Meter only outside with a new Enphase system

Z

Zee

Senior Member
Location
CA
Been a while since I saw one of these:
(E) Meter only outside. No main breaker, no distribution.
I am planning for inspection. Electrician friend says it will fly.
I am not sure.

It feeds a 100A main breaker / 200A rated sub in garage.

We are installing
3 @ Enphase IQ5P batteries
6.72 kW PV system
Enphase Combiner 5

Skipping the Enphase Controller. (No battery backup, Grid tied battery and PV only.)

Do they need a new service?
Do I need to install a solar AC disconnect outside?
Would the Enphase Combiner suffice?
 
Zee said:
Been a while since I saw one of these:
(E) Meter only outside. No main breaker, no distribution.
I am planning for inspection. Electrician friend says it will fly.
I am not sure.

It feeds a 100A main breaker / 200A rated sub in garage.

We are installing
3 @ Enphase IQ5P batteries
6.72 kW PV system
Enphase Combiner 5

Skipping the Enphase Controller. (No battery backup, Grid tied battery and PV only.)

Do they need a new service?
Do I need to install a solar AC disconnect outside?
Would the Enphase Combiner suffice?
Click to expand...
Need to know the details on the main load center, main breaker, bus rating, also the quantity and model of enphase inverters, or the combined max output current of them. A line diagram would be helpful.
 
In addition to rapid shutdown outside you need a battery disconnect outside. Put the combiner outside and you're good on both.

What you described as a subpanel in your OP sounds like the service panel.
 
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solarken said:
Need to know the details on the main load center, main breaker, bus rating, also the quantity and model of enphase inverters, or the combined max output current of them. A line diagram would be helpful.
Click to expand...
Seems it's a 200A panel with a 100A main, backfeed is not really an issue. But also with Enphase PCS service upgrades can generally be avoided.
 
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electrofelon said:
What do you find strange or questionable about the service?

You'll need an outside rapid shutdown switch
May need a utility compliant shut down switch, depending on their requirements.
Click to expand...
99.9% of services here are meter/main combos, or both a meter-only enclosure and a main panel on exterior.
Point is, Meter AND MSP is "always" on exterior.

We dont install main service panels indoors. Good weather I guess.
 
solarken said:
Need to know the details on the main load center, main breaker, bus rating, also the quantity and model of enphase inverters, or the combined max output current of them. A line diagram would be helpful.
Click to expand...
My bad: I meant 100A/200A MSP (service panel) - not sub panel - is indoors.
Q is just what boxes must be outside for a PV/battery system? In general.
 
jaggedben said:
In addition to rapid shutdown outside you need a battery disconnect outside. Put the combiner outside and you're good on both.

What you described as a subpanel in your OP sounds l
Click to expand...
Thanks for the answer, that was what I was curious about, if the Enphase CB meets the RSS requirement and the Battery Disco requirement.
Great. Thx.

HOWEVER, I will likely install a knife blade 60A AC disco for the batteries as they total 60A-AC and my Enphase micros will be over 20A (2 branch circuits)....and I think there is a 80A limit on the Enphase CB?
 
I don't see why you need a knife blade disconnect for the batteries, or any additional disconnect for them, if the Enphase combiner with the 60A battery breaker is outside the building and within sight of the batteries.

There are two requirements for ESS: outside disconnect (on one and two family dwellings) and disconnect within sight. The breaker in the Enphase combiner can be both if so positioned.
 
jaggedben said:
I don't see why you need a knife blade disconnect for the batteries, or any additional disconnect for them, if the Enphase combiner with the 60A battery breaker is outside the building and within sight of the batteries.
Click to expand...
It might b e a local requirement.
 
Yes, (y)that will help in connecting the PV and battery to the existing main service panel.
However, long shot here.......would PCS allow more than 80A into an Enphase Combiner?
(I have roughly 30A PV plus 60A battery)

(No big deal either way, I had planned to just run my 60A of battery though an AC disco outside, then to the MSP - and the 30A PV separately thru the Enphase CB and then to the same MSP.)
 
Zee said:
Yes, (y)that will help in connecting the PV and battery to the existing main service panel.
However, long shot here.......would PCS allow more than 80A into an Enphase Combiner?
(I have roughly 30A PV plus 60A battery)

(No big deal either way, I had planned to just run my 60A of battery though an AC disco outside, then to the MSP - and the 30A PV separately thru the Enphase CB and then to the same MSP.)
Click to expand...
I haven't set up the grid tie systems myself enough to remember if Toolkit forces you to do something or whether it kind of takes care of it for you. But IQ Battery Oversubscription would take care if it. Tell the system the batteries are on a 50A breaker. (Doesn't matter if they are actually on a 60A, but you could also actually put them on a 50A, your choice.) You could even possibly finesse it further, e.g. say the PV output is actually 20.3A, then you could tell it the batteries are on a 54A breaker. That would limit battery current to 80% of 54A, which is 43.2. So 43.2+20.3=63.5 which is just under the max 64A allowed on a 80A.
 
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Besoeker3 said:
Hi Guys - ignorant Jock here again. What is "Enphase" please?
Click to expand...
Enphase is a solar equipment manufacturer. They have been making microinverters (small inverters mounted on the PV modules) for several years, and they have more recently gotten into the battery game.
 
ggunn said:
Enphase is a solar equipment manufacturer. They have been making microinverters (small inverters mounted on the PV modules) for several years, and they have more recently gotten into the battery game.
Click to expand...
Thank you kindly, sir !
 
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