Okay for a while now I've been looking into solutions for distribution and control of the 12V electrical system which I plan to install in our new house. The 12V system will be sourced from a new battery bank to be built. My initial estimates this will be around 440 Amp/Hours, in real terms this will give me just over 1KWh of capacity without eating into battery life expectancy. The batteries will all be of the 12V Lead Acid variety, but will be of the boat/caravan type, which are designed for deep discharge when compared with the car variety. The bank will be charged by an array of solar panels and a wind turbine (hopefully!), and if things are bad, a mains charger. I've even got a few ideas for a pedal power generator, and for desperate times, some form of cable which can be hooked up to my car alternator. The resulting output will run the following:

o A mains inverter, which will initially run mains lighting circuits in some parts of the house, and later all parts. All light fittings will be energy efficient and low power.
o Pumps to pump water back and forward from water butts at the front and back of the house. These water buts will form a rain water supply which is additionally pumped up to all WC supplies in the house, and later the supply to the washing machine.
o A 12V DC bus for the sitting room. This means I no longer need an array of 12V transformers for set top boxes, chargers. 12V sockets will be provided for car plug compatible devices which means I can charge phones, run laptops, run mini inverters, and charge household rechargeable batteries.
o Some 12V lighting in certain places in the house were practical.
o 12V supplies for garage lighting and 12V garage supply.

As some of you may already be a aware I have a large control panel in the garage of my existing house. This is very home made looking, and I've been looking for something more professional for fitting inside the new house for control, and monitoring of the majority of the system. The solution is a control panel and remote relay system which is developed by an Italian company CBE, who specialize in controls and panels for large motorhomes. I now have the control panel, and I'm now evaluating the installation design. Here are some pics:

Well Fiona and I decided on the buggy we're going to get. I comes with everything, car seats, cots, all sorts of bits, and is very compact for a twin buggy. Believe me, this is something hard to find. It unfortunately costs a wopping 850quid. That was a bit of a blow, but all the rest are just the same. Anyway its called the iCandy Pear, see the pictures below. I think I need a new car to go along with it

Well here's a few more scan pictures taken recently.