For a small system that is easy to install, try RV kits. 50 - 100 watt panel, controller, wiring, mount. Just add a battery. Many are priced from $450.00 to 800.00
Many schools do solar studies and you can buy good used panels cheap. Get a half dozen. Batteries are important and you need enough to sustain your needs (D-8's are good)but forget car batteries, they don't last. A wind generator is a good thing to have in your system. The system on my ranch in Arizona also includes a gas generator for running tools,etc. keep a log book to know your system and check that water in the batteries.
hey try a regular gasoline generator and see how that works you can get them for 100 bucks on ebay and they provide a good amount of electricity. i know gas is expensive now but solar panels cost way to much. i think in a few years they are going to go down in price and actually produce much more electricity. but you might be fine if you buy a gas generator and just save up for solar panels over time. this is what i have been planning on. then when you can afford a solar generator you can use the gas one for times if its overcast for a few days. solar panels require lots of other stuff too where as some generators can be used directly. whatever you do make sure your generator has enough power for what you want to do. my uncle lived in a cabin with a gas generator for years and it worked fine. ebay might be a good place for panels too cause they sell lots of things in the wholesale sections. sometimes you can get hiking backpacks and gear for half price. the downside of this is that you buy lots of 2 or 4 at a time and have to sell them back to other people. good luck !
Ebay sells great solar equipment. Fossil fuel generators pollute more than automobiles because they don't have emission controls.
