I have been thinking about this for a while. I don't need them, but there is some primal force that has me constantly thinking about batteries. My existing setup uses a whole house generator to solve the "no grid" situation. But I am dependent on the propane truck getting to me before my three day reserve is depleted. I do not want to rework my entire setup. I just want to add batteries. I only want to use my batteries if I have grid and need more than I produce on a sunny day, or the grid is down.
I would set my genny to manual (if i am not on vaca). I would take a signal from my main transfer switch that starts my generator, and toggle another relay to would allow my battery bank inverter to supply a second, manual, selective transfer switch that has battery-sourced AC to feed some circuits. At all times I would be floating my batteries from the grid. The timer, in the diagram, would put the relay in mode 2 during the night. If I have not activated the circuits in that xfer switch, it is a 'do nothing'.
Please poke holes in my idea. I want to minimize new purchases, but have some battery protection. But, this is key -> I need the battery inverter to "fool" my grid-tie inverters so that they turn on. My main transfer switch will protect utility workers.
I would set my genny to manual (if i am not on vaca). I would take a signal from my main transfer switch that starts my generator, and toggle another relay to would allow my battery bank inverter to supply a second, manual, selective transfer switch that has battery-sourced AC to feed some circuits. At all times I would be floating my batteries from the grid. The timer, in the diagram, would put the relay in mode 2 during the night. If I have not activated the circuits in that xfer switch, it is a 'do nothing'.
Please poke holes in my idea. I want to minimize new purchases, but have some battery protection. But, this is key -> I need the battery inverter to "fool" my grid-tie inverters so that they turn on. My main transfer switch will protect utility workers.