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Dick,
I have 4 140 watt panels, 4 (trojan)6 volt 225 amp/hour batteries a 2000 watt pure sine inverter and a multi-stage charger. We have been off the grid and didn't run a generator for all of the summer of 2012. We can use the microwave for re-heating, a small coffee pot, TV and satelite antenna, 2 laptops and all the 12 volt stuff (not all at the same time).
Like was mentioned, you need to know what you want the system to do and design it to do that. It is one of those RV things. You will never get any payback, but being self-sufficent is really nice.
Arizona Wind and Sun has a forum that was helpful to me when I was setting up my system. Plus, they were the cheapest source I could find for new panels.
You need to remember there are three seperate circuits.
Panels to charger
charger to batteries
batteries to inverter
All need fuses and need different size wire.
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