Thanks, Mike. I thought they could be wired parallel but best to check
with the shade-tree experts (pun intended).

Here's a Morningstar 10A PVM controller for $51:

http://tinyurl.com/yoh6y6

It seems to have all the requisite bells and whistles of your average
PVM controller. Not sure what a the $100 version does better:

http://tinyurl.com/yqrpjl

---thoughts?

Jeff

On Mar 7, 2008, at 4:22 PM, Mike Elliott wrote:

> YES -- solar panels can be wired in parallel. They'd have to connect
> together when they get to your controller, anyway, so no reason not
> to connect them together out where they are.
>
> I don't know of any good sub-$100 solar controllers, maybe someone
> else does? Here's one place to look: http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/c477/
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 3/7/2008 4:02 PM Jeffrey Vickers wrote:
>
>> I'm getting two 53 watt panels for my Syncro Westy and I'm wondering
>> if they can be wired in parallel so that I only need one set of leads
>> running back to the van from the panels.
>> Also---can anyone recommend a good PVM solar charge controller that's
>> under $100 bucks?
>> Thanks.
>> Jeff / San Anselmo
>