Hi Klone
Not sure if you're familiar with the Alternative Energy Zone and the are a great resource on solar power and the set-ups that work on the playa their website is www.ae-zone.org/
They site has a lot of information that might be of some help.

Please, don't burn the nest. ;-)

This combo looks very similar to what I've been using the past couple years on the playa, but you can do better on the cost. The battery/inverter power pack in the photo looks like the Xantrex 400, and an Amazon.com search shows they're available for about $100. Similarly for the solar panel... check Amazon for the Coleman or Sunforce panels and you can get 15 watts for around $100, so your total cost for this entry-level setup should be around $200. You'll probably need to make a connector to hook the solar panel output to the battery pack, but that's pretty easy of you can handle a soldering iron.

When I'm not at Burning Man, this setup doubles as part of my home emergency kit in case of an earthquake, etc.

I usually park my vehicle facing south and angle the solar panel on the dash, pressed against the windshield to get as much sun exposure as possible. (Brush the dust off the windshield occasionally.) The battery pack is hooked up during the day and sits on the vehicle floor. Since I mostly use the battery pack at night, I disconnect it from the solar panel and bring it into my tent to charge various electronic devices, power LED lights, music, etc. The power pack has both 12VDC and 120VAC outputs. Some models also have built-in lights, cheap air compressors, radios, or auto jumper cables, which can come in handy.

Here's a practical suggestion: Buy just the battery pack from a brick-and-mortar store with a flexible return policy, like Fry's Electronics. Take it home, charge it up with the included wall charger from a regular AC outlet, and then run a few tests to make sure that it can handle your blender or sound system or lights or whatever, but don't exceed the maximum power rating. If the battery lasts a sufficient amount of time, now you can add the solar panel for recharging. If you need more power than the battery pack can provide, you'll need to look at upgrading to a larger system.

Low amp hour power packs can be a good way to go for small power applications ( less than 20 amp hours ) like LED christmas lights producing low level camp lighting. they have a very limited ability to run a blender.

I think these two products are comparable to the all in one unit for $350+

Xantrex™ XPower PowerPack 400R 20 amp hour sealed battery $69.99

www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx

Power Up 10 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel $106.67

store.solar-electric.com/poup1...o.html

For intermittent high power work like a blender, consider a high wattage inverter off of your 200 amp vehicle battery. Starting a car to run a blender is as easy running a genny. In fact you can cobble together a very simple system using the battery in your car and a 40 to 60 watt panel.

Xantrex™ XPower™ Inverter 1000 - 120 VAC/60 Hz Mobile Power for Trucks, RVs and Minivans $74.99

www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx

Power Up 40 Watt Solar Electric Panel $230.00

store.solar-electric.com/poup4...l.html

How about this?
cgi.ebay.com/12V-Briefca...aultDomain_0

I have a regular power plug( 3 prong) in the dash of my car. Would it be best just to get solar panels and charge my car battery?