[writer33]

No. I won't give an opinion to you because you've started a vanity.

:) Hehe!

[coloradan]

More of a threat than a suggestion: you must have a voltage regulator between the solar array and the battery, because the open circuit voltage of a solar array will fry a full battery; a panel that can make 12 V under current (as when the battery is dead) will be something like 18 V when no current is drawn (as when the battery is charged) and 18 V will slowly destroy the battery. There are such regulator ICs available specifically for interfacing a solar array to a lead-acid battery.

[U S Army EOD]

Check out articles on sailboats, they are into that.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

What you seek is called a solar charge controller, which is a fancy name for a regulator.

Trace and Prosine make good ones, but may be overkill for your application.

Some are limited to fixed regulation, and some are programable.

Size(amperage rating) will depend on the battery(s) and solar panels you have.

[dickmc]

Go here for a good explanation of what is needed, why, and how they work. You call also follow related links to prices, which are generally in line with other sites, and to other interesting info.

If you are going to do this, it would be best to use sealed AGM lead acid batteries.

[Rudder]

I use a 12v deep cycle battery to keep my house warm since I heat with firewood...

The more I read this the less sense it makes.

[Balding_Eagle]

I just checked ebay, there are 406 items found for Solar Chargers in Electrical & Solar.