Make of this what you will, but when I was working at Boston Volkswagen
last summer and these solar panels started coming in (they work great, by
the way -- I gave out a few to friends and family) there are very clear
instructions from VW in every new car to not leave the solar panels
plugged into the cigarette lighter once the vehicle is running, at risk of
electrical hazard and potential fire. I guess the theory is that if the
car is on, or if your cigarette lighter in an older car is wired to
provide power even when the ignition is off, that rather than charging the
battery, the current flow reverses and heads into the solar panel. If this
situation persists, you can melt some light/temporary-duty wires (in the
harness -- not in the pv panel) and are risking a short that can have
exactly the opposite effect, and drain the battery. And/or start a fire.

Again, I don't know that this *is* in fact, an issue, or if the
manufacturer was just trying to protect themselves against accidents and
idiocy, etc, but in case you're thinking about wiring a solar panel in
permanently, and sticking it somewhere less obtrusive than the windshield
(which I immediately thought about) there were very clear instructions
about not leaving these things plugged in after the vehicle is running. If
there's an electrical engineer in the house, I'd love to hear your
thoughts on the subject.

Best - Isaac in Cambridge

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben McCafferty" <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 3:32 PM
Subject: Solar panels are GONE!!!

Hi everyone,
Wow, if you ever feel unpopular, just give something away!  I created a
"solar" rule on my email client and had 50+ requests within a couple of
hours.

Those of you I have responded to will be getting panels.  Everyone else,
please bear with me while I count up how many panels are spoken for, and
I'll notify you if I have enough for you.

Thanks and best regards,
bmc  :)
Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com