Low cost solar power system

[John Raabe]

This is a great little project for a minimal electrical load. Could work for a remote camp, boat or RV.

http://www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html

[DavidLeBlanc]

The article says that "Many cassette players, answering machines, and other electrical appliances are DC already and with the right cable will run straight off the box."

I would take this advice with a shaker of salt!  

Not all DC appliances take 12 volts, nor are all "wall warts" DC supplies: in many/most cases, they're just step down transformers and the conversion from AC to DC occurs inside the appliance.

Many of the genies inside small appliances live off of 3-7 volts, especially electronics, and get very cranky if given too much (or too little!). Sometimes the smoke will come out and then the genie is dead.