batteries
Hi Jack, thanks for your comments.
One of the things we enjoy most about our system, is that we don't have to think about it outside the usual monthly maintence of topping off the batteries, checking individual panel outputs, blowing dust out of the inverters and the like. We rarely use the batteries, only when the power goes out, really. I like this because those big beasts will last longer without them cycling all the time.
But my wife's first suggestion when we heard of this was to throw the switch and go entirely off grid. But as I mention in another post, we still use much more than we produce, and going off-grid would result in serious changes 'round here. Maybe we should tighten up our electricity usage no matter what happens.
jms