Who makes a good solar panel?

Topray makes panels that cost about $3.75/watt -- I think they are mono, and they generate in overcast conditions.

Mitsubishi makes the most efficient panels and they do a lot of business with boat / yachts where space is at a premium.

I can get a good, small panel for battery charging in the marine supply store for under a hundred bucks, but if I want a real installation the state and power company insist I use an approved installer, who will use his own panel supplier, in order to get the humongous rebates they provide.

a solar powered well and some lighting.
I am an electrician who is starting to lean toward solar system installations so I am trying to learn who makes the best panels.I figured someone here would know who makes a good panels from personal experience.

I don't know how I would run it purely with solar panels. I suppose I would need a lot of batteries. Lights I can do with a fairly small marine panel and battery and a bunch of 12 volt or less bulbs. But, most of my lights are flourescent and the payback would be forever.

A bunch of people out here did the full installation and cut their bills down from a few hundred to as little as 5 bucks a month. But, they were still on the grid for when the sun isn't shining and they want running water and a refrigerator.

If I really had a choice, I would build one of those farmer's windmills with the pump and storage tank.

(Curiously, out here in farm country they won't let you build a working windmill any more.)

Our current panels supply(barely) enough power for daytime only use.We are upgrading to run 24/7.We have ordered a new controller and batterys and since we have money left over from the power budget we decided to go ahead and get new panels also.
I have read up manufacturers specs on at least a dozen models.Now I am trying to get real world feedback and recommendations on brands.

They won't let you build working windmills? Why is that?

Someone got the idea that some windmills are dangerous, so no windmills at all. One guy built a replica of the Dutch windmills that dotted the area 300 years ago and after a year of dealing with permits was told "OK, but the vanes can't move."

Then, there's that part of the town code that says you can't build anything over 30 feet tall.

Between the two, ain't no windmills in town.

that I use to run communications gear, they are only a year old, but no problems so far.

In Badin, NC, there sits a mostly unused Alcoa aluminum plant. I've thought for years it would be neat to retrofit it to manufacture solar panels. When I worked with engineers, I asked them if it would be possible - they said yes.

Anyway, I just took the plunge and contacted Alcoa about it. I'm guessing they are going to fall over laughing when they get my message.

But check the place out, it really would be cool, and God knows the area could use it. There is no work out there.

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/alcoa_location/en/home.asp?code=406