I am slowly putting this puzzle together, both mentally and literally. Reading owner manuals, internet articles/posts and watching videos. I've even called tech support for AIMS inverters.
Stuff: four 6 volt, 370ah batteries, a 3000 watt, 24 volt, single phase inverter and a 20 slot 125 amp subpanel - it's a Square D.
My plan:
1. Install the subpanel. Add a 125 amp breaker in the main panel. Run two hot leads using 3 gauge cable over to the subpanel main lugs. Run a ground from the main to the sub. Run a neutral from the main to the sub - these last two I am not 100% sure of as I watched a video but there were no batteries or inverters involved.
2. Move my critical circuits over to the subpanel
3. Install some kind of breaker in the main - maybe 50 amp, not sure here. Maybe I'll find that in the manual. This breaker would be used to feed power to the input side of the inverter. The manual shows two options: L,N,G or L,L,G.
4. Here's where I'm struggling: can you run output from the inverter to the subpanel while it has input power from the main panel? I mean, I would think it is designed for this but I can't find any information on this. Again, the manual has three options: L,N,G, L,L,N or L,N.
My though is that if main power is lost, the ATS would activate and power up the subpanel.
Thoughts?
Stuff: four 6 volt, 370ah batteries, a 3000 watt, 24 volt, single phase inverter and a 20 slot 125 amp subpanel - it's a Square D.
My plan:
1. Install the subpanel. Add a 125 amp breaker in the main panel. Run two hot leads using 3 gauge cable over to the subpanel main lugs. Run a ground from the main to the sub. Run a neutral from the main to the sub - these last two I am not 100% sure of as I watched a video but there were no batteries or inverters involved.
2. Move my critical circuits over to the subpanel
3. Install some kind of breaker in the main - maybe 50 amp, not sure here. Maybe I'll find that in the manual. This breaker would be used to feed power to the input side of the inverter. The manual shows two options: L,N,G or L,L,G.
4. Here's where I'm struggling: can you run output from the inverter to the subpanel while it has input power from the main panel? I mean, I would think it is designed for this but I can't find any information on this. Again, the manual has three options: L,N,G, L,L,N or L,N.
My though is that if main power is lost, the ATS would activate and power up the subpanel.
Thoughts?