timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 18,796
When it comes to a direct lighting strike.
All that you can do is try and hope.
All that you can do is try and hope.
Mine wasn't direct in a sense, the strike followed that low resistance of the wire. Makes me wonder about that #6 copper laying in the ground. What is really something was a new service entrance properly bonded and with a brand new copper ground rod installed at the time just about 3 years prior. Why didn't the energy head to the ground rod instead of the neutral busbar?When it comes to a direct lighting strike.
All that you can do is try and hope.
X # of Growatts that either have the ground screw removed or come from SS. (best is to take the main board out and neuter the pin that the ground screw connects to so that there's no chance of arc if you're using ones not from SS)Hi, I'm new to the form... and honestly I could only spend 6+ hours trying to parse through the 800+ posts on this thread looking for an answer. All of the answers and replies get intermixed with "that will work" right after someone says that a different solution will not work. I understand some options cannot be made to work... but that doesn't mean no option will work.
To help summarize the past 800+ posts and narrow the answer for people who already have all or part of an SPF 5000 ES system:
- SPF 5000 ES from SS, or circuit board ground screw removal (no internal bonding between ground and neutral on AC input, which seems to be something someone can confirm with a DMM)
- 120VAC loads required, but not specific to any transformer(Growatt At5000, the solar edge transformer, or isolation transformer)
What are safe options for a system configuration to use the US grid as a backup and or input?
The ES is everywhere but the US. 5000US is US model.The Growatt 5000es is made for the U.S. market and is sold by other retailers, do not try and modify the wrong model.
Is there a wiring diagram posted or otherwise that could demonstrate this solution?X # of Growatts that either have the ground screw removed or come from SS. (best is to take the main board out and neuter the pin that the ground screw connects to so that there's no chance of arc if you're using ones not from SS)
1 or more Growatt auto-transformers (or someone else's doesn't matter as long as it takes 240V in and outputs a 120V neutral center tap) Generally 5000 watts is enough for an even remotely well balanced house.
240V incoming from Grid WITHOUT neutral (just both hot legs) into the Growatt AC IN
240V outgoing from the Growatt.
Make sure that you have the phases aligned. IE: Red in/Red Out, Black In/Black Out and every inverter in parallel lined up in your panel so that all phases are in sync for both grid and inverting (the inverters will correct but still...) or you'll get a hard switch from the Growatt that UPSes etc won't like.
If you are going to have some sort of switch that bypasses the Growatt and goes directly back to the grid power, then you MUST either have the auto-transformer still hooked up and NO NEUTRAL FROM THE GRID OR you MUST switch the neutral too using a 3 pole, double throw switch ($$$$!!!)
In short, you're fine as long as the grid's neutral is not connected anywhere while the growatts are also connected.
Can't this concern be resolved by any user with a DMM to identify if each unit they have is a US variant or a European variant?The Growatt 5000es is made for the U.S. market and is sold by other retailers, do not try and modify the wrong model.
If the grids L1 and L2 are being used. The grids neutral must also be used. All current must return to the source. If you don't provide the proper path, it will try to find another path. (Ground conductor, metal structures, people)In short, you're fine as long as the grid's neutral is not connected anywhere while the growatts are also connected.
All of the answers and replies get intermixed with "that will work" right after someone says that a different solution will not work. I understand some options cannot be made to work... but that doesn't mean no option will work.
240V incoming from Grid WITHOUT neutral (just both hot legs) into the Growatt AC IN
240V outgoing from the Growatt.
If you are going to have some sort of switch that bypasses the Growatt and goes directly back to the grid power, then you MUST either have the auto-transformer still hooked up and NO NEUTRAL FROM THE GRID OR you MUST switch the neutral too using a 3 pole, double throw switch ($$$$!!!)
In short, you're fine as long as the grid's neutral is not connected anywhere while the growatts are also connected.
If the grids L1 and L2 are being used. The grids neutral must also be used. All current must return to the source. If you don't provide the proper path, it will try to find another path. (Ground conductor, metal structures, people)
Does it need to be one big transformer, or can you stack them in parallel like the 5000 ES to increase capacity as your system increases?It just means you need a transformer big enough for all 240V loads as well as 120V.
I'm assuming you could use this design to have multiple options to maximize flexibility:Transformer after the Growatt is better.
240v grounded system through the Growatt to the isolation transformer. Bonded transformer secondary for a grounded system after.
This way everything is protected by a grounded system.
What do you mean by this?(could have saved money and losses with one 240V load panel, and a breaker-protected 120/240 load panel with auto-transformer.)