120% rule on backup panel, Power Limit Feature

wwhitney

Senior Member
Location
Berkeley, CA
Occupation
Retired
The specs you quoted say that the maximum continuous charge current is 20.8A per PW3. So considering them as loads, your panel has 4*30 + 2*20.8 = 161.6A of continuous load. That's too much for a 200A breaker which isn't 100% rated (and it won't be). If you can configure the PWs to jointly never charge at more than 40A from the grid, that would take care of the issue.

The subject heading mentions the 120% rule. So considering the PW3s as sources, if they can jointly act as a PCS to export at most 32A continuous, then the panel shown would comply with the 120% rule. I'm unclear on what certifications the NEC requires a PCS to have (which may vary depending on the 2020 NEC vs the 2023 NEC), and what certifications the PW3 has.

Seems like limiting the PW3s to export at most 32A at any time would be an undesirable limitation. Given the loads in the panel shown, that limitation would apply even when off-grid. Putting the EVSEs in a separate panel is probably a better design.

Cheers, Wayne
 
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