Today's community service. For whatever reason it is somewhat impossible to find a clear concise list of what you need for a solar system for a average tard to get started. ---------- First decide system voltage 12v/24v then match hardware with voltage Hardware * solar panel * Mttp charge controller * Inverter (preferably pure sin to protect meme machines) * Deep cycle battery * Bus bar * Ground lug kit Wiring * Your hardware will say in the instructions what guage to use. Don't assume. Use red for positive, black for negative and green or bare for grounding * +/- pair for solar panel to charge controller * +/- pair for battery to charge controller * +/- pair for battery to inverter * ground wire for solar panel * Ground wire for inverter * Ground wire for charge controller Ground wires connect to bus bar and bus bar is the thing that is actually grounded. Fuses-that no one ever tells you you need. There are inline circuit breakers that are very neat. What size you need is based on surge capacity of your wires and hardware. * Fuse/ breaker on positive wire from solar panel to charge controller (6 in. from controller) * Fuse/breaker on positive wire from charge controller to battery ( 6 in. from battery) * Big chungus fuse/breaker from battery to Inverter. ( 6 in. from battery) Connectors - your equipment may or may not come with all needed connectors. Wire connection to a solar panel needs MC4 dudes, connecting to battery and/or inverter need ring terminal and connecting to controller/grounding bus bar are stripped ends * 6 ring terminals * 2 male/ 2 female MC4 Connectors Put it all together in this order * Charge controller>battery * Solar panel>charge controller * Inverter>battery * Ground system Expect to spend about $800 to $1000 for a small system cuz batteries be expensive Okay...ooooh sun came out. Sidenote: If you need help with your solar, go to your local car audio guy.