Solar Powered observatory

I purchased the 45 watt solar charging system from Harbor Freight.

I was planning on mounting panels at a 45 degree angle-I'm at 42 N.

After giving it some thought, I'm wondering if a steeper angle wouldn't give me better performance for the winter months.

Panels are advertised as weatherproof, that sounds like it's ok if they get rained/snowed on. I'm planning on framing some plexiglass-or chicken wire?- to protect from hail and lawnmower debris. Not finding convenient sizes off the shelf.

Thanks for the input.
Bryan

"Panels are advertised as weatherproof, that sounds like it's ok if they get rained/snowed on. I'm planning on framing some plexiglass-or chicken wire?- to protect from hail and lawnmower debris. Not finding convenient sizes off the shelf."

Solar panels are sensitive to any sort of shading. The plexiglass or chicken wire will drop your output. Most panels are rated for outdoor use and that includes hail.

Sun angle matters much less in winter than in summer. For your application I suspect setting it for winter will also generate plenty of power for summer.

Did it come with a diode to prevent reverse current flow??

Vladimir