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Just as a point of interest I measured the output from a 1 amp nominal output solar panel the other day. Up here at 46.5 N latitude, the last week of December, the sun is low in the sky and pretty weak even at noon. I measured 330 milliamps, about one third of the rated output. Was surprised it was that high. In the summer I have measured it at 1.1 amp or so.

I then did some testing with a separate system, a 700 ah battery bank running an inverter. The batteries were fully charged from a generator. The ambient temperature was 20F. I attempted to run some electrical devices such as a small vacuum cleaner. Due to the cold, presumably, the current draw was way up and the cold batteries/inverter couldn't supply the start-up surge current for the motor. It runs in the summer no problem.

So in the winter, around here, I pretty much have to leave batteries out of the equation and depend on fuel only. Sucks, but that's the way it is.

Even our R/C helicopters with their lipoly batteries won't fly worth a crap when it's real cold.

In Texas, sun is more likely than not, even in winter and it can get warm to hot in winter. In summer, the sun will cook your brains in about 5 minutes.

You do have a winter problem with batteries and I'm sorry it is like that for you.

Batteries are like wimmenz. They are gritchy and have to be accomodated. Too hot? You killed 'em. Too cold? You killed 'em. Run 'em down? You killed 'em. Overcharge 'em? You killed 'em.

Life of the batteries will be best if you do what the telephone company does with theirs. Keep them inside and keep them near 76F. The oldest telecom batteries I saw were in jars that sorta looked like Lyden jars on special shelving. 30 years old.

Be careful with your batteries. They are living, breathing critters.

In the mountains, all I had was solar and batteries. 80 amps, in full sun on a cold winter day. The batteries stayed warmer than I did.

/johnny