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to buy economically are golf cart batteries. They are designed to allow many deep discharges and recharges. Regular car batteries simply will not do - the lead in them will be used up and the batteries killed in no time at all. Even marine batteries are still not as good as golf cart batteries (although they are a lot better than car batteries). Most golf cart batteries are 6 volts so you will have to create strings of them in series to make up the voltage of your system.

Alternatively, if you have grid power you can actually use the grid as your battery. When your alternate power source is providing excess power you can sell it to the grid by spinning your meter backwards. However, this can cost several thousand dollars to get the right equipment as required by your power company. But then again, buying enough batteries to keep you going can cost about 2/3 of that - and you will have to replace them every 5-7 years or so. So make your choice. Some people have a smaller battery bank and also tie to the grid - this provides electricity to your house when there is a grid power outage. However, it is the most expensive of all three options.

Generally, even though it may cost more, unless you are experienced and confident with charging dozens of batteries safely (ensuring the hydrogen gas released by them does not get ignited and is safely ventilated), and prepared to maintain the electrolyte and distilled water levels, it would be recommended to go for the grid tie system if you can - it will be plug-in and forget.

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?

So, when you have made your decision, if you are going the battery route you need to search for deep cycle batteries and power inverters that will invert from your system voltage up to 120 volts. If you are doing this yourself you will have some idea of the power consumption of your house. If it is about 3Kw then you need a 3Kw inverter with 6Kw peak (to handle high short loads such as motors in fridges starting etc). Many companies make inverters.

There are two main types: True sine wave inverters and modified square wave. Sine wave are the best and the most expensive - but they are as good or better than the grid power supply, so all your equipment will run smoothly. Modified square wave inverters are a lot cheaper but can make some hi-fis or TVs crackle. They can also make some electric motors such as fan motors hum. If this annoys you, you can get suppressor devices for many household items - or you may have to replace some of your

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