Just commenting on what I have seen, but there are numerous sellers on eBay offering 12 volt solar panels for less tnat $3 per watt - shipping included.

I know with eBay it is hard to know the quality, but that isn't a huge investment.

I am a network engineer, but I was an electronics technician many years ago. I have no doubt that I have the electromechanical assembly skills to build a panel, but I am not sure it is worth the effort for me to learn how. Of course there is always the benefit of knowing how to fix it as well.

Intersting to know this information. I definitely want to either build or buy some solar panels soon for my RV, and then maybe some for limited power at the house. And as luck would have it, I have access to lots of UPSs as they are retired. Even larger ones - like 3KVa units.

Thanks for the great info.