Off-Grid Backyard

[green]

That is not going to happen with a 15 watt panel. 15 watt will barely charge a cell phone battery

What Sunking is saying is that batteries of different sizes require different charge rates. The charge rate is the amount of current required to sufficiently charge the battery. There are stickies on this forum that discuss the different formulas to figure out what C rate you need for the type and size battery you have.

It's just more fun the way he said it.

[Sunking]

Mainly charge the deep cycle marine battery

That is not going to happen with a 15 watt panel. 15 watt will barely charge a cell phone battery

[xxtidusxx]

Not just phones and small units, Mainly charge the deep cycle marine battery and run a few lights during the night off of the charge the battery accumulated.

I will be charging the battery all day for several days and then start to run my loads.

[daz]

I already have a 15watt 12V PV Panel (GoalZero).

15W is not much to work with at all! Don't expect to light up your back yard like daylight...

Instapark Solar Charge Controller

This is a PWM controller. So assuming 5 solar insolation hours (as an example) you would only get 37.5WH to use per day, which doesnt go very far!
What is the solar insolation for your area?

EverStart Marine Battery

Everstart is an automotive battery as far as I know? Automotive batteries are not suitable for solar systems.
Also, the linked page doesnt tell you the capacity of the battery?

First off I will be keeping everything straight forward 12V such as cell phone chargers, Radio, and mainly the Backyard lights. In the past I mainly just built solar radios and phone chargers. I work as a technician working in a related electrical field but I came looking for fellow off-grid enthusiasts to guide me on the best path to achieving my off grid goal for my new home.

As said above, 15W is not much to work with! Perhaps it will charge your phone a couple of times in a day, or run a few LED lights, but don't place your expectations too high.

[thastinger]

Are you just looking to build something to charge cell phones with as a hobby?

[xxtidusxx]

Good Evening,

I am looking to add a off grid solar system to my new home.

I already have a 15watt 12V PV Panel (GoalZero).

Currently I am looking at a few things to add to this project.
1.Junction Box 2.Charge Controller 3.Marine Deep Cycle Battery

Instapark Solar Charge Controller

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150989715583?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

EverStart Marine Battery

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-24MS-6-Marine-Battery/16782694?findingMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems

First off I will be keeping everything straight forward 12V such as cell phone chargers, Radio, and mainly the Backyard lights. In the past I mainly just built solar radios and phone chargers. I work as a technician working in a related electrical field but I came looking for fellow off-grid enthusiasts to guide me on the best path to achieving my off grid goal for my new home.

I most likely will be mounting this anywhere in my home (my area is open and achieves high sunlight conditions.) With a simple pole style application with this http://www.ebay.com/itm/261154346642...84.m1423.l2649.