There are many different systems and ways to do this. The main questions here are: how big, how simple, how long. Your skill level and wallet/budget also have a lot to do with the end result.
How big? Are you planning on using 1 panel or 100? 10 watts or 10 kilowatts?
How simple? Some systems are prepackaged, pretested plug and play type rigs. Others are completely DIY in nature.
How long? Do you want to provide backup power to a few small devices for up to an hour, or the whole house overnight?
Some small grid-tie setups plug straight into an outlet like a refrigerator or clothes dryer, whereas most larger rigs have their own circuit wired into the main box. The type and complexity of the system, as well as local power company policies, dictate most of the details here. Prior planning prevents poor performance in a big way here.
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