Grid tie PV with Generator back up/

jaggedben said:
Ggunn is just saying that it's a lot simpler to put the PV on the supply side of any such setup than to deal with PV and generator both on the load side.
Click to expand...
Can you also help explain how the ATS is relatively cheap, for residential retrofits ?
 
ramsy said:
Can you also help explain how the ATS is relatively cheap, for residential retrofits ?
Click to expand...
Moving the PV interconnection to the line side of the main breaker and putting a standard interlock kit on the panel would be pretty cheap and it would protect the generator. Most of the generators I have seen on residences, however, have used AT switches. When someone decides to buy a PV system and a generator he has already decided to spend a significant amount of money.
 
Last edited:
ggunn said:
Moving the PV interconnection to the line side of the main breaker and putting a standard interlock kit on the panel would be pretty cheap and it would protect the generator. Most of the generators I have seen on residences, however, have used AT switches. When someone decides to buy a generator he has already decided to spend a significant amount of money.
Click to expand...
Yes, that makes the most sense.

Especially since those 3-switch solar interlock kits may get red tagged for NRTL no longer certified, per post #10.

And, since service-rated equipment, designed for line-side solar, are available to the panel flippers.

In either case, for those preferring ATS, can you point us to some equipment examples?
 
ramsy said:
Yes, that makes the most sense.

Especially since those 3-switch solar interlock kits may get red tagged for NRTL no longer certified, per post #10.

And, since service-rated equipment, designed for line-side solar, are available to the panel flippers.

In either case, for those preferring ATS, can you point us to some equipment examples?
Click to expand...
Not really. I could google it, but so can you. FWIW, some generators ship with an ATS included.
 
Sierrasparky said:
What is the proper way to add a portable generator to a home with PV grid tie Don't want the PV back-feeding the genny. Someone said add a Normally closed relay on the PV tie to the main panel that opens when the Generator is run?
Click to expand...
This has generated a lot of discussion that may have gone off in directions that are not all that helpful. So let's get back to the question. You don't provide much information so I have to make some assumptions here.
It sounds like since you are specifically indicating a portable generator that tells me you don't want to make any changes to the existing wiring and it would be unusual to want to have a whole house backup with a portable generator. If you wanted to add a permanently installed generator then much has been said previously about the extensive wiring changes that would be needed. If the goal is to just run a few loads off a portable generator when the power is out then you are looking at running some extension cords from those loads to your portable generator outside. Easy enough to do and no danger of connecting the PV to the generator.
 
Most (all?) places you must have some sort of interlock to keep the generator separated from the grid, if for no other reason than not to do so presents a small but non zero risk of electrical workers unexpectedly encountering energized conductors when they are working to repair an outage. If a customer wants to risk equipment damage by not protecting their generator from a PV system, it is their own business.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top