I still run under the assumption that if the solar generation ever exceeds 
building demand in these situations, the building voltage will spike up to the 
high voltage cutout of the inverter (unless the generator has the capability to 
try to “motor” to bring the voltage back down), then the voltage will return to 
normal. The system will wait 5 min (as if there were a grid fault, then 
return), then attempt to re-connect. If the solar generation is still in excess 
of the demand, the inverters will cycle again. This essentially is short 
cycling the inverters. Or if the generator circuitry is trying too hard to pull 
the voltage back down, it could damage the generator, but it depends on the 
size/type of genny. Like has been said already, it’s a crap shoot.

 

Will it kill the inverters quickly…..I doubt it. Will they have voided the 
warranty….I’d almost guarantee it.

 

The new Envoy S has some more advanced features though, so It may be able to 
monitor production vs demand and force the array to throttle back to prevent 
this from happening. I’m not familiar enough with the product to say one way or 
the other. I imagine it would have to be capable of reacting very quickly 
though to prevent issues (say, if your electric clothes dryer finished it’s 
cycle, changing you from needing 2kW of generator to supplement PV to all of a 
sudden having 2kw too much PV). 

 

With Regards,

 

Daniel Young, 

NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf 
Of Howie Michaelson
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 12:01 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Generator backfeeding enphase?

 

Does anyone think that there is no issue with having enphase potentially 
backfeeding a backup generator? We almost always will tie in upstream of a 
generator transfer switch, but a competitor is telling clients with an enphase 
system there is no concern. Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Howie
Howie Michaelson
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™

Catamount Solar
Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
http://www.CatamountSolar.com
802-272-0004

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