Hello i believe this is my first post here. I am going to try and keep it understandable, just not sure how to do that concisely.
I have a technical implementation question. I will explain what I want to do. I just can't seem to wrap my head around a solution.
Wanting to install solar but due to tricky shading part of system should be part enphase micro inverters. So partially ac coupled. Probably about 3-4kw
Currently have just a main panel. I will be splitting it up into a sub panel that is desired loads. Almost everything will actually go into critical loads panels. Only a few main energy hogs will stay in main.
Electric stove, resistive heat elements for heat pump backup, maybe electric dryer.
Ideally when operating in grid functioning normally the critical loads panel could over load the breakers of the solark. I am thinking i need to use external ATS(automatic transfer switch) between main panel and sub panel. In normal grid operation main panel would feed critical loads panel. And sol-ark load terminal would also terminate in critical loads.
Also ac coupled solar could terminate in there. All the extra solar power would back feed through main panel to sub panel connection.
Now when grid goes down i would need to discount main panel(automatically) from critical loads panel.
So sol-ark would pull from the batteries and DC coupled section and keep loads running on the critical panel. It would also allow the micro inverters to power the load panel. Providing decent solar exposure it would help running a bit larger loads than just the sol-ark could handle on its own. I would still have to load manage a bit, but would have almost everything backed up.
So i attached a rough partial sketch.
Not sure how to wire up something to make main panel disconnect and reconnect automatically. And not let the smoke out of anything.
Anything thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Main goals. Power critical panel with more than sol-ark can pass through(in grid up condition).
When grid down have micro inverters feeding critical loads panel to take advantage of that energy. Micros could feed main panel during grid up. But i think easier to just land then in the critical loads panel.
Or maybe i am thinking about it all wrong and you guys have a better solution.
Thanks again for your time.
Matthew wright
I have a technical implementation question. I will explain what I want to do. I just can't seem to wrap my head around a solution.
Wanting to install solar but due to tricky shading part of system should be part enphase micro inverters. So partially ac coupled. Probably about 3-4kw
Currently have just a main panel. I will be splitting it up into a sub panel that is desired loads. Almost everything will actually go into critical loads panels. Only a few main energy hogs will stay in main.
Electric stove, resistive heat elements for heat pump backup, maybe electric dryer.
Ideally when operating in grid functioning normally the critical loads panel could over load the breakers of the solark. I am thinking i need to use external ATS(automatic transfer switch) between main panel and sub panel. In normal grid operation main panel would feed critical loads panel. And sol-ark load terminal would also terminate in critical loads.
Also ac coupled solar could terminate in there. All the extra solar power would back feed through main panel to sub panel connection.
Now when grid goes down i would need to discount main panel(automatically) from critical loads panel.
So sol-ark would pull from the batteries and DC coupled section and keep loads running on the critical panel. It would also allow the micro inverters to power the load panel. Providing decent solar exposure it would help running a bit larger loads than just the sol-ark could handle on its own. I would still have to load manage a bit, but would have almost everything backed up.
So i attached a rough partial sketch.
Not sure how to wire up something to make main panel disconnect and reconnect automatically. And not let the smoke out of anything.
Anything thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Main goals. Power critical panel with more than sol-ark can pass through(in grid up condition).
When grid down have micro inverters feeding critical loads panel to take advantage of that energy. Micros could feed main panel during grid up. But i think easier to just land then in the critical loads panel.
Or maybe i am thinking about it all wrong and you guys have a better solution.
Thanks again for your time.
Matthew wright