Ok, being a complete newby at this I just have to know, is there any reason why you would not want to have a 120 volt system instead of a 12 volt or 24? Yes I realize that the additional batteries would cost more money but wouldn't you also have the advantage of not having to choose between hard to get appliances and transforming voltages from 12v or 24v up to 120?
The way I see it (forgetting about the money for a bit), if I had 20 12 volt batteries and split them into two banks and charged one up while using the other. I wouldn't have to transform at all, just convert from DC to AC. To charge them I admit I would also have to have more solar and/or generate more voltage from a wind generator, but then by designing my own wouldn't I have some control over that?
Are there very good reasons other than the money for not using such a system?