Well, the small problem with having a Heath Robinson off grid system is that it doesn't work that well and so trawling the internet isn't really an option unfortunately, which is why I've asked for advice. Plus there is the comprehension problem, don't seem to be able to retain the electrical know how for some reason, despite scores of explanations that make sense at the time....
I have a small farm and at the moment have this system -
2 x 30w BP solar panels and 1 x 43w Solar Technology panel which are wired up to a 12volt lighting system that a friend put in using car wire I think and a rather ancient battery, which works reasonably well though probably not as well as it should.
I also have 6 x 80w panels that I bought ex BT from ebay that are wired up to a battery bank of four 105 batteries and wired through a 300w inverter. This system hardly works at all as the so called expert who wired it up has put the battery bank etc a good 25m from the panels, we are sited in trees so they had to be in the sun and obviously, as he only used 2.5 household cable, very little power actuallyt arrives this end, hence I can't spend hours on the internet. Obviously, the solution to this is to move the batteries but this is a very busy time of year on farms and I haven't had time.....
In June, we will be having a 4.2kw wind turbine built and installed, based on the Hugh Piggott design that will run a separate system, possibly with some solar on top, not sure yet. It is also possible that I may move the large panel bank to add on to this system, but again, not quite sure. The system will be for the farm buildings and workshop, office and kitchen. I also have a Lister generator that hopefully will be working one day, again on the list of things to do.
I need to run various tools, normal sort of stuff really though I have just bought a welder. Not sure how much power that pulls so it may have to be a genny job. I do really need to be able to run a fridge as am starting small scale dairy production and need to be able to keep the milk chilled. I haven't got the fridge yet but will be looking for something of a reasonable size but will buy the most energy efficient one I can find - suggestions gratefully received.
This is a very broad overview but I am half way through building a solar shower block and have to go and get on with it as have some people here to help. I have lived off grid for the last three and a half years and am totally committed to using as little power as possible, so apart form power tool use and lighting and laptop, the only thing that really happens is battery charging.
Has been talk of 48 systems but this is where my eyes start to glaze over.... Was planning on leaving the decision on that to the people running the course who know far more about these things than I do.
www.v3power.co.ukHope this is enough to be getting on with and thank you so much for your time, very much appreciated.