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We live in a culture which promotes buy the latest and greatest, whether you need it or not. I suppose it keeps consumption high, but really does not serve most consumers all that well (IMO)... My general rule is use something until it breaks or no longer will do what you want from it. Planning...

So just curious, do the pro's here have any recommendations for gloves for the DIYer who is working on a 500-600vdc string? Just curious if there are any cheap protective gear we should consider getting (not that we actually would use it ;) )

Unfortunately, I see over on CC's site, that the release date is now moved to May not April. Too bad, but not that far off...

I am not sure that for FilterGuy's examples above, where the voltage spike from the lightning is coming into the equipment over the ground wire, SPDs would help. MOVs are bi-directional devices, so if your SPD just has MOVs between your various lines and ground, the MOV is happy to "save" the...

As I am told: 9540 can be stand alone for a battery or can be for a battery-inverter pair. Depends on whether the batt (or really the BMS) can meet the 9540 requirements on its own or needs an inverter to control some "stuff". 9540A is a simpler test for thermal runaway.

To me it is unclear why you'd want a manual xfer switch between the inverters' outputs (and maybe inputs too) and the grid. Most inverters have a built in transfer switch functionality and additionally can supplement your PV output with grid input when necessary (but the details on this will...

Wrote to RuiXu to ask about the timing on the certs. They responded: (for those that might be waiting) So sounds like they are not planning on getting a stand alone 9540 cert, but rather one tied to their inverter.

Interesting. Their spec sheet does not mention any UL certs. Wonder if they are going to get any of those....

So I've looked at the iotawatt website and their installation manual. It seems able to set any CT as bidirectional right now (which is nice). But it does not seem to handle 240 loads (or inputs like an inverter) all that well. From my reading of the manual, they want you to put a CT on one of...

Spoke with Emporia support, and wanted to relay what they told me (all of this in regards to the Vue 3): They are still working on making the 50A CTs bidirectional. They think it is close, like maybe a month or two (but no guarantees). It will be a FW update that they send out, so should work...

I am considering an Emporia Vue 3 and have few questions about it for the folks who have one (seems the Emporia website does not have a contact for questions): 1. Did the 3 version add the ability to track reverse power on the 50A CTs (eg measure power sent back to grid)? 2. Does the 3 version...

In theory, except for two rods a ways apart when a thunderstorm cloud passes overhead. The charge on the bottom of the could will induce a corresponding charge and V potential on the ground underneath. There can be significant voltage differences between ground rods when this happens, with...

I should say, best protection if lightning does get to the mount, regardless of other protection... (on edit) probably more accurate to say it is inverter, CC, etc protection in that if the PV or mount get a direct lightning strike this isn't likely to save them...

There are indeed two distinct issues here, although both are talked about under the label of "grounding": What is correct and proper from an NEC AC and DC electrical code and safety perspective. And what makes sense in protecting your wiring and electronics from lightning and electrical storm...

Another consideration: looks like your SRNE AIO can pass AC thru to the connected loads too. Up to 63A if I am reading the label you posted correctly. So unless you have disabled that, or limited the amount of AC pass thru to the loads when there is no solar and the battery does not have enough...

May also depend if you need UL9540 on the battery-inverter combo. Last I looked the PowerPro is UL9540 but only with the 18Kpv.

Interesting. In have a Midnite Classic 150 in service for ~4 years now and it has been perfect. No issues, does what it is supposed to do. As you said, you're expecting some posts like this in reply. But I am surprised that if there were several 250's failing in a short time, Midnite wasn't more...

One option for reducing your system loads would be to switch to a dedicated DC water pump for the well with separate PV panels. May not be an option depending on how deep your well is and other details, but in general a DC well pump will have much lower starting requirements than a traditional...

Folks responding with their pump situation might want to say how deep their pump is. The load is much greater starting with a few 100 feet of water column than without...

So, when a remote sub-panel (or PV mount) has a connected ground rod, there will be current flowing thru that ground wire and the connections whenever there is a voltage potential between the two ground rod locations. During a nearby lightning strike but also when thunderheads pass overhead. I...

Fair enough. My misunderstanding of AC grounding code. Thanks...

This brings up a question which has been bugging me for a while. Bringing the system ground out from the inverter to the ground mounts and/or grounding the mount and frame to a ground rod at the mount (or both). If I understand the electrical code (and I may not), bringing and running a system...

Just curious, why do you think that your solar electronics aren't at risk just because you don't sell back. If your inverter/solar has a grid connection, then it will see whatever the grid sends out. Even if they just share a ground there may be some risk.

Yes, it is hard to precisely predict all the effects (or lack thereof) which a CME hit on earth would cause. But it is important to keep in mind that at the time of the Carrington event, there were NO electronics with sensitive semiconductor junctions and really very little to nothing in terms...

Tesla won back then because there was no electronics for DC conversion. Today we can convert DC to DC at different voltages or AC. (take a look at your inverter).

Loads in the barn a fairly small. A 120v 4gal under sink hot water heater, a ventilation fan of about 300W and lighting. Only significant loads would be supplemental heating with some portable electric space heaters on cold nights. But you are probably right, a cheap supplemental meter on the...

I am planning my AE upgrade and starting to get the permits/approvals. It will basically be a major replacement of the current 20+ y.o. system with a new inverter, more PVs and new battery. Fairly straight forward, but there is one thing which has been troubling me. The placement of the CT's...

Since I am not planning a system which requires it, I can't say for sure, did not pay that much attention to them. But I seem to recall one meter was measuring AC pushed back on the grid, and the other was for PV output; but don't quote me on that. The AC one I suspect was for credit purposes so...

A thermostat is good insurance, just in case you forget to check on it for a while or something else happens. You probably don't want the drum boiling or boiling dry; unlikely I know but possible... A 240v element, running at 120v will burn itself out in <10sec if turned on dry, don't ask how I...

I am a bit surprised about the requirement for the two meters, if you are doing a net metering agreement. You have a different PoCo than here (Xcel), but as I understand Xcel's requirements here, if you are under 10KW of generation (eg panels) then you can just have a single net meter. Over 10K...

Smart load panels can certainly help manage the loads in a grid down or low power situation. However several of the new inverters have multiple load outputs which can be controlled. So you can have a general load panel which will get turned off when power is below a set level, and a critical...

Before going with used panels, you should check out some of the better new prices online. If you can use a full pallet of panels, they often come in around that same price level, 0.25 -0.30 per watt. What appears to be the case is used panels are at a discounted price to the original price of...

Have not had to deal with the utilities in your neck of the woods, but out here the PoCo needs to approve all systems if they are grid tied. In speaking to several installers, it seems that it almost always takes 2 or 3 rounds with the PoCo to get approved; usually just reminding them of their...

I believe there is a similar LG battery that will work with it. But the choices are limited...

Just curious, why if the B-W heater has 1.6x the power draw as the old AO you think it will take only 1/4 the time to heat up? This should be pretty linear, 2x the power in heats the water in 1/2 the time, etc. Should take about 1/1.6 = 63% of the time, but use roughly the same total energy...