier than the big panel.