Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I would just clarify that it can also be done with $30 interlock kit, an extra breaker and some wire.
Sol-Ark 15k pass through when "off"?
- Thread starter DThames
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629658
Guest
Maybe you should post a diagram and materials list for others. I’m sure there are other ways to do it. IMO you should have a safe method of isolating your inverter and return your loads to the grid in the event of a serious inverter malfunction or failure. Don’t think it’s necessary then don’t install one.
RCinFLA
Solar Wizard
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A transfer switch on a hybrid inverter AC input that can immediately switch between two live asynchronous AC input sources (like grid and generator) can damage inverter.
Inverter's pass-through relay needs to be allowed time to disengage before subjecting AC input to an alternate, out of sync, AC source.
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Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
The materials list is just that, an additional breaker, some wire and the interlock kit that works with your panel. I got my inspiration after buying a switch from Midnight Solar and realized after spending many hours wiring it that it was just two interlocked breakers.
I am not facile with diagrams but there are plenty of YT videos and posts on this forum. The key search term is, "interlock". Depending on the panel, some work with a main breaker at the top center and the bypass breaker in the next slot on the top right or left. Others work with opposing breakers. In either case the interlock insures that only one breaker is on at any time. Wiring diagrams are typically provided with those devices.
Wouldn’t that depend on the Inverter (how it handles it)? What is your definition of “immediately?”
cm119
New Member
I think the main discussion is on a bypass transfer switch, not an input transfer switch. This one:
400bird
Solar Wizard
Post #15, by cm119 was 15 minutes before his and is likely to be the one resurrecting this post.
Look at post #13, the post had been dead for 23 days and you brought it back to complain that the SolArk didn't default to a dangerous or impossible position. Then saying the optional bypass breakers with interlock from Schneider is somehow making the Schneider better in this regard?
Don't get me wrong, I've got a Schneider XW with the bypass breakers, I see no reason I'd want to swap to a transformerless SolArk, but I've got to agree with the others. You really do seem to have an ax to grind.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
The fundamental question at the beginning of this thread was whether some form of bypass was necessary. There are many options, each of which has its pros and cons.
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629658
Guest
In my installation I used this diagram to wire the bypass transfer switch along with this diagram I used for wiring the gen through an ATS.
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Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
i think most of hybrids inverter transfer switch relay on the grid input is normally close, it only energize when the grid is down To isolate between inverter and grid
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629658
Guest
I disagree I think they are normally open grid input and require a working inverter to close the relay. It’s probably a safety issue. We know Schneider Deye and Sol Ark operate normally open.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I agree with you and that is how my SolArk and Skybox worked, It is normally open to the grid as a fail safe (safety reasons) if something fails the grid is not connected, I think that is what @GRV0423 may be conceptually saying. If the relay is energized, it closes the grid connection,
That is why, when it is powered off for maintenance or firmware upgrades, I needed some form of bypass to power my critical loads panel, Sometimes I also think rebooting the inverter is a way to make sure complex programming functions get implemented, That may be the case with TOU settings where you may be making changes in a TOU time that coincides with a current timeframe.
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629658
Guest
I find my TOU settings are implemented immediately. I use my TOU a lot. If the time is 19:05 and I go in and put my charge to start at 1900 it starts immediately despite being past the actual 1900 start time. That’s how my Sol Ark works.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I have seen the same thing. On my first call to tech support he had me do a full reboot after making changes and I assumed that it must be to clear some buffer or something else. It was never explained.
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629658
Guest
You have Sol Ark? I know I can make a call for battery charge in Powerview and then go into Solar Assistant and it’s charging immediately
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Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
Yes, I bought it in December. I can make changes in Solar Assistant also and see them instantly. Still getting used to the interface.
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629658
Guest
if available I would utilize TOU rates with your Utility and then take advantage of those (buy low sell high). We set our charge times based upon the daily lows and then we are able to grid sell our excess PV at the higher rates. I like Solar Assistant but for settings I use the Power View app on my phone. Just my preference.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
Yes, those TOU settings were the first thing I focused on. The logic was different than my Skybox but I am getting used to it. I like that each rate has individual settings for charge, sell and amount. During summer my highest rate is $0.55 /kWh. and winter it is only $0.43/kWh. What I also like is the seasonal settings because my loads are greater in winter because of heating. We also have more power outages so I add a little charge from the grid early AM in case power goes out. I have discussed this more in my build thread
diysolarforum.com
My SolArk 12k install with Enphase Micros
I had previously reported on my Outback Skybox install with a 7kW Enphase micro GT system.. I recently evaluated my needs and the easiest way for me to add incremental capacity is with micros on my west facing roof pitches. For a couple of reasons I decided to upgrade to a SolArk 12k which in...
