Solar panel can easily deliver too much voltage to your device. Whenever
power a device with a panel you always want to use a charge manager. Yes
they do work but keep in mind how much sun you really are getting. Just
because sunrise is at 7 and set at 6 it does not mean you have a full 11
hours of sun. Typically in the Midwest (I am at the same latitude as you
Jay) you get about 4-6 hours of useful sun/day. So you need to get a panel
that can charge the battery in that amount of time. There is more too if you
expect to keep the device on you need to not only charge the battery but
also to have enough power for the device.

Scott

--
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Scott F. Migaldi, K9PO
MI-150972
PP-ASEL-IA

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-----------------------------------
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www.hamwave.com


**"A long time ago being crazy meant something, nowadays everyone is
crazy" -- Charles Manson**
-------------------------------------
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5fSYb.340846$I06.3554232@attbi_s01...
I was looking at those in the Northern Tool & Equipment catalog and
noticed
that there's also a controller avialable so you don't over charge your
batteries, some of the panels say that the controller is required.

The $40 version has a circuit built-in that supposedly prevents
over-charging or "voltage back-flow" (or whatever you call that...).
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"