shazam
New Member
Busbar and main disconnect are both 200A. Theoretically there should be no backfeed from the SA. The idea is to make sure of that...
I've already got the box in question, otherwise..... 
Upside Down Load Center
- Thread starter shazam
- Start date
I've already got the box in question, otherwise..... zanydroid
Solar Wizard
I believe the SA should only energize AC in if it sees grid.
(Under my default assumption that a hybrid or grid tie inverter always behaves as an interactive AC source wrt its input/grid facing direction, unless you force it into a weird mode)
I assume you are OK with the confusion that using the panel this way can cause
You can try to get the permit and inspection. And if it passes, fine.
If not, do Hedges’s way and put the panel up on craigslist
(Under my default assumption that a hybrid or grid tie inverter always behaves as an interactive AC source wrt its input/grid facing direction, unless you force it into a weird mode)
I assume you are OK with the confusion that using the panel this way can cause
You can try to get the permit and inspection. And if it passes, fine.
If not, do Hedges’s way and put the panel up on craigslist
shazam
New Member
Thanks for the great feedback, guys...you are an amazing source of info!
DougfromdaUP
Solar Enthusiast
I too have installed pairs of interlocked breakers to allow the panels to be fed from either the utility or inverter, I just didn’t think of those as “main” breakers.
shazam
New Member
Admittedly, it's early, but this is going over my head. Diagrams/pix/links of the interlocked breakers (is this inside a single MEP, similar to generator installs?) and main breakers in sub-panels options would be great.
Thanks!
Jim
Thanks!
Jim
Last edited:
shazam
New Member
What are your thoughts on this option? Thanks!
Jim
Jim
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 20,876
This post has a link to interlock for one model Square-D 150A ... 225A panel.
Be sure to get one that matches your panel.
diysolarforum.com
Be sure to get one that matches your panel.
Transfer switch
I have (4) eg4 6500 and wanted to wire in a manual transfer switch incase they go down for some reason what are some of you guys using and what amperage are they ? Was thinking something like this.
diysolarforum.com
Can you post a screenshot instead of a pdf link? Links limit what people can see, and make it more time consuming plus they load up memory on computers looking at your scribbles...
shazam
New Member
Glad to...stand by!
Attachments
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 20,876
"old panel" 150A main interlocked with 80A for output of SolArk ...
120% rule doesn't apply when interlocked, so could be 200A main and 125A backfeed.
"new panel" 200A main and 125A feeding SolArk ...
If SolArk can backfeed, then 120% rule does apply here.
In that case, breaker feeding SolArk goes in far end of bus. A 225A bus allows larger breakers. 200A main and 70A backfeed, or 150A main and up to 120A backfeed.
Yeah, browser issues. Some download to a scratch place and open, this one I have to save to a scratch place manually.
No reason why the browser couldn't just hold it in memory and display.
Friend of mine configured a RAM disk for temporary internet files. Every reboot and the machine was back to fresh. No thrashing of sectors.
120% rule doesn't apply when interlocked, so could be 200A main and 125A backfeed.
"new panel" 200A main and 125A feeding SolArk ...
If SolArk can backfeed, then 120% rule does apply here.
In that case, breaker feeding SolArk goes in far end of bus. A 225A bus allows larger breakers. 200A main and 70A backfeed, or 150A main and up to 120A backfeed.
Yeah, browser issues. Some download to a scratch place and open, this one I have to save to a scratch place manually.
No reason why the browser couldn't just hold it in memory and display.
Friend of mine configured a RAM disk for temporary internet files. Every reboot and the machine was back to fresh. No thrashing of sectors.
shazam
New Member
Sweet...there's a 200 amp in the old panel currently!
SA will be configured for no feedback, but consensus seems to be that AIOs aren't perfect at that. Would probably run with the 125s in the new panel shut off, and let the CV take up the slack.
Woohoo!