diysolarforum.com
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629658
Guest
Our TOU rates are hourly and change daily so we just pick the cheapest 2 hours in a day and charge cheap.Yes, those TOU settings were the first thing I focused on. The logic was different than my Skybox but I am getting used to it. I like that each rate has individual settings for charge, sell and amount. During summer my highest rate is $0.55 /kWh. and winter it is only $0.43/kWh. What I also like is the seasonal settings because my loads are greater in winter because of heating. We also have more power outages so I add a little charge from the grid early AM in case power goes out. I have discussed this more in my build thread
My SolArk 12k install with Enphase Micros
I had previously reported on my Outback Skybox install with a 7kW Enphase micro GT system.. I recently evaluated my needs and the easiest way for me to add incremental capacity is with micros on my west facing roof pitches. For a couple of reasons I decided to upgrade to a SolArk 12k which in...
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OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
I hate to get in the way of a good public hanging but could I say a few things?
1- I'm installing a Sol-Ark 15 right now. In fact, spent a few hours trying to track down a rather random arc fault error most of this afternoon.
2 - I've never said anything bad or even attempted to imply anything bad Sol-Arks or any other AIO. No SolArk et al ax today or ever in the past.
3 - I've already stated I wasn't complaining about SolArk. You can choose to believe that or not or perhaps you only read the parts of my post you wanted to. I've been guilty of that myself.
4- I certainly didn't say that Sol-Ark was doing anything "dangerous or impossible" and didn't even remotely imply it. Those were your words, not mine.
5 - Feel free to read my original post with the above in mind and maybe what you'll see is that I was expressing surprise AND admitting ignorance. My pointing out that the Schneider was limited to 60 amps was intended to illustrate a limitation compared to a 200 amp transfer switch arrangement. Did I did I actually say Schneider was better? I can't even see where it was implied.
As I mentioned above, I've not said one bad thing about SolArks or AIO's in this thread or at any time in the past. Could you be confusing me for someone else and/or be spring loaded to anything that you see against SolArk, imaginary or not. It appears that if anyone doesn't use "SolArk" and "perfect" in the same sentence it you take offense. Take it up with someone else, please as I might forget to follow your rules.
What I was trying to say is that I was ignorant about the benefits of using a transfer switch with a SolArk and trying to point out that others could be helped, particularly during the planning stages if they knew this information. Transfer switches have always been my practice, but the AIO is new to me. The irony is that is I was so impressed with everything else I'd heard about Sol-Ark it seemed odd that their "failure mode" didn't result in the AC In being fed to the AC Out.
Months later you take a shot at me out of the blue for something you thought I said, and I responded accordingly not realizing that you thought I was the chief architect and prosecutor Sol-Ark and all AIO's.
Feel free to proceed with the public hanging, just try to supply evidence before you make any more accusations.
Cheers!
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400bird
Solar Wizard
I am saying everyone that for an inverter to default to allowing AC passthrough would be dangerous.
Monitoring (to know if it is safe to close the passthrough relays) would be impossible, as the inverter and logic circuits are off.
I wasn't putting those words into your mouth. I was telling you the thing (I thought) you wanted was dangerous.
Emphasis mine, looks to me like you were implying you expected default AC passthrough:
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629658
Guest
Explanation accepted but perhaps instead of blaming all of us for misunderstanding you (and there were several of us) perhaps you might want to look at the way you conveyed your message in the future. Dont you find it odd that the rest of us in here all received the same message and interpreted it the same way? Very odd indeed. The Sol Ark is not perfect but its much closer than anything else out there at the moment. Irregardless whether you have a Sol Ark or not all we expect is fair and honest. Fiction is unacceptable. Sol Ark can hold their own.
I think it was already mentioned...
The electrician put a mechanical bypass interlock on the critical loads panel to switch critical loads to either grid or sol-ark load (12k). This interlock/bypass has been great to have. If I push the interlock fast enough the critical loads never lose power. But if I move it too slow there is enough power interruption to cause them all to shutoff for a second.
The electrician put a mechanical bypass interlock on the critical loads panel to switch critical loads to either grid or sol-ark load (12k). This interlock/bypass has been great to have. If I push the interlock fast enough the critical loads never lose power. But if I move it too slow there is enough power interruption to cause them all to shutoff for a second.
I agree. I have used the Midnite Solar MNTRANSFER-60A, so you can connect either the GRID or the LOAD to the LOAD, but not both at the same time. The other breaker turns off before the 2nd breaker turns on. The largest breakers I have found for the enclosure are 80 Amps. I have looked for a larger amperage unit of this design, but have not been able to find one. They are all just DPDT.
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