Inspector Wants A Load Calc For Battery Backup

[ggunn]

Realistically, some homeowners still think that having grid-tied PV provides backup power. People had to start putting it in large bold type in the contract that the PV system will not work when the utility is down, and even then that was just so they could be told where to find that text more easily when calling the contractor to complain about why their system did not work when the utility went down.

I went to a SMA training session a few years ago. The SMA rep told us that every time a widespread power outage occurs their sales and tech support lines are lit up by people with straight grid tied PV who do not understand why they do not have power. Now add battery backup to the mix and see what you get.

Solar companies are not totally blameless; some of their salesmen do not get it, either.

 

[jaggedben]

...

Most people do not understand how electricity works. How do you accurately set a customer's expectations for a PV system with batteries when he doesn't know a Watt from a Volt or a kW from a kWh?

While acknowledging it's easier said than done ... Don't sell to those customers. Seriously. Or at any rate, let's just say that when we get that kind of vibe from a customer, we are slower to get back to them.

 

[Steve16]

While acknowledging it's easier said than done ... Don't sell to those customers. Seriously. Or at any rate, let's just say that when we get that kind of vibe from a customer, we are slower to get back to them.

The tough part out here is they're all so desperate for a sale, they'll tell the customers whatever it takes to get them to sign on the dotted line. Once they sign it's too late

 

[ggunn]

While acknowledging it's easier said than done ... Don't sell to those customers. Seriously. Or at any rate, let's just say that when we get that kind of vibe from a customer, we are slower to get back to them.

Easier said than done and above my pay grade.

 

[Steve16]

From the commentary in 710.1


Article 710, which covers stand-alone systems, and Article 702, which covers optional standby systems, are not mutually exclusive. In respect to how the two articles interact, a stand-alone system operating in island mode (such as a generator or a solar PV system) serves as the alternate electric power production source for the optional standby system loads covered by Article 702. The connection of the stand-alone system to the optional standby system loads can be done automatically or manually using transfer equipment or multimode inverters. The capacity of the stand-alone source is affected by whether the optional standby system loads are connected automatically or manually as specified in 702.4(B)(1) and (B)(2).

 

[jaggedben]

From the commentary in 710.1


Article 710, which covers stand-alone systems, and Article 702, which covers optional standby systems, are not mutually exclusive. In respect to how the two articles interact, a stand-alone system operating in island mode (such as a generator or a solar PV system) serves as the alternate electric power production source for the optional standby system loads covered by Article 702. The connection of the stand-alone system to the optional standby system loads can be done automatically or manually using transfer equipment or multimode inverters. The capacity of the stand-alone source is affected by whether the optional standby system loads are connected automatically or manually as specified in 702.4(B)(1) and (B)(2).

That's from the handbook? Or...?

 

[Steve16]

That's from the handbook? Or...?

Nfpa link