I'm installing a 24kw generator at my farm. I have 2 complicating factors, otherwise this would be the basic cookie cutter install. I have 400 amp service that splits into two 200 amp lines at the meter base and goes then into 2 disconnects, one for the house and one for a barn. The generator will be right beside this meter base, I will replace the disconnects with generac 200A service rated transfer switches. My understanding is that I will need to run the outgoing power of the generator into a junction box and then split into 2 outputs, one to each ATS. I will run all of the control wires (6 of them) from the generator to one ATS, and then parallel just 2 of the control wires, #23 and #194. This is the easy part, but I wanted to confirm that was correct.
The harder part is I have a 9kw grid tied solar system that is wired into the barn. It generates power when the sun is shining AND the grid is up. When the grid goes down, the solar inverter automatically shuts down too. But, once I have the generator, the solar inverter is not going to know the difference between the grid and the generator. I'm not sure what would happen if it started dumping 8000W of power into the system when the grid is down, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to find out!
So I plan to put a contactor in the inverter connection so I can disconnect it as needed. When the grid is up, the contacts will be closed. When it goes down, it needs to open. But then when the grid comes back up, I don't want the contacts to immediately close because the generator will still be on. The ATS is going to wait several minutes to see if the grid is up and stable before switching back to line power and turning off the generator. I'm hoping that one of the control wires in the ATS will be perfect to control my contactor, but I can't find any documentation on exactly what the generac control wires do. So that's the question. Does a generac ATS have the ability to easily control my contactor and isolate my solar system so that it will only be connected when the grid is up, and never when the generator is on?
Thanks in advance.
The harder part is I have a 9kw grid tied solar system that is wired into the barn. It generates power when the sun is shining AND the grid is up. When the grid goes down, the solar inverter automatically shuts down too. But, once I have the generator, the solar inverter is not going to know the difference between the grid and the generator. I'm not sure what would happen if it started dumping 8000W of power into the system when the grid is down, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to find out!
So I plan to put a contactor in the inverter connection so I can disconnect it as needed. When the grid is up, the contacts will be closed. When it goes down, it needs to open. But then when the grid comes back up, I don't want the contacts to immediately close because the generator will still be on. The ATS is going to wait several minutes to see if the grid is up and stable before switching back to line power and turning off the generator. I'm hoping that one of the control wires in the ATS will be perfect to control my contactor, but I can't find any documentation on exactly what the generac control wires do. So that's the question. Does a generac ATS have the ability to easily control my contactor and isolate my solar system so that it will only be connected when the grid is up, and never when the generator is on?
Thanks in advance.
