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As I understand it per PV panel inverters (commonly called microinverters) offer: * longer life * extract more from each panel * overcome the limitation of one panel in a string of panels being in the shade impacting the output of the entire string Enphase make a solar PV DC-240AC inverter which seems to get good reviews but it is not compatible with offgrid systems - I think because it needs an existing reliable 240ac feed to synchonize with. Thinking on this it occurred to me I could use a set of the small cheap as chips DC-DC charge controller in series to build a 48V battery bank, and have mulitple of these banks in parallel to build up a decent storage. This might give me: * high redundancy * overcome the issue of shading in solar PV strings * individual battery monitoring system for zero additional cost * total charge controller cost of 30 * £15 = £450 * ability to use a cheap basic 48V-240vac inverter that be replaced in the lifetime of the system with minimal cost - circa £450/5kW model * ability to replace individual 12v cells with minimal impact So why not? Googling I can't find anyone doing this so there must be something I have over looked. I welcome some peer review comments please. Links: * DC-DC charge controller I've been using for 18months with out issue: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-LCD-Solar-Panel-Charge-Controller-12V-24V-Battery-Auto-Regulator-New-J1Z3-/311585702654?hash=item488bf482fe:g:vooAAOSw2ENW624S * cheap 48v/240acv 5kW inverters http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Sine-Wave-Inverter-Charger-Sinus-Pro-5000W-48V-240V-15A-AVR-UPS-/222409289155?hash=item33c8a06dc3:g:hNoAAOSw34FVAzYQ