A solar panel has to be connected a charge controller to regulate current, and a battery to store the electrical power. You will need adapter kit cables to wire the solar panel(s) and charge controller, and tray cables connecting the charge controller to a deep-cycle battery.

Solar panel performance may be hindered for a number of reasons. Most commonly environmental conditions such as indirect sunlight, temperature rise, cloudy sky, and dirt and stain build up on the top glass will cause a reduced power output.

It depends on your electrical circuit size and power demand. Connecting solar panels in series: add up their operating voltage output, while system current output will be the same as that for one panel. Connecting solar panels in parallel: individual panels operating current output add up to the system output current, while system output voltage will be the same as of one solar panel. To meet the optimum power output and system rating for your power system, you can use both parallel and series connections.

The best way to gauge how many solar panels you need, is to understand and define the power load needed from this system. Power is measured in Watts, and capacity is commonly measured in Watt-hours (multiplying power output in watts by the required number of hours of operation multiplied by a safety factor of 1.5-2). Therefore, it is wise to size your battery bank first based on the minimum required capacity, and accordingly decide how many panels or how much power input is needed.

We suggest not. Walking on solar panels will exert excessive pressure on a small area, it may cause cracks and damage to the panel.

You can clean the panels with a non-abrasive sponge and water. We suggest regular maintenance to wipe the dust, sand, and other dirt away. Built-up dirt and stain will reduce the power output of the panel.