Ive been doing some research on a mobile solar generator. Check our www.solarpenny.com. Its a great site and the owner sent me an awesome pdf on how to build and scale your system. $1k would get me enough to power my freezer and have enough juice left over for a fan etc. i tried to attach the file but its 500kb. Seems to me to be a good investment. Especially for the sketchy power grid i enjoy out here in the sticks.