Solar Power in the Home

There are considerations on the downside of installing solar power on your roof. http://www.prlog.org/10286339-solar-power-should-you-install-home-solar-power-system.html
Now I want to know ways to use solar power without a major installation. My husband has a panel the size of a sheet of paper that maintains a battery like a car battery. He can then power small appliances (the TV at his hunting camp, a boxfan, a lamp, etc.) off that battery. I want to find ways to use that solar panel around the house. That small panel was $45-ish and the battery was around $60 (real good deep-cycle battery--you can go less.) The solar panel keeps a "trickle-charge" going during the day so it's always ready. Cool.