Old side of the road inverter, use or don’t use?

I found a Xantrex 2.5 kw grid tie inverter (stxr2500 early 2000s) and a couple of 100w panels on the side of the road. I’ve recently built a 8’ x 12’ shed into which I am moving our walk in refrigerator. I can fit 5 panels on the south side of the roof and i will already have wiring, a breaker box and disconnect on the building so I’m considering using that old inverter and buying new panels to get near 2.5 kw. This would be a trial run before i put a 24 panel system on my garage.

Other than the lower efficiency of the older inverter is there any reason not to use it assuming it’s perfectly functional?

Is there a reason to get a reverse meter when putting in solar other than the obvious I won’t get credit if the solar ever produces a surplus?

I’d rather just put this in to get a feel for it without all the red tape unless there is a safety concern. I assume the grid tie inverter disconnects during a power outage? Thanks for any advice you can give.


Sven

Unless you enjoy the idea of electrocuting your local linesman I would set it up as off grid. That's assuming it works at all. If you want to feedback to the grid then you'll likely need to get approval from your utility and the install checked over by a licensed electrician.

Thanks for your response. I guess I didn’t ask very well but I was trying to find out if the reverse meter is also a safety device that prevents current from getting back to the grid during an outage. From your response I’m going to assume it is and I will wait to do anything until we put in a bigger system. Thanks for the help

ShaneC said:

Unless you enjoy the idea of electrocuting your local linesman I would set it up as off grid.

Click to expand...

Huh? The stxr2500 is grid tie (and can not be set up as off grid).

Side note: I was a beta tester for that unit back in the day.

Texas-Mark said:

Huh? The stxr2500 is grid tie (and can not be set up as off grid).

Side note: I was a beta tester for that unit back in the day.

Click to expand...

I don't know anything about that unit. I do believe that anything that could result in power feeding back to the grid if not installed correctly needs to be checked over by a competent person. Especially if the unit is old and potentially contains a fault that mightn't be discovered without adequate testing.

I'm not sure what the rules are in the US but in the UK you cannot feedback power to the grid without approval from the utility provider and an install from a licensed electrician.

Sven M said:

I guess I didn’t ask very well but I was trying to find out if the reverse meter is also a safety device that prevents current from getting back to the grid during an outage.

Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by "reverse meter". A long time ago some of us used a separate meter (like the utility uses) to measure what we were generating. Yes, I am old. LOL But no, that did not prevent back-flow. Just an easier way to measure what we were generating.

ShaneC said:

I do believe that anything that could result in power feeding back to the grid if not installed correctly needs to be checked over by a competent person.

Click to expand...

A true grid-tie inverter (like the one mentioned) can not output anything without the grid being up.

Thanks for all the replies. By reverse meter I meant a bi-directional meter (correct term?) so sdge can keep track of any extra power we produce. Last I checked it was $1,500 to have them change the meter. I’m old too and apparently too lazy to look up the proper terminology sorry.

I have an old military battery charger that I can use as a power source so I will thoroughly test the inverter before I use it.

Thanks again for the help.

I probably should have mentioned that I’m quite frugal (ie cheap) and fairly mechanically inclined. That being said when i put in a large system on the garage I will get the bi-directional meter and permits and such. I just thought thought I’d try it out with the free inverter and a few panels to start with and swap out the inverter for a new one ($500) later on.

Sven M said:

I just thought thought I’d try it out..

Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that. It's been a while, but as I recall the display is limited on what you can see, and there are no user options. So it either works or it doesn't. Older Xantrex equipment was built very well, but there may be a reason it was on the side of the road.

I'm all for reusing old things and doing whatever you want on your own property. Good luck with getting it working!