Jim
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
Yes, double conversion (ac->dc->ac via CV) is allowed by basically all POCO but note you will be limited to SolArk's output power without grid assist adding to it.
How much does your POCO charge for an interconnect agreement?
How much does your POCO charge for an interconnect agreement?
shazam
New Member
The POCO (a 'cooperative', but they're not) pretty much laughed in my face when I told them I wanted to put up 16kW of panels and inter-connect. Their rep. told me flat out that their engineers would only approve an 8kW inter-connected install, as that had been our annual usage at that point.
Then add in the $800 fee just for the new meter, all plans mandated to be blueprinted, drawn and stamped by a state-licensed engineer, etc ad nauseum. Their point was clear.
That's how we got here...bulking up so that a high percentage of time we don't intend to need them, but still looking for my wife to be able to throw that switch if I'm away and there's an issue.
The County (AHJ) on the other hand, is working with us, approved an earlier version of my homemade rough draft, and is cool with any size as long as we meet the NEC. Go figure
It's an adventure!Jim
Last edited:
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
Wow ok. They’re stuck in the 1990s with those rules. Damn. If I was in a situation like that I would probably add more inverter and battery out of spite.
We just pay $150 for standard interconnect to an admittedly super evil soulless inverter owned utility. And most AHJs just need draftsperson plans (no credentials needed), for typical installs on vanilla buildings.
We just pay $150 for standard interconnect to an admittedly super evil soulless inverter owned utility. And most AHJs just need draftsperson plans (no credentials needed), for typical installs on vanilla buildings.
shazam
New Member
We are kindred spirits. The install thought process started as a SA 12k, and 12kW of panels.
......and with a new HP water heater and IotaWatt to help us trim usage, we're probably down in usage by at least a third
Thanks!
Jim
Last edited:
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 20,876
I think spurious feedback is fine (as far as 120% rule, shouldn't need to derate anything in this case.)
Maybe utility will complain about a couple seconds backfeed.
A suitable AIO will let you put in 200% PV panels compared to loads, with half going through inverter to grid and half going into battery. The SolArk of course is named for PV capacity not inverter wattage. Sunny Boy Smart Energy is named for inverter wattage, and is spec'd for 200% of that in PV. So I'd try to do 300%
I like the idea of at least 50% more panels, strings of multiple orientations for more hours. So 18kW of panels. Which is about 200% of inverter rating.
Maybe utility will complain about a couple seconds backfeed.
A suitable AIO will let you put in 200% PV panels compared to loads, with half going through inverter to grid and half going into battery. The SolArk of course is named for PV capacity not inverter wattage. Sunny Boy Smart Energy is named for inverter wattage, and is spec'd for 200% of that in PV. So I'd try to do 300%
The install thought process started as a SA 12k, and 12kW of panels.
I like the idea of at least 50% more panels, strings of multiple orientations for more hours. So 18kW of panels. Which is about 200% of inverter rating.
shazam
New Member
We have 16.7 kW of bifacials, the SA15k, 25 kWh of SOKs in hand and Kyle Sinclair's season-adjustable ground racking for the panels. Looking forward to the direct bolt to frame install (look mom, no brackets!) when it finally warms up. They'll face due South, with no shade.
Plan C is more, vertical, panels on the east and west sides of the house to catch sun-up/down, if needed, after plan b (above) is complete. Those will probably need to be AC coupled to the SA.
Plan C is more, vertical, panels on the east and west sides of the house to catch sun-up/down, if needed, after plan b (above) is complete. Those will probably need to be AC coupled to the SA.
Last edited:
Tulex
Solar Wizard
I installed my main panel upside down. The only stipulation I could find was that Off can't be up. So a sideways breaker satisfies that requirement.
Height max is 6 foot 7 to highest operating position, no min height. At least, that's what I found, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Height max is 6 foot 7 to highest operating position, no min height. At least, that's what I found, please correct me if I'm wrong.
