I found some nice step up and step down voltage regulators. Most of them are rated at 300 ma a couple of the step down ones are 600 ma which could be used to charge cell phones.

Sounds like it's a very small set up. If it's a large set up (like something to run a computer and such) I can give you some things to look out for.

Its a small project, the panels are rated at 9 volts, 160 ma. I am sure that is for no load. The panel that mentioned for the battery charger was the 9 volt model. I am hoping that I can rig panels to run my hand held scanner off of them DC in on it is only 6v volts at 300 ma and see how much I can pump out at 5 volts for USB devices.

The idea of doing a solar/battery powered data logger like the one guys project but I don't have any need for one. The only people I know that could use one finished that project years ago.

I have to say the more I think things over the switchable panel setup the more i see it might not add any extra efficiency. I spotted these before I left work:

600 ma step down voltage regulator
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2103

300 ma step up/down voltage regulator
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2120

My brother and his friend started a company that works with solar panels and generators. The other guy does everything with that, my brother makes LED hoops. They're hoping to get a small, cheep, and easy to use solar panel charger for the battery in the hoops soon.

That's sounds like a good area to work in. What do you mean by hoops? The first thing that comes to mind for me is dancing props.

Hula Hoops. There called hoops more often because it kind of disassociates them as a toy.

Oh ok I see what your saying.