Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Just remember to turn off the AC coupled solar when manually starting the generator! *Eric Smiley,* Project Manager e...@vecoop.ca T: 250.703.6004 <+12507036004> T: 888.386.0116 <+18883860116> *VIRIDIANENERGY.CA * * * On Tue, 11 May 2021

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Hi All, I talked to Sol-Ark again yesterday and thought this was certainly worth sharing: For this particular design, there is a whole house generator. For generators over 10kw (this one is 13kw), they recommend keeping the generator in its existing ATS, and feeding it in through the grid

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Thanks! I thought this was for Offgrid and that was my mistake. Will it run a 15A table saw without losing power, or was that just too much expertise? I will wait 3 years on anything that is suppose to replace what I already use. I have a low opinion of the all in one for Offgrid anyways.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Dave A. - Sol-Arks'"GEN" breaker can be used for 1 of 3 operations only - Generator, AC Coupling OR Smart Load (Load Shedding)  So when you are grid-interactive (which takes up your GRID breaker) and you have PV and a Generator - the way to go is to have no AC Coupling - put the Grid and Gen

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I do not know much about Sol-Arc, but one can AC couple and DC couple with a Radian or XW. The genset is on the genset input where it belongs. For Offgrid AC coupling is just another way to damage a battery or genset that does not need to be there. I suppose in a really large microgrid with

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I like the idea of some small amount of AC Coupled PV for off-grid systems when there is a known consistent daytime load. Around here the worst case scenario involves afternoon air conditioning in summer, so some WSW-facing AC coupled PV is an efficient way to cover that load and go into darkness

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I would certainly agree with you all that AC coupled for off-grid is not the best design choice. But just for clarification, this is a grid-tied system where there is already an Enphase M215 system and a whole house generator set up. Cheers, Dave On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 11:10 AM Jerry Shafer

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I have to agree with Dave on this, complex and off grid generally are not good together, l sugest backing up and you might consider a redesign, dump enphase, go directly in to the inverter DC side, now a gen set back up will work. Your spending more time and effort going in a bad direction. AC

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I second that. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 5/6/21 10:33 AM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar wrote: I would not do any of this for an offgrid client. It is against the rule of less is more. The whole design is flawed in my opinion. *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I would not do any of this for an offgrid client. It is against the rule of less is more. The whole design is flawed in my opinion. Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't" http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [1] e-mail offgridso...@sti.net [2] text 209 813 0060 On Tue, 4

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

I’ve used two SPDT relays, one for each phase. This gives double redundancy Jay Peltz power. > On May 5, 2021, at 5:07 AM, Tump wrote: > > Set the Gen’s frequency above or below the 3 +/- of the acceptance window of > your micro inverters. >>> On May 4, 2021, at 7:24 PM, Dave Tedeyan

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Set the Gen’s frequency above or below the 3 +/- of the acceptance window of your micro inverters. > On May 4, 2021, at 7:24 PM, Dave Tedeyan wrote: > > 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

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

You can even buy a kit. https://www.solar-electric.com/outback-power-gs-ac-gen-kit-generator-back-up-kit.html This provides an enclosure for the contactor. --- On 2021-05-04 16:03, Jason Szumlanski wrote: What happens when the contactor fails? I don't trust a NC contactor that is supposed to

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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 wrote: > P.S. The contactor method is even mentioned somewhere in the Outback >

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

This may not be a good idea if you want to retain rapid shutdown compliance… -Glenn From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Jeff Clearwater Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 12:20 PM To: RE-wrenches ; Dave Tedeyan Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark Hi Dave ~ Well

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Hi Dave ~ Well this might not be the answer you are looking for but I'd take a serious look at the relative hassle of rewiring the array to DC. Sol-Ark's shine in DC coupled mode - highly efficient - and then you have the generator port open (now not used for AC coupling) available for the

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

Dave, My initial background comes from the Industrial Controls world w/ a strong military influence. Given that the generator probably has some kind of transfer switch, chances are that the transfer switch has a dry contact in which can be used to power a relay. I normally use ASCO transfer

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

. -Glenn From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Dave Tedeyan Sent: Monday, May 03, 2021 10:27 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark Hi All, I am planning on using a Sol-Ark for the first time for adding battery backup to an existing system

[RE-wrenches] Generator and AC coupling on a Sol-Ark

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