Looking more carefully at the specifications sheet of the LM7809ACT the maximum INPUT voltage actually seems to be 35V for models outputting 5 fo 18V.
https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/LM/LM7805.pdf
I do agree they would heat a lot a more with such values, which should not be the case with a decent 12V solar regulator.
https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/LM/LM7805.pdf
I do agree they would heat a lot a more with such values, which should not be the case with a decent 12V solar regulator.

