diy solar

diy solar

Solar system not working after power uprating.

Who in the world needs 400amps....yeah whoever did it f'ed up the solar.
I have a finished Basement with a kitchen, bathroom and washer and dryer. I also have a mini split heat pump on the basement. Upstairs heat pump has 30kw aux heat. I'm planning to buy a battery powered SUV. Not enough slots in a single 200-amp panel with 40 slots. See my response above for the rest of the story.
 
Yes, they have. I separated my 1st floor from my finished basement with separate 200-amp panels. My backup generator is only for the 1st. floor now. My solar system was connected to my backup generator control box. I had my generator company disconnect my solar system. I connected my solar system to my basement 200-amp panel via Breakers. My solar system started working. I don't know why this worked. The solar system is designed to operate on 240 vac and the amps are irrelevant.
If the solar was connected to the generator side of a transfer switch. Then, is wasn't seeing the grid. Without a grid source, it won't do anything.
 
If you're looking to charge one or more EV's in the future, 400 amp service seems reasonable or even a minimum.
100a (2x 50a) - electric car charger
Most cars max out at 32 amps at 240 vac (level 2)
Some cars have a larger onboard charger. I can't say I've ever heard of a 24kW onboard charger, let alone one that kicks you up to 400 amp service.
 
Commercial customers are typically charged a combination of peak usage plus total kWh consumed. This is because these both are key contributors to the cost of operating the utility. It costs a lot of money to have that reserve capacity sitting ready for those two days a year (Thanksgiving and presumably again at Christmas) when the scenario above occurs. I'm curious if the utilities in places where houses are being built with 400A service (enough for a decent sized business customer) are starting to charge peak + consumption to these large residential customers.
Our co-op provider switched all residential to this rate plan 1-1-23
 
Our co-op provider switched all residential to this rate plan 1-1-23
Interesting. I wonder how many, if any, customers are better off under this plan. I know that our condo complex pays about ½ per kWh than residential customers, but the the peak kW charge more than makes up for that if your use has high, short peaks. People with fairly level use might come out ahead.
 
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