"Darryl Ramm" wrote in message
...

A charge controller is really not needed on a 5W or 10W or so panel.
And these really small panels may not be the right thing to use at
all.

I am sorry, but I strongly disagree with this point, especially with the
small batteries we use in gliders. You will never go wrong by using a
charge controller. To not use a charge controller is to risk early battery
death through overcharging. (Much depends on the open-circuit voltage of
the panel) I learned this by ruining several large, expensive, batteries
using only a 1 amp (12 watt) trickle charger.

Vaughn