This was a project I started a good 3 years ago if memory serves me right (which usually half the time it doesn't). But while working at my store, I found a bunch of busted-up solar-powered garden lights that someone had thrown in the trash. So I grabbed and cleaned them up. I was saddened to see that the internal circuitry was badly oxidized by the leaking battery acid, and was pretty much infested with ants and spiders to boot. Before throwing the units back into the trash, I salvaged the solar panels and kept them. The LEDs were of no use to me, as they were pretty much weak in power, and lit up that very dim yellow.
Taking the panels home, I mounted them on a piece of cardboard with some cheap white duct tape as seen in the BEFORE shot. I didn't have a soldering iron at the time, so I have to twist-tie the wires together, and tape the whole thing up.

Well, after those three years, tonight, I ressurected this project power supply. Armed with a soldering iron, a steady hand, and a 2-Liter bottle of Pepsi at my side, I went to work. I stripped off all the old wiring that was attached to the back of the panels. Afterwards, I lined up the positive and negative terminals, and soldered them in a parallel circuit as seen in the AFTER. Maximum voltage output is presumed to be 5 VOLTS DC @ full exposure, as stated by a cheap voltmeter I had at one point. Tests have been performed, and with this unit, I am able to run a small Walkman radio, and able to charge my cellphone in most situations.

The two bottom pictures are of a close-up of the solar cells, and the other of me holding a super-bright white LED, powered just by one of the cells held against a table lamp. The leads on the LED got warm rather quickly.

All pictures taken with a Nintendo DSi.