AIO Inverter questions

[youngfg]

Referring to the system below I have some beginner questions to how an AIO inverter works.

What happens if the loads on the critical load panel exceed the inverters output rating? does the inverter trip off, pull the extra power from the grid? something else?

If you have say 6KW of loads on the main breaker, and you are sending 6KW from the inverter back to the grid, would the utility meter show zero usage?
If so is there a setting to do that automatically?
Can you send power back to the grid at night from your batteries?

Does the power you send back to the grid lower the amount you can send to the critical loads?

If there are some references about all the ways a AIO can work, I would like to see them.

Thanks

 

[Rednecktek]

Referring to the system below I have some beginner questions to how an AIO inverter works.

Ok, shoot!

What happens if the loads on the critical load panel exceed the inverters output rating? does the inverter trip off, pull the extra power from the grid? something else?

First thing that happens is the inverter starts alarming that it's reached its limit. Depending on the inverter, and I'm guessing by your questions that you're talking about the kind of units that will integrate with the grid, the inverter will then try to feed the entire load from the grid and not invert at all. Some units will pull the excess from the grid to make up the difference. Once you reach the output limit of the inverter's supply breaker though, it's going to trip the breaker and shut down the whole critical panel.

It depends on which unit and how the settings are programmed.

If you have say 6KW of loads on the main breaker, and you are sending 6KW from the inverter back to the grid, would the utility meter show zero usage?

That's the basic idea. Your 6kw of loads would be provided by the panels through the AIO to your loads and the grid meter would show nothing.

If so is there a setting to do that automatically?

Usually it's a setting in the programming.

Can you send power back to the grid at night from your batteries?

Yes, if you don't want that power going to your loads that can usually be set up in the programming.

Does the power you send back to the grid lower the amount you can send to the critical loads?

Depends on the programming but it can be done. Charge your batteries during the day and sell back when the rates are highest at dinner is fairly common practice. The unit can only do what it's rated for and it'll be a total output, so you can feed your MargaritaMaster-3000 OR sell to the grid, but you've only got the rated wattage all total.

If there are some references about all the ways a AIO can work, I would like to see them.

Pretty much every AIO is different, start by figuring out what size you need, then you can see what brands will back feed the grid at that size. From there read the manuals.

 

[Mattb4]

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Does the power you send back to the grid lower the amount you can send to the critical loads?

...

Paralleled power supplies see all loads in common. If your grid tie/hybrid AIO picks up loads the grid sees a decrease in loading. So long as your loading is greater than your supply some of it will be picked up by the grid and whenever your supply is greater than your loading it will export to grid. Zero export types try to measure when home loads are less than supply ability and decrease output. Pure grid tie always seek to run at full ability and use the grid as an infinite load.

Loads drive supply.