Current set up is 2 qty 55w panels poorly positioned and in UK, into 56ah battery.
I use it to:
In winter: Charge mobile phone & AAs etc
In Spring: From Feb, I can charge 1 laptop
In Summer: From May I can charge both laptops etc
In Autumn: back to only having enough juice to charge 1 laptop.
http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/3/31/16433/4936 gives some idea.
I fancy an upgrade to run both laptops most of the year, and have a cushion for power failures.
I see some (apparently 3 year old) 6v Rolls Surrettes s460 (350ah c10) on ebay for £85 each, and am tempted to get two, and perhaps upgrade the panels to 2 80watt panels later this spring.
Looking for thoughts? My concern is that I'm going OTT on the batteries for my use, but the batteries look like they could be keepers.
Would they sulphate? or self charge a lot? am I wasting money on these?
Appreciate your thoughts. I've read that I need 2% to keep batteries from self discharge.