I want to be able to run a fridge and a fan out in my yard area near the bbq. I don't have a lot of money to spend so I want to learn as much as I can myself rather than going and paying a company to do it all.

The fridge is a small one, it only holds 12 cans at a time and the fan is a desktop one, so I don't think they will need lots of electricity but it would need to be reliable

Solar Water Heater Question

We are doing some remodeling on our home, we recently moved here and fully intend to be here for a long long time, at least 20 years.

One of the things we are considering doing is installing a solar water heater, heating water uses a lot of electricity so using a solar water heater should save us money straight away.

I am wondering why they aren't more popular though, do they provide enough hot water for a family?

If we get a solar water heater is it possible to also keep some sort of emergency water heater for when our kids all come home to visit and take showers one after the other?

Solar Powered Lights

I bought a set of solar powered garden lanterns as a surprise gift for my wife. I want her to come into the garden and see them all there lighting the garden path.

The problem is that I have been told it takes 3 days to charge them in sunlight and the surprise is planned for tomorrow night.

Is there a way to quickly charge the solar cells in the garden lights without sunlight?