Hi Les! It is good to hear from you. Thanks for the suggestion. I wanted solar for re-charging capability, not so much running loads. Your right I'll have to play around.

Johnathan, and Shawn. The power supply is an Astron Linear power supply with the back up battery connection option. Which is really nothing more than two terminals for connecting a battery. The battery is user supplied and can be what ever you want. Keep in mind this power supply was built before the LiFePo and switching power supply craze. So the manufacturer probably intended connection to good old flooded led acid batteries.

I don't believe that there is any circuitry in my power supply for maintaining a battery. I think it's just tied in to the sane 12 volt post used for loads.. Not sure, I never found any documentation on this battery backup feature. Hence the power gate I have. In the past I connected the power gate to the power supply's backup battery terminals, and then to the battery. The Power Gate controlled the charge rate and float charge to a deep cycle flooded lead acid battery. I'm considering using a Bioenno LifePo this time around and the power gate will be reconfigured to properly charge it.

I appreciate the confirmation of my suspicions with Patriot. I will look in to the other brands mentioned in the replies.

Brian
KB3WFV