"So with that controller and 5 panel array you basically leave it hooked up all the time, and it charges when it needs to as much as it needs/can output, and then it trickles when it needs to / batteries are full... ?"

Yes. However the controller I have is not the only one out there. I have had mine for 13 years now and there are some better ones. Depends on what you want.

Deep cycle batteries will last about 300 deep cycles. How you use the batteries will control how long they last.

There is a lot if information on the net. I just saw a bunch of articles flow through my mail but I did not read any. I will try to find some and post links. Using solar is not rocket science, but there are some technical issues that need to be considered.

Unless there are others interested, perhaps we should take this to direct e-mail instead of this forum. It is a bit off topic.

Nomad