Status lights?

wpns · Jun 16, 2024

I'm putting in a separate set of outlets on the Grid side and the House side of my new system, where each outlet will have the split-tab removed and one each of L1, L2, so I can plug things into the system for testing.

I'd like to have some kind of status lights, so I can see at a glance if both phases are on, so I'm thinking of plugging in something like:

Amazon.com

or

Amazon.com

Any other suggestions of pilot lights? Am I missing a standard DIY Solar function?

Thanks!

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

Are you saying you want to run 240V to a single NEMA 5-15 receptacle?

OffGridForGood · Jun 16, 2024

He is saying setting up split recepticals like a kitchen has.
and adding a plug to show that the circuit is live at a glance.

wpns · Jun 16, 2024

MaikaiLife said:
Are you saying you want to run 240V to a single NEMA 5-15 receptacle?

Sure, split outlet with the tab removed, just like you use for table lamps controlled by a light switch with the top outlet wired differently from the bottom. L1 on the top, L2 on the bottom. Two 120V outlets, just on different sides of the 120/240 split phase.

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

Okay, so the top of the receptacle is 120V, leg 1, and the bottom of the receptacle is 120V leg 2. There is no problem with that, but if you tried to combine the legs on a NEMA 5-15 receptacle that would not be advisable and against electric code.

So do you just want to know when they're live because sometimes they go out and you need some sort of glance-type light to tell you that?

If you wanted to monitor these remotely, you could use some sort of status-aware smart plugs on the top and bottom of the receptacle.

Otherwise, that plug you listed above would be fine if you only want visual notice.

timselectric · Jun 16, 2024

I would just add pilot lights to the cover for each leg.
Something like this.

https://a.co/d/5uH5Bkk

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

timselectric said:
I would just add pilot lights to the cover for each leg.
Something like this.

https://a.co/d/5uH5Bkk

That's a cool idea.

timselectric · Jun 16, 2024

MaikaiLife said:
Okay, so the top of the receptacle is 120V, phase 1, and the bottom of the receptacle is 120V phase 2. There is no problem with that, but if you tried to combine the phases on a NEMA 5-15 receptacle that would not be advisable and against electric code.

This is split-phase, so it's only one phase. (North America)
But you still don't want to combine the two legs.
That would be a dead short.

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

timselectric said:
This is split-phase, so it's only one phase. (North America)
But you still don't want to combine the two legs.
That would be a dead short.

Hi Tim, I used the wrong term phase vs leg, I've since corrected it for future reference. Thank you for the catch

wpns · Jun 16, 2024

timselectric said:
This is split-phase, so it's only one phase. (North America)
But you still don't want to combine the two legs.
That would be a dead short.

Right, but it should work with the tab removed, yes?

timselectric · Jun 16, 2024

wpns said:
Right, but it should work with the tab removed, yes?

Yes

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

Maybe this helps, this is the best I could find for a picture.

wpns · Jun 16, 2024

MaikaiLife said:
Maybe this helps, this is the best I could find for a picture.

View attachment 222545

I just want to be able to plug something into either L1 or L2 of either the grid or my inverter.

MaikaiLife · Jun 16, 2024

See the updated photo

wpns · Jun 16, 2024

MaikaiLife said:
See the updated photo

Yes, that exactly

Status lights?

wpns

Solar Joules are catch and release

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

OffGridForGood

Catch, make or grow everything you can.

wpns

Solar Joules are catch and release

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

wpns

Solar Joules are catch and release

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

wpns

Solar Joules are catch and release

MaikaiLife

Solar Enthusiast

wpns

Solar Joules are catch and release

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