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Hello Raymo,
If money is an issue (I can relate, if so), consider the following:
Many home solar installers get custody of used panels from roofs, in the event of warranty claims. If a few panels go, they often replace the whole string (charging it to the panel manufacturer). They do this in cases where new stock doesn't match spec sufficiently. You can see that the remaining panels have nothing wrong with them, aside from being a few years old.
The Solar installers leave these panels out the front of their shop, and the public can take them away. This saves the shop having to pay disposal costs. If you can find such a shop, you could save some dough. I've picked up 22 panels this year through the above means.
Also, Solar shops buy panels by the pallet load. Often they will have 1 or 2 left, which does not match the next 30 panels they buy on the next load. Some shops sell these new, orphaned panels at cost. Our local Astro club bought 2 new 300w Mono panels for $70 this way.
If you weren't located on the other side of the country I'd give you some. As mentioned, just check that the Max voltage matches your intended regulator/inverter, etc. Perhaps money saved on panels could get a new inverter if needed.
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