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Yeah, that's the thing for me, it's just not long enough, I'd want to use 40" wide panels as well. I'm considering just sourcing some parts from Amazon for the footers and rotating joints, then maybe Home Depot has the U-channel. OR, if you just use everything in their kit except the horizontal...

Looked through this thread, glad I found it! I've been considering what it would take to make use of my brushy hillside behind my home.. the convenient thing is, it's already on a roof-angle type of slope, probably 25-30 degrees. I was considering the Brightmount, but... maybe that's overkill...

Yeah that rate change, I was scratching my head over that.. it does incentivize for grid use, but I think that’s what they want, right.. which is odd because at the same time there is supposedly an incentive for solar and electrification. I think the main barrier to solar is still the...

@Lawrence_SoCal @arslin @glandpuck I'm curious too. Zanydroid helped clarify some things for me. I'm looking mostly DIY, I have a 40 amp double pole I can tap into with my 200 amp subpanel. Was considering the 18Kpv, but I feel like it's overkill for me. Similar to the OP, I'm looking at just...

OK, well I’ll hire an electrician just to take a look along with something else if I’m feeling like it’s uncertain.. no Tesla for me sir.. perhaps a Chevy Bolt at some point. Although I do like the plug-in hybrids.

Welp that makes it easy! haha, no new wire runs needed then for a 40 amp breaker, since that’s all it can likely take. breakers are from the late 80’s.. would it be a good move to go ahead and get a new 40 amp double pole breaker considering it’s going to backfeed? My only issue then is that...

Precious indeed! haha. Solar good, um.. well only up to a point! That is odd that they would limit that, do they allow other inverters with batteries over 10? How would they tell if you just decided to add a battery a few months later?

After doing a lot of investigation, I decided to forgo a whole house 200 amp backup scenario with the 18kpv. What I do have is a partial home backup option, tying the inverter into a breaker in the house subpanel. I’ve essentially got a non-used 40 amp breaker, with either stranded copper #8...

Ok thanks, and if a battery (such as the EG4 14.3 kWH WallMount Indoor that is similar to the PowerPro) is not included on that list does that mean a) the system would not pass certification, and b) not qualify for the California SGIP battery incentive?

Since the 18kpv and PowerPro battery are on the CEC list, does that mean it applies to SDG&E as well? Their list was a few years old, unless I’m looking in the wrong place. Is anyone here with SDG&E and using the 18kpv?

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Looking at the setup, I think I can manage putting in a portion of the new pvc conduit lines that would eventually connect to the existing 200 amp breaker box, and keeping the current 200 amp feed intact actually. I will have to see if that box has some knockouts for the new pvc, Will probably...

@zanydroid thanks for your feedback here. It's helped me narrow down to the ideal setup. The only choice I have remaining is whether or not to interrupt the current conduit inside the garage like the diagram shows, so that it reroutes the 4/0 to the area behind the house on the outside wall...

I like the idea of setting up the disconnect first! And the current 200 line is in the garage rafters area, inside conduit... so it's pretty accessible, but I could go ahead and DIY some conduit, partially installed and put it through the wall to the outside. Then I like the idea of hiring the...

Ok, so I see there are issues with selling back to the grid on the 18k, and it’s not clear on how EG4 is resolving this, but no issues with just buying and using equipment with no export. How odd the Luxpower 12k is approved this way. I’m not in any rush, but I’ll keep an eye on this. Frankly...

@zanydroid After talking with online sales for the 18kpv, I found that the unit has the built in ATS with 200-amp bypass, that will still function even if the inverter is down or dead.. so I may just skip that manual transfer switch, and just opt for a Siemens disconnect switch, although it is...

I’ll check with SDGE and see what my options are for the 18k. Ideally that’s what I’d want, I have no concerns about it being able to handle everything in the home. Since the 6000xp is considered off-grid with no export to grid features, I didn’t think it required any inverter certification.. I...

Ok, I’ll keep a lookout on the certification.. i thought recently they were getting certified here in California. I’m on SDGE, will check with them. If the 18kpv ultimately doesn’t get certification, I’ll just go with two 6000xps.. since no export, no cert required. About those breakers, ok...

