I know someone in the Business, sadly died in a motorbike accident some years back. And I know people off grid around here. One place i go to for work has an off grid system because it would cost an arm and leg to put the poles in to connect to the grid. I think they charge $5k a pole and then was told by someone doing a new build that they would require him to trach, I can only imagine how much that would cost.
Anyway I have been looking and I do not need an installer, I know electricians and can DIY, whatever. I must admit I find the US electrical system weird using 120v but it is what it is.
Now everyone up here needs batteries but historically it seems that is California etc they have been selling grid toed system without batteries and using the grid as their battery. Now California has seriously limited to what they will pay for your excess energy so the economics are screwed.
I bumped into someone who has a F150 Lightning, bought is secondhand hand for I think around 50k which sounds a lot but look at the price of a new truck. Amusing Ford have a cheap Ranger model, they are not selling that in the US, only expensive models.
So a Solar Panels and Batteries use DC, and this has to be converted to AC at some point either at the Pael, Battery or in a separate box.
Panels used to be a dollar a watt, now nearer 50c.
Battery prices start at 30c a watt.
The Brain Boxes well they have more toys and whistles than they ever did and difficult compare, the above 2 are where the money is.
I have seen a lot of places selling used panels seriously cheap, they still work you just need more of them.
When I was working out cost always seemed that the Battery was going to be the big sticker item, and things like the Tesla Powerwall were seriously heavy, 300lbs plus. Now the trend seems to be modular systems where the components are more like 100lbs, that can be managed.
You can see why grid tied systems were so attractive, produce electricity during the day and send it to the grid during the day, pull it back at night, make money on any excess. But those days seem to be nearly over.
Like I mentioned the dynamics where I am are different due to the potential cost of connecting. Plus if we have heavy wet late snow the grid could be down for a few days.
I have a small generator as an emergency backup. But that only powers essential loads.
I have seen enough sources say that grid ted contractor installed systems are c $2.50 a KW, and one sight I went to wanted to know my credit score as that seems to be where they make their money, sounds like the worst of buying a car.
Most of the stuff I have been looking at you just buy the stuff as you would any electrical system, the ones that do not avoid. One I liked EnPhase you had to be a qualified installer to commision the system, liked their stuff and was about to move on when I found out that you could as a self installer also go through their own line qualification system, now that I might do anyway. could learn a lot.
A lot of the setting up is web based or app based so that is how they control things. I would be concerned about using a proprietary system where they may not be around, similar with EVs really.
Ohh that Lightening had a 100k battery so at my 30c a watt that is $30k just for the battery, she showed me the outlets, all the 8? 120v supplied 30amp and I think there was a 50amp 240v in the back.