Hands-off battery backup / self-consumption systems?

At this point--Your best bet is probably to by a small UPS that supplies just enough power for your computer+router+model+a few LED lights (if needed).

Any battery system is going to require maintenance (AGM, Li-Ion may not require monthly maintenance. And Power Wall systems probably are not maintainable by end users)--And is they don't require maintenance, they probably will need replacement (batteries) every 5-8 years, and electronics (inverters, charge controllers, other electronics) every 10+ years.

It is just the nature of the beast (electronics, batteries, etc.).

It very much leaves you with a cost/benefit ratio decision. How much is "UPS"+Off grid backup+solar worth to you.

If you want to experiment... Get a Kill-a-Watt type meter and measure your AC loads. If you can live with a 1,000 WH per day system (1,000 WH / 24 hour per day = 41 Watt average load)... You can setup a small off grid system for not too much money and see how it works for you--And you learn the pieces of they system:

• 1,000 WH per day
• 1,000 WH per day * 1/0.85 inverter eff * 1/12 volt battery * 2 days storage * 1/0.50 max discharge = 392 AH @ 12 volt battery bank
• 2x 6 volt @ 200 AH "golf cart" size batteries * 2 parallel strings = 400 AH @ 12 volts
• 400 AH * 14.5 volts * 1/0.77 panel+controller deratings * 0.10 rate of charge = 753 Watt solar array nominal (full time off grid minimum)

Solar power for Los Angles:
http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html

Los Angeles
Average Solar Insolation figures

Measured in kWh/m2/day onto a solar panel set at a 41° angle from vertical:
(Optimal winter settings)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
4.80	4.94	5.93	6.25	5.94	5.75
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
5.74	5.99	6.14	5.96	5.37	4.77

Size of solar array to manage 12 months a year, 1,000 WH per day with 75% minimum available sun (minimum amount of generator/backup AC power usage):

• 1,000 WH per day * 0.52 off grid system eff * 1/0.75 bad weather derate * 1/4.77 hours of average sun = 537 Watt array minimum for fixed loads 365 days per year
• Looking above, 753 Watt array minimum (10% rare of charge minimum recommended for full time off grid power)

Get a 300 Watt AC inverter:
https://www.solar-electric.com/morningstar-si-300-115v-ul-inverter.html

Plus an AC to DC battery charger for backup power during bad weather. Plus a genset for storm failures (Honda eu2000i ~$1,000 + siphon hose/5-10 gallons of backup gasoline+fuel stablizer, change 1x - 2x per year).

The above system will supply about 3 hours * 300 Watts per day (3 hour blackout capabilities.

The above is just a quick outline of what a capable 1,000 WH per day system can do. Start small, make plans, figure costs, then buy hardware--Do not buy the hardware first and figure out how to make a useful to you system.

-Bill