My Solar Experiment Begins!

I bought a 55-watt solar panel at the Renewable Energy Fair last weekend, and I hooked it up for the first time this evening. The panel was putting out about 19.5 volts. In about 2 1/2 hours of evening sun I used it to charge one of my nine sealed lead-acid batteries. It raised the battery's voltage from about 12.8 to 13.4 volts. It will take another few hours probably to get the battery to its recommended charge level of 14.4 volts.