I know there are seveal who use this portable solar panel and may be interested in how it may perform in bad weather -
A brief account of this solar panel and recent very wet weather use:
The owner's manual warns against getting the controller wet but I still wanted to use the panel even if it was raining. I called Solar Blvd. and asked them about the weatherproofness of the panel. They told me that the panel and everything but the controller is weather proof, but that the controller really should be kept dry. I asked about slipping a plastic cover over the controller (ie. zip lock baggie or some such) acknowledging that heat may be an issue, Solar Blvd confirmed that heat could build up inside a cover - better controllers have a heat sink built in.
This past week I spent two nights on the Central Oregon coast, the forecast was for ~1/2" of rain on Thursday and about a 1/3" on Friday, and for once the forecast was pretty accurate! Just as I got to my campsite it began raining (about noon) and rained pretty much all night and most all of the next night as well.
I set up the solar panel and slipped a quart size zip loc baggie over the controller, tucked any connectors and juctions into the bag, making certain that the mouth of the bag was wide open for ventilation. I then monitored the controller for any heat buildup inside the baggie, checking by touch every hour or so, as long as it was daylight. The panel was in pouring rain for most of the next two days and the simlple zip loc kept the controller completely dry. Also the controller did not get warm at all and the panel kept a full charge on the battery for the entire time I was camped.
Needless to say I was very pleased with how the panel performed, even under very wet conditions. I did notice a tiny bit of surface rust on the steel frame and the hinges but that easily wiped off and I will wipe those surfaces with a light oil before the next trip.
So... I concluded that if I am careful I should be able to use this solar panel in pretty much any weather - hope this may be of help -
Regards,