user37840: My project is to have a 12V solar LED strip lighting system throughout my apartment. This has 6 individual lights, with 5 white and 1 RGB = 8 channels.
I've got the whole setup working on my breadboard. Now it's time to transfer it to a "live" setup. Since it's my first such project, I'm looking for any and all recommendations on cabling and connectors to deal with reliability, isolation, modularity, aesthetics and of course safety.
Schematically, it all looks something like this
solar panel------\
                  charge controller--5v regulator--arduino--mosfets x 8--\__lights    
12v battery_fuse_/                  \____________________________________/    

So I have questions such as:-

should I use a prototype shield, or a discrete pcb?
do the MOSFETs (RFP30N06LE) need a heatsink, and any recommended unit?
what connectors are recommended?
any suggestions on box/packaging for the above? 
wire gauge? Maximum run is 4m to the furthest light.

And any other hints, tips and suggestions greatly appreciated. Bonus appreciation for amazon links to the parts :-)
update
The breadboard is simply the mosfets, each with a current limiting resistor on the gate. The lights range from 8W to 40W. I will generally have them dimmed using PWM. 

user37950: generic DC connector advice:
avoid the use of connectors which connect serially, like headphone jacks. you make strange combinations while plugging in
avoid connectors which do not latch, like headphone jacks
in a system like yours, with stages and signal processing in between, use different connectors for each phase, so you can not get it wrong
use connectors that can not be connected backwards for DC. I prefer:
Hopkins 47965 2-Pole Flat Extension for raw solar power.Not because    it's a great connector, but because it's common in low power solar

Anderson Power Poles for regulated DC power. you can secure them
together with a tie wrap; you can't connect them backwards without
doing things that are obviously counter intuitive.
Fuel injection    connectors from Autozone for signal wires. they got
a million of    them, they are made for DC at useful current levels
Trailer    connectors for multiple lead serious power.
XLR connectors can be    found from 3 to 6 pins, and you can't jam a
5 pin into a 6 pin, so    you can't cross connnect

keep things dummy proof.

37840: <p>My project is to have a 12V solar LED strip lighting system throughout my apartment. This has 6 individual lights, with 5 white and 1 RGB = 8 channels.</p>

<p>I've got the whole setup working on my breadboard. Now it's time to transfer it to a "live" setup. Since it's my first such project, I'm looking for any and all recommendations on cabling and connectors to deal with reliability, isolation, modularity, aesthetics and of course safety.</p>

<p>Schematically, it all looks something like this</p>

<pre><code>solar panel------\
                  charge controller--5v regulator--arduino--mosfets x 8--\__lights    
12v battery_fuse_/                  \____________________________________/    
</code></pre>

<p>So I have questions such as:-</p>

<ol>
<li>should I use a prototype shield, or a discrete pcb?</li>
<li>do the MOSFETs (RFP30N06LE) need a heatsink, and any recommended unit?</li>
<li>what connectors are recommended?</li>
<li>any suggestions on box/packaging for the above? </li>
<li>wire gauge? Maximum run is 4m to the furthest light.</li>
</ol>

<p>And any other hints, tips and suggestions greatly appreciated. Bonus appreciation for amazon links to the parts :-)</p>

<p>update
The breadboard is simply the mosfets, each with a current limiting resistor on the gate. The lights range from 8W to 40W. I will generally have them dimmed using PWM. </p>
 37950: <p>generic DC connector advice:</p>

<p>avoid the use of connectors which connect serially, like headphone jacks. you make strange combinations while plugging in</p>

<p>avoid connectors which do not latch, like headphone jacks</p>

<p>in a system like yours, with stages and signal processing in between, use different connectors for each phase, so you can not get it wrong</p>

<p>use connectors that can not be connected backwards for DC. I prefer:</p>

<p>Hopkins 47965 2-Pole Flat Extension for raw solar power.Not because    it's a great connector, but because it's common in low power solar</p>

<ul>
<li>Anderson Power Poles for regulated DC power. you can secure them<br>
together with a tie wrap; you can't connect them backwards without<br>
doing things that are obviously counter intuitive.</li>
<li>Fuel injection    connectors from Autozone for signal wires. they got
a million of    them, they are made for DC at useful current levels</li>
<li>Trailer    connectors for multiple lead serious power.</li>
<li>XLR connectors can be    found from 3 to 6 pins, and you can't jam a
5 pin into a 6 pin, so    you can't cross connnect</li>
</ul>

<p>keep things dummy proof.</p>
