Solar panels - Large or Small?

[sailorboy1]

One of my main winter projects is to do solar panels. For the location I want to use a large panel at higher voltage fits best. But I'm sure I could use smaller panels and increase the number. I know I remember a thread about this but can't find it.

So for a given power rating is really a difference between using a large panel or multiple smaller panels? In my case the choices I'm considering are:

1 large panel, 290W, 24V, 77"x39.1" - $1.27/w, $367

2 smaller panels, 140W ea, 12V, 59.1"x26.3", $2.05/w, $570

Pro's for the larger panel:
- cost (shipping isn't an issue as I can go pick-up)
- smaller total footprint
- higher voltage

The only pro I can think of for using the smaller panels are:
-less weight, but this is only an item where installing and removing and the 20 lbs isn't that big a deal
- wired in parallel there is less of a shading issue for output

What am I not considering?