One tip, if you need free solar panels is to Find a traffic sign rental contractor. We did. When you see road constuction signs with blinking lights and a solar panel on top while driving, please look closly there should be a small sign with the contractors name on it, look up contractors phone number and call. They rent these to the state hi-way dept. Ask for the shop maintaince manager or head mechanic and ask him for free damaged panels.
If you have kids who enjoy doing experments, have them ask. Most companies love to help kids doing a school or class project.
Most all traffic rental sign contractors have free solar panels that have some cracks or slightly damaged when drunk drivers hit the parked sign trailers. They replace them and through away the damaged ones. We started asking for them and they let us have them for free. most of the panels work but only put off 50% to 75% power off, but for free ,whos complaining when they cost 2200.00 each new.
If you can go there in person it is better. If you call you may get the first girl who answers the phone who does not care. If you go there in person and be freindly it works better. Now we have it so when they get some in they call us. At first we offered to pay something for them so we would not look like free loaders. Once they see your not a jerk looking for freebees they treat you nicer.
Hope this helps someone. there are many companies now that rent traffic boards to road construction contractors, they always get hit regular, if the panels get any cracks at all, they are called UNSAFE, and have to be replaced even though they still work, we had on panel that looked so badly damaged like (why bother loading it) to my surprize it worked when we got home and put the test meter to it. They are free so get as many as you can.
Once you get some you can use a D/C water pump and get water anywhere. Some of the wells we drilled are far from electric service, but that's a lil off the subject.

Hmm sounds interesting, altough here where I live it won't work that easy , they will repair the pannels or destroy them.
But I think I should try what you say.

Ha cool thread. Nice idea, Must try it.... Just what to do with a bunch of cracked solar panels