First of all, I'm super new on this solar/inverter world. So, please, easy....
Here is my scenario that Im pretty sure that a lot of people may have something similar.
- Main panel receives 240V split phase from grip.
- Everything in the main panel has a 2 pole breaker (240v split phase)
- Generator 30amps breaker (it has an Interlock)
- AC heat pump breaker
- Furnace heater breaker
- Sub-panel breaker
- At the sub-panel 99% of all breakers are 120V (15amp or 20amp) EXCEPT by the Dryer that is 240V that I DONT USE AT ALL as I have a gas dryer, but the breaker/outlet everything is there just in case I (my wife) need it.
When I started to study about this solar/inverter world I came with the idea to not touch in the main panel (at least for now) and just connect the sub-panel into the solar system. So still using the grid/generator for the AC/Furnace and using another Interlock in the sub-panel to be able to totally disconnect it from the main panel and at the same time safely allowed connect it into the solar system. Or even in case of a main failure in the solar system be able go back and reconnect the sub-panel into main panel 100%.
So far so good until I start to think which would be the a good inverter to my design. First thing that came to my mind is that I would need to have a 240v split phase inverter. In my mind it is simple. 240V split phase comes from the main panel, so in order to replace it I also need a 240v split phase. So I started to research by reliable 240V inverters, like the ones from Schneider as they look to be bullet proof beasts. But then I red in this forum someone talking about have 240v split phase VS really have 240v split phase loads and as I said before, on my sub-panel 99% of the breakers/loads are single 120V phase EXECEPT by a 2 pole breaker for the dryer THAT I DONT USE AT ALL (at least now).
So we go back to the title of this post. It looks like that I could use a nice 120V single phase interver to connect into my sub-panel and have both L1 and L2 legs connected. So this way I will have 120v single phase (not 240v split phase) into both legs.
- IS IT RIGHT ? 120v connect into both L1/L2 legs of my subpanel
- If so how I would do with that dryer breaker ? Is it okay to leave it there ?
- If I lease it there what happens if in the future someone goes and connect a dryer into it while the solar system is the one that is providing power to the sub-panel ? Is it safe or even legal ?
Sorry my long post but as I said... Im totally newbie and just trying to learn as much it is possible.....
Thank you everyone......