18Kpv is looking like the best choice.. thought I'd ask here about the transfer switch or interlock load panel to add. Instead of going for a 200 amp double throw, I was considering a 200 amp panel, with 2 x 200 amp breakers + a breaker interlock to switch between grid or inverter, that then...

Thanks for the links! I see that one at HD looks like a good option, alternatively I may consider an interlock kit with a sub-panel.. that way I'd have the flexibility to move a few high demand circuits over to always be powered by grid if needed.

Good to hear it was just the firmware.. I think I like the 18kpv over the Sol-Ark, especially for what it offers and having the ability to do the 200 amp passthrough. Alternatively I have considered 2x 6000xp. If it dies, by keeping it "open", you mean there is no power running through it, so it...

Good to know it’s mostly a positive experience. I was reading through some older reviews that seemed questionable, but it seems like the latest ones are positive. I’ve had some nudge towards a Sol-Ark because some were saying the 18k was a clone with less support, but.. apparently Sol-Ark are...

What is your meter main and sub-panel setup? For me I have this 200 amp service, but the combined in the 6000xp cuts that in half of course… so I’m wondering if I can just downgrade to 100 amps for the grid bypass as well. It cuts down on equipment cost also. The only issue I see is when I might...

@Zapper77 ok, thanks for that info! .1 seems straight-forward.. just feed to this load center and install 2 50 amp breakers that each to go an inverter. But about .2, haha.. so if I hired an electrician to help me wire it up, is there a recommended method? Would I need another of that same 125...

I have 2 questions about about this setup because I'm considering almost the same thing with two 6000xps. Do you need two 50 amp breakers feeding into the separate 6000xps, or could you make it work with just one 100 amp breaker coming off your main, and then branching inverter #2 off of...

I like the idea of the breaker interlock. I wonder if that breaker interlock panel can facilitate a transfer between the grid (200 amp breaker) and 2 inverter breakers (50 amp each). I updated my diagram here.. am I missing anything? FYI, I plan to work with an electrician on the disconnect and...

Reading your posts, I hadn't considered having that breaker interlock in the whole house sub-panel. Similar to @solarenvy, I have that 200 amp main, and 200 amp sub-panel, so I need to decide how I'm going to facilitate the transfer mechanism between the inverters and the direct grid line. In my...

@JoshN123 I'm trying to make similar decisions as you.. Either an 18Kpv, or 2 of the 6000XP. I don't have a ton to benefit from the 18Kpv energy export, because San Diego has such low compensation on energy exported to them. Additionally, someone mentioned that if I'm using an off-grid inverter...

Do you know if power companies require a solar permit then for an inverter like the 6000xp if connected to grid power?

I thought I'd piggyback on this conversation and ask for some advice since I'm also looking at this setup as well. Same meter/200 amp main breaker setup, and then using that same EG4 diagram. The 2-pole manual transfer switches are quite expensive and BIG. From what I understand, the breaker...

@MisterSandals Just means that POCOs are authorized to permit them. I would consider two 6000XPs, but they do not have that certification, although I might just ask and confirm (again, no need to sell back energy to utility) Likely going with the 1 EG4 PowerPro battery, or 3 of the EG4 rack...

@chrisski @MisterSandals @OffGridForGood I think I'm going to go with the 18Kpv. A big benefit is that I can run the whole house through a single unit, and take advantage of my HVAC unit on solar, which is where the outrageous electricity bill comes from. Also this will facilitate EV charging...

Not sure if anyone can answer this, thought I’d ask. I’m with SDGE and they have a list of approved UL equipment, but I don’t see EG4. If you are using a zero-export “backup” off-grid hybrid inverter like the 6000xp that has a critical loads panel, so still connected to grid as a power source...

I’m wondering about this 6000xp as well. I don’t need anything like the 18kpv and have no plans to export energy. I would still like to run part of the home on the 6000xp, so I need grid power for part of the home and have the inverter connected with a manual transfer switch. In this case, is it...

If it’s required that I still have a permit for not grid tied system, then I’ll definitely get a permit. I know at least for solar ground mount under 5 feet no building permit is required for us. Fortunately it is an instant permit process now for system specs within my range. I’ll have to dig...