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Don't have gas available so I'm in the planning stages of getting a solar set-up, 2 reasons, many power outages and SHTF use. The solar system I'm looking at has 240v AC inverter with 21,600 watt max capacity, (obviously this is much more than I would ever use) and 90K kw/hr of battery storage capacity. Most systems I see run their solar systems off a sub panel so you have a limited number of breakers that can be utilized when using solar. I would prefer to wire the inverters into my main breaker panel, (entire panel), then pick and choose what to power by turning breakers on/off. I would need to install an interlocked system so that both the grid and solar panel could not be on at the same time. It would need to be after may main 200A disconnect from the grid. Anyone done this, do you think it could be done? Thanks
 
Posts: 1605 | Location: Ohio | Registered: May 27, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I’m not an electrician, and don’t know if it would meet code, but could you do an interrupt setup where you have to manually shut off the main before you can activate your additional power?

Why would you not tie your solar to the grid, sell your excess power to the utility company and have an automatic transfer switch type setup for the times you lose grid power.




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Posts: 6563 | Location: Near the Beaverdam in VA | Registered: February 13, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have a somewhat similar system; I highly recommend you have a professional install it. I have a solar panel system, no battery pack, and an input for a generator backup.

The interlocked breakers are the main and the backup generator; the main must be turned off, a sliding bar moved, and the generator breaker turned on. Then I just plug in the generator and only turn on the breakers I want to use. There was no need for a separate panel. I just turn off all the breakers before switching to the backup system.


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Posts: 17885 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Do you have room to bury a propane tank? My brother is having a 500 gallon propane tank buried for his generator.

Running solar only as a backup should you have a power outage seems like a really expensive way to go.

Why would you not want to use your solar capacity to offset your electric bill all of the time?
 
Posts: 12305 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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