Help to connect one inverter to electrical panel using breakers

[gnoeld]

I have 1200 watts of solar connected to my controller then to my batteries and lastly the inverter. Instead of using extension cords I want to connect directly to my electrical panel. My simple thought is that I can install a dedicated breaker in the panel to attach the inverter to. When I need to use the solar power I would turn off the panel Main Breaker and any 220 breakers and turn on the dedicated breaker to the solar thus suppling power to any open 120 volt brakers in the panel. Am I missing something?
Thanks

 

[GLC]

I have 1200 watts of solar connected to my controller then to my batteries and lastly the inverter. Instead of using extension cords I want to connect directly to my electrical panel. My simple thought is that I can install a dedicated breaker in the panel to attach the inverter to. When I need to use the solar power I would turn off the panel Main Breaker and any 220 breakers and turn on the dedicated breaker to the solar thus suppling power to any open 120 volt brakers in the panel. Am I missing something?
Thanks

Not necessarily the best or safest way to do it. You have a possibility of having both power sources on at the same time. Or even back feeding to the grid if you left the mains on. I used manual transfer switch box. That way you can choose grid or inverter on any 110 breaker. Do this it will not effect your 220 breakers either. This is a lot safer way to go. I am using 2 of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FQJD7K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[MisterSandals]

then to my batteries and lastly the inverter.

Just out of curiosity, what batteries and inverter do you have?

 

[DThames]

I can't find it now but I saw a video of some products that should work. The box would mount close to your breaker box and would have a switch to switch between inverter and grid power. Your critical circuit would be disconnected from the breaker, routed out and through this switch box, then back into the normal breaker. The switch in the switch box would be like a manual transfer switch, switch from grid or from inverter to your critical circuit. If you have more than one circuit, a sub-panel with transfer switch is a good solution.

 

[gnoeld]

I am using an interlock system for the connection of my generator to the panel which will not allow both to be on at the same time. I was thinking I could use the same system

 

[gnoeld]

I can't find it now but I saw a video of some products that should work. The box would mount close to your breaker box and would have a switch to switch between inverter and grid power. Your critical circuit would be disconnected from the breaker, routed out and through this switch box, then back into the normal breaker. The switch in the switch box would be like a manual transfer switch, switch from grid or from inverter to your critical circuit. If you have more than one circuit, a sub-panel with transfer switch is a good solution.

If I wire my inverter to a dedicated breaker in the panel would that be the same type of connection without a box or a switch?

 

[GLC]

If I wire my inverter to a dedicated breaker in the panel would that be the same type of connection without a box or a switch?

Yes but you would have to use an interlock switch on your main which means the "all" circuits are either on solar or "all" are on the grid. By having a transfer switch you have the option to have circuits on inverter or grid at the same time.

 

[gnoeld]

I am using an interlock system for the connection of my generator to the panel which will not allow both to be on at the same time. I was thinking I could use the same system

If I used the same system I could just switch over by wired connection from generator to inverter In other words I could unplug the generator and plug in the Inverter

 

[DThames]

If I wire my inverter to a dedicated breaker in the panel would that be the same type of connection without a box or a switch?

Something like this was what I was referring to. Basically putting a transfer switch between the circuit and the breaker.

 

[gnoeld]

Yes but you would have to use an interlock switch on your main which means the "all" circuits are either on solar or "all" are on the grid. By having a transfer switch you have the option to have circuits on inverter or grid at the same time.

That makes a lot of sense but I am only going to use the solar if my grid power goes down (Emergency Backup)

 

[gnoeld]

If I used the same system I could just switch over by wired connection from generator to inverter In other words I could unplug the generator and plug in the Inverter

Use for emergency power if grid goes down and no gas for the generator

 

[John Frum]

I have 1200 watts of solar connected to my controller then to my batteries and lastly the inverter. Instead of using extension cords I want to connect directly to my electrical panel. My simple thought is that I can install a dedicated breaker in the panel to attach the inverter to. When I need to use the solar power I would turn off the panel Main Breaker and any 220 breakers and turn on the dedicated breaker to the solar thus suppling power to any open 120 volt brakers in the panel. Am I missing something?
Thanks

You could make the mains and inverter feeds mutually exclusive with a generator interlock kit.

 

[John Frum]

I can't find it now but I saw a video of some products that should work. The box would mount close to your breaker box and would have a switch to switch between inverter and grid power. Your critical circuit would be disconnected from the breaker, routed out and through this switch box, then back into the normal breaker. The switch in the switch box would be like a manual transfer switch, switch from grid or from inverter to your critical circuit. If you have more than one circuit, a sub-panel with transfer switch is a good solution.

This https://ezgeneratorswitch.com/ ?

 

[gnoeld]

You could make the mains and inverter feeds mutually exclusive with a generator interlock kit.

I was thinking I could use my existing interlock setup for my generator bu unplugging the generator and plugging in the inverter
your thoughts?

 

[GLC]

That makes a lot of sense but I am only going to use the solar if my grid power goes down (Emergency Backup)

Understand, I use my solar all of the time on certain circuits unless my batteries get low and then i just switch them back on grid fed. takes just a second to flip a circuit.

 

[gnoeld]

Understand, I use my solar all of the time on certain circuits unless my batteries get low and then i just switch them back on grid fed. takes just a second to flip a circuit.

I like your idea alot. I'm going to look into that as well

 

[John Frum]

I was thinking I could use my existing interlock setup for my generator bu unplugging the generator and plugging in the inverter
your thoughts?

What interlock kit do you have?

 

[gnoeld]

The one that slides to stop the main from being on at the same time as the generator

 

[gnoeld]

Just out of curiosity, what batteries and inverter do you have?

JUPITER​

5000 Watt Continuous/10,000 Watt Peak Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter​

!2 group 29DC marine batteries 1200 watts of panels

 

[DThames]

The one that slides to stop the main from being on at the same time as the generator

If you already have an interlock, you can feed the 120v in one your generator input, in place of your generator. Assuming US type 240v center tap ground/neutral, you would feed a 120v inverter to only one leg of your panel. You might need to move your critical 120v all to the same size of your panel and then energize that side/leg with your inverter.