Hi PK,
How about a 75 or 80 watt (single or poly crystaline) panel (~$350),
(avoid thin film or amorphous silicone panels)
Controller like a Morningstar SS-6 or SS-10 (~$45),
Wally World 85 or 105 amp hour deep cycle battery ($45~$65),
some wire (12-2 UF-B?), a waterproof conector, a little silicone, some terminals fuses, and stainless nuts and bolts.
Scrounge up some steel or Al for a mount.
Add a smaller inverter (~$45) and a 12v 11w CFL (~$15).
I would not cut back much on the panel or controller. They are the main parts and
will last a long time. A 75w panel will be able to supply 50% more power for a
little more money than a 50w panel. It will be the difference between 'works' and
'works nice'. The SS-10 is a little more, but you can add a panel later.
Some people get used car batteries from the junk yard for a couple dollars and
they work quite a while. 8 cents per pound comes to mind.
PepBoys (if they are local) has 400w Vector inverters under $40. Pretty OK.
Our hosts have 12v CFLs.
Lowes etc have the wire, waterproof connector, silicone, etc.
It will break $500 by a little. But saving the last $100 will be much smaller.
It should be a very workable system. I put one like it in a boat motor shop. 80w
runs some CFL lights, exhaust fan, starts motors, etc. The only electricity there.
He's very happy, but he conserves as much as he can. Most light comes in the window.
Don't have the electric shut off just yet!
G-
