This is a guide to designing, installing & maintaining the battery element of a home energy system that is powered from any photovoltaic &/or wind turbine system. It is written in plain & simple English with the aim of equipping the reader with all the relevant knowledge to undertake any aspect of the design, installation or maintenance of any home energy system. This book also covers the pro’s & cons to each of the system elements, along with the relevant legislation, what grants are available & even how it can affect an existing or a potential new mortgage. The reader should therefore be able to master all aspects of designing, building & managing the battery element of their system. It’s not a guide for idiots, but a useful & practical guide for everyone. This book contains diagrams & photographs throughout to help aid the reader to understand the various points. Initial setup, life cycle costing & useful tools are also covered along with everything you will need to know to keep the lights on. All the information contained within this book are the pertinent sections from the book ‘DIY home energy solutions’ by the same author. That book covers a broader range of subjects including photovoltaic systems, wind turbine energy generating systems, back-up electricity systems, solar water heating, ground sourced hot water & also light tubes, which are all covered in detail.