Grid-tied solar

   / Grid-tied solar #671  
Most grid tie systems (from what I understand) will not "fire" the inverter and supply power until they see 120VAC @ 60hz, thus only one lockout is needed.

Aaron Z

By code, you have to have a lockout on both the DC and AC side.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #672  
By code, you have to have a lockout on both the DC and AC side.

Tim,

We installed Solaredge optimizers and LG300 Neon panels. The Optimizers shut down (to 1VDC) when power is turned off and this meets the fire code - and eliminates the need for a DC side panel shutoff.

The system goes into night mode, then "wakes up" and starts generating on first sunlight usually around 7:30 now.

The optimizers and Solaredge monitoring (included) also allow me to see per panel output and performance anywhere anytime Smart phone app too) and see the total system output by hour/day/year etc.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #673  
Tim,

We installed Solaredge optimizers and LG300 Neon panels. The Optimizers shut down (to 1VDC) when power is turned off and this meets the fire code - and eliminates the need for a DC side panel shutoff.

The system goes into night mode, then "wakes up" and starts generating on first sunlight usually around 7:30 now.

The optimizers and Solaredge monitoring (included) also allow me to see per panel output and performance anywhere anytime Smart phone app too) and see the total system output by hour/day/year etc.

OK cool. It's been four years since I put mine in, and code was just catching up to solar when I was doing mine.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #674  
Our system was completed December 2012 and so far generated 71.7 MWh of energy. That is more or less consistent with PVWats prediction. Since we have micro inverters the DC and AC connector as well are considered the disconnects. Nevertheless local utility asked I install AC disconnect for the whole system.
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#675  
January 2015 results.

Above the model.

Month--NREL Model (AC kWh)--2012 Actual---2013 Actual---2104 Actual---2015 Actual

Jan.----388----------------------NA--------------440-------------360------------431
Feb.----412----------------------NA--------------375-------------446
Mar.----509----------------------NA--------------462-------------577
Apr.----374----------------------NA--------------487-------------525
May----353----------------------NA--------------375-------------361
Jun.----308----------------------NA--------------379-------------390
Jul.-----341----------------------NA--------------377-------------395
Aug.----383----------------------461-------------470-------------453
Sep.----394----------------------481-------------476-------------489
Oct.----369----------------------378-------------453--------------380
Nov.----283----------------------400-------------414-------------295
Dec.----331----------------------297-------------278-------------299
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#676  
https://revisionenergy.wistia.com/medias/6mfkuw7n4g?foreign_data=mailchimp_campaign_id:4888b47003

Maine's First Community Solar Farm
Community solar farms (CSFs, or, solar gardens) make going solar possible for those who want clean energy but don't have the ability to put it on their own roof. The exact rules vary by state, but in general, a group of homeowners are paired up with a host, and invest in a large solar array which is built on an existing structure or built on the ground in an open field. 100% of the generation from the solar farm is sent to the grid, and automatically credited to the accounts of the solar share-holders based on their stake in the solar farm.

This video is from the first solar farm built in Maine, hosted at Sunnycroft Farm in Paris, ME
 
   / Grid-tied solar #678  
A couple of days ago I heard on a radio news broadcast that Tesla was going to start working on residential storage batteries for pv systems.A quick google search shows they are partnering with Solar City but it sounds like they are using their car battery and renting them for $10 a month.
Have any of you guys that follow this stuff heard anything? I think an affordable battery system would be great but not much I've seen from Tesla is affordable for me.
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#679  
Why Tesla's battery for your home should terrify utilities | The Verge

This article is a pretty good overview of the situation. No pricing info there.

One or two 10 kwh batteries at reasonable prices would probably get me off the grid. I average ~15-20 kwh per day usage, some of that (oven, washer, dryer) is very flexible, some (water heater, AC) is flexible to a point.

I need a gas generator to back-up the grid as it is, so a generator can also backup a solar+battery system at no extra cost.
 

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