posted 10 years ago
You could go with automotive wiring and cigarette-lighter outlets and plugs. Or, like I did, simply use AC wiring and designate one plate as positive and the other as negative. The problem with that is if a visitor thinks this is an ordinary AC outlet and plugs an AC appliance into it! Fortunately at the one cabin I had wired this way the biggest item that got fried was a cheap CD player!
Most solar design info recommends a fuse between the batteries and the rest of the system, whether or not an inverter is in use. You want the fuse somewhat larger in triggering amperage than the combination of your largest loads, such that it will only blow in the event of a short circuit. A charge controller, preferably of the MPPT type, is a good addition to even a relatively small system, as is a "battery life-saver" according to many.