Seems like an awful lot of money to accomplish what? Never mind carrying
around 300 pounds of battery. The best part of the Odyssey batteries is the
advertisements. You would be much better off in the long run with good
flooded batteries. They are charge and temparature sensitve and have high
failure rates. Check the current warranty.

Dennis

>From: Mark C <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
>Reply-To: obeechi@RUNBOX.COM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Solar Panel: Charge Controller & Vents
>Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 16:08:08 -0700
>
>I've decided on the Kyocera 135 Watt, the newer KD series, which is 59.1
>inches wide (I think earlier version was 56 inches wide). This is as big as
>I can fit with available roof space (already have two Thule cargo things).
>
>CHARGE CONTROLLER
>Now I'm wondering about the charge controller. Eventually I plan on having
>as many as four Odyssey batteries (one under reach front seat, and two
>under the rear seat [which will be a larger size than the front]...). Also,
>want the flexibility of potentially adding a second 135 watt panel, on
>special occasions (since the permanently mounted one would be above the
>driver area [would be nice if it could be tilted], the secondary panel
>could be put over the front windsheild, which would give it a nice angle,
>and shade the inside from the sun).
>
>VENTS
>I'm most likely going to mount the solar panel on those newer Thule Racks
>(I've already checked these out, and they won't be too high nor too low for
>my hardtop - right now I have Yakima High Risers which were hacked down in
>size - the newer Thules will be about a 1/4 inch lower, which will be good,
>even better), does anyone know of any vents that might fit under the solar
>panel (to the side of the center AC duct)?
>
>Thanks.