On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:22:40 EDT, Derek Broughton
wrote:

Galen Hekhuis wrote:

Except a car battery won't work.

Right...

What will probably be needed is a several
batteries in parallel to provide that much current overnight.

yes.

This will be essential, and matching the regulator to the type of
batteries you have (so as not to overcharge or something harmful to
the life of the batteries) is critical, if battery life is to be
maximized.

No, these days solar charge controllers are practically off-the-shelf items,

This is kind of picking nits, but the type of charge controller a
person is likely to wind up with "off-the-shelf" is an automotive,
marine, or generator type regulator, which is likely to be unsuitable
for photovoltaic use. Such regulators often have no jumper or
selection capabilities as they expect the battery to be a conventional
lead-acid automotive type. Note the original poster's inclination to
use a "car battery."

with at least a jumper to select flooded or sealed batteries, and often a
little adjustment for optimum maximum charge.

and we're in the 2 kilo-dollar
neighborhood.

Probably a lot more.

No, that sounds about right.

I'd spend more than that in solar panels alone.

Galen Hekhuis