zanydroid
Solar Wizard
@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 not required by poco.
Disconnect switch will make it easier to manually rewire to bypass (because whatever sales says, that bypass relay inside the 18kpv could still get stuck or whatever. Vs the $1000 2P2T snap switch that'll outlive us all). And if you keep a copy of the SLD in a handy place, you can probably train someone else in your household to call an electrician to do that bypass.
I'm satisfied with the unit's ability to still transfer power even if the inverter is down. I've attached another diagram here, it's about as simple as I can make it. The 18K is also approved by PG&E, I think it would be as well from SDG&E. So really, it doesn't make sense for to go with the 6000xps, if I can make this setup more simple anyways.
PG&E approval isn't an all-or-nothing thing. With PG&E there are sub-categories of approval :dead:
See this thread for the red tape that EG4 has trouble cutting through
California PCS
Aside from the AHJ and utility approval, would anyone on here recommend against going with a Sol-Ark 15k and PowerPro batteries? I have not seen many issues with this setup.
diysolarforum.com
The thing I'm wondering is if I can go ahead and set up the 18kpv without solar/batter, and just have it run in standby mode until I actually get all the PV/Battery installed and an electrical inspection on it. Otherwise, I can't legally run it if it's generating power.
What is even the benefit of this?
What do you mean by standby mode? I don't think these things are designed to work without a power source. The most likely power source they require is battery. Some can run battery-less. There isn't really a tested use case where someone will install it with AC only, so I doubt you can expect to be able to boot up with AC only to set up the correct bypass mode.
(It depends on what the default bypass behavior of the inverter is I guess in a powered off, zero configuration state. Doesn't make sense to take the risk of deviating from the standard path, which is having at least the battery. Presumably at that point you can turn off the inverter output and turn the system to bypass)