I suppose the question here is - which is the worse failure mode? A. Solar turning off until an electrician can fix it. OR B. Not knowing the contactor failed until it does not open when the generator turns on and running the risk that the solar backfeeds the generator and breaks it.
For off-grid maybe A would be more of a concern. But for grid tied, I would think option B would be worse. Does anyone have a fail safe method of doing this? Cheers, Dave On Tue, May 4, 2021, 4:41 PM Chris Schaefer <ch...@solarandwindfx.com> wrote: > Jason, > > A valid concern which is why I always wire them as powered open so if > there is a failure it would transition closed or not open. > > Christopher > > On Tue, May 4, 2021 at 4:15 PM Jason Szumlanski < > ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > >> What happens when the contactor fails? I don't trust a NC contactor that >> is supposed to open on 240Vac coil voltage from the generator. It's not a >> failsafe solution. >> >> Jason >> >> >> >> On Tue, May 4, 2021, 3:15 PM Drake <drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org> >> wrote: >> >>> P.S. The contactor method is even mentioned somewhere in the Outback >>> literature. I've been using it for years. It is very simple and requires no >>> complex equipment. It will not interfere with rapid shutdown. 40 A, 240 V >>> contactors with 240 V coils are readily available and not terribly >>> expensive. The 240 V output of the generator circuit provides the signal. >>> >>> At 10:02 AM 5/4/2021, you wrote: >>> >>> Get a contactor with a 240 VAC coil. Connect the coil wire wires to the >>> 240 V output circuit of the generator, so when the generator comes on, the >>> contactor opens. Run the current from the AC coupled Enphase inverters >>> through the contacts from common to N/C. >>> >>> --- >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2021-05-03 10:26, Dave Tedeyan wrote: >>> >>> Hi All, >>> >>> I am planning on using a Sol-Ark for the first time for adding battery >>> backup to an existing system. It is Enphase, so clearly it will be AC >>> coupled, and there is a whole house generator. When I talked to Sol-Ark >>> about it, they recommended putting the generator on a time of use schedule >>> to not allow it to come on during the day so that we don't run into the >>> issue of the solar backfeeding the generator. >>> >>> I was wondering though if anyone has just used a contactor to cut out >>> the solar when the generator turns on? Something like Outback's >>> GS-AC-Gen-Kit, although in this case I will need something rated for just >>> over 30A. This seems like a better way to allow the generator to run at any >>> time it is needed, especially if it is a gloomy, snowy, winter day. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Dave >>> >>> -- >>> >>> *Dave Tedeyan, PE * [image: Sungineer Solar] >>> 1653 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 >>> Cell: 607-288-2898 >>> www.sungineersolar.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> There are two list archives for searching. 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When one doesn't work, try >>> the other: >>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> > > -- > > Chris Schaefer’s > <http:www.solarandwindfx.com> > > *Tel/Fax 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870 * > *5115 South Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424**www.solarandwindfx.com > <http://www.solarandwindfx.com> ~ E-mail: ch...@solarandwindfx.com > <ch...@solarandwindfx.com>* > > > Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, > "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are > willing to work and give to those who would not." > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. 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