My biggest power hog is an Indel Isotherm fridge with a Danfoss type compressor that draws about 3A when cycled on. Unfortunately it doesn't have great insulation so its duty-cycle is less than ideal (probably averaging more than 50% when you figure day/night). I like to keep it on 24/7 so I can always have cold beer, but in the past unfortunately (in hotter weather >high 80's) it hasn't kept up, here at 40 north, with 160 watts of panels. So the power deficit would require me to manually shut it off once in a while to top off the house bank. It would take about 5 days to get down to a point where I'd need an auxiliary charge (or two days rest) to catch up.

I have 8x20w panels. They were wired in parallel to a MorningStar Sunsaver MPPT 15A solar regulator; parallel for the reason of maximum shade tolerance if one panel became shaded. I decided two weeks ago to re-wire so that they are series-parallel. This has the effect of pairing two panels together in series, and putting each pair in parallel. This doubles the voltage between regulator and panels, and halves the amperage, so that the voltage drop from the wire runs is also halved.

Net result: I no longer have a power deficit -- it's running a surplus! After this weekend my 320AH house bank was at 86%, but last night when I visited the boat the battery monitor read 98% charge. This week has been very hot too, with highs around 90 every day. I popped open a cold one to celebrate