Search results

Late to the party, but this was already discussed in length here: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/sol-ark-8-12-15k-with-tigo-ts4-a-o.45069/ Simply apply power to the Tigo gateway, Install a 12VDC relay on the Sol-Ark 12 RSD output, connect the relay contacts to the Tigo gateway aux terminals...

Possibly. It depends on your use cases. If you don't require batteries then microinverters may make sense. The Sol-Ark is definitely worth the money if it fits your needs. Honestly, you haven't provided enough information to give an informed opinion. I suggest you read through the forum...

Oops

Yes, you should use two separate 200A fused disconnects. One for each inverter. With a single 400A disconnect, it would be possible to pass more than 200A through a single inverter which could cause things to smoke. You should check with your utility company as they may require you to have a...

My advice is to take the $100 and put it towards purchasing the correct equipment for the job.

I'm pretty sure you want a grid tied system. Your diagram shows the "Grid" wired (tied) to your inverter. The first thing that you need to do is study your loads. Search the forum for "power audit". Let's assume that your 20KW battery could power all of your loads from 1 - 8 PM., and you would...

I like your description of the "Big Red Switch" :)

Does open or closed loop battery have anything to do with the generator kicking on? It's not supposed to, but there have been some anomalies cause by closed loop communications. What are your TOU settings? What are your settings for Battery Shutdown, Battery Low, Battery Restart? Gen Start %...

What version firmware are you on? What type of batteries? Open loop or closed loop?

I would throw some scrapple, pork roll/tailored ham and spam in with the sausage group.

You have to enable TOU, have the charge box checked in the TOU time slot, and have Gen charge checked. You may want to search the forum for other post related to that generator starting problem. Sol-Ark is adding additional generator programming but it will not be available for several months.

Correct, I forgot about that. Can't use Gen port with AC Coupling on Load side.

Aside from the other info, how far is it from string to inverter?

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just stating what the code is allowing. Personally I like the idea of putting fuses at the source. I alsot think that if a string is fused at the source, is 300 VDC or less, and 30A or less, that we should throw out all the extraneous wiring requirement (like...

What model inverter are you tying them to? What is the MAX MPPT voltage and wattage per MPPT?

I love the title of this thread. :)

My post was only meant to address that the EGC does not have to be the same size as the other conductors when those conductors are larger due to voltage drop. This is an exception for PV as the EGC commonly has to be upsized. I take the first part to mean that if no OCPD in circuit then the...

I agree with everything that @420OhmsPA said. Most importantly: Do not trust what any solar salesman tells you. Ask them how many KW per year the system will generate. Many will not tell you or will not tell you accurately. Put your proposed configuration into PVWatts. I cannot stress this...

No, it's not common. With the bypass in place, the Sol-Ark still has Grid power, software updates can be done. In fact, the software updates take a while and then the Inverter reboots. So power is interrupted for a little bit. When you are away at Vail, CO skiing and something happens to your...

You could either leave your existing AC Coupled Inverter as is - Main Load Center #1, or connect it into Main Load Center #2. This would leave the Gen port open for the Generator. Again, I'm not sure that you need a "Critical Loads" panel.

690.45 Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors Equipment grounding conductors for PV system circuits shall be sized in accordance with 250.122. Where no overcurrent protective device is used in the circuit, an assumed overcurrent device rated in accordance with 690.9(B) shall be used when...

I'm pretty sure in NEC 690 that you don't have to upsize the grounding conductor for PV.

I don't even know how to begin to respond to this statement. This is what the world is coming to? Good luck to you. All the answers you seek are already here on this forum. All you have to do is use the search feature and do some reading. This is the DIY solar forum, not the Have Others Do It...

Do you have a one-line diagram or a wiring diagram from when the system was originally put in? Make/model of inverter? Without knowing all the variables its hard to say if that price is unreasonable.

Each MPPT is limited to 26A. They can handle a total of 19,500 Watts on the 15K-LV model. The max power per MPPT is 500V x 26A = 13,000 Watts.

Right, and each state adopts the latest version in their own sweet time, sometimes many years later. If I were contracted to do his work I would pull a permit and ask my local electrical inspector.

Your bus bar can support the additional solar which is 30A @ 240 VAC. Good question. Ask them them to site the NEC code. The NEC specifies how size a residential service. Basically you use so much power per square foot plus heating, cooling and appliance loads. (This is a very simplified...

Insurance companies many not cover a claim for for fire or liability if a permit was not pulled and inspections were not performed. Rapid Shutdown was introduced in 2014 NEC. I believe he said the system was installed 3 years ago. If he's going to use batteries DC to DC would be more...

Yeah, they need to work on that.

I'd like to commend you for posting those diagrams. When you say "increase solar to 20KW" is that the ideal (max) capacity? Sol-Ark 15 can handle 19,500 W of PV. Why not connect all the PV directly to the Sol-Ark? Since you are going to have batteries and a generator, why not do away with the...

Thanks for confirming this. That's what I was trying to get at in my previous post - the inverter is limited to 15K. But you should be able to get another 4.5K to charge the batteries. You're only getting and additional 3K, so we are still short 1.5K. Sol-Ark confirmed the issue. That's a...

I did some research. APS does not offer a net-metering program. They offer a net-billing plan. They also require Solar customers to be on a Time of Use plan. Power costs you .12 per KWH and you only get paid .085 per KWH for power sold back. So in order to break even (net) you have to produce...

Perhaps you should contact a lawyer. It's not misleading. It's a fact. Stop drinking your own cool-aid. Green Energy costs the Utility companies their profits and cost the consumer more for electricity. Ehmm. Perhaps you should read your net-metering agreement. The fact that you were...

You only need #10 AWG grounding conductor. You do not add your circuits together for table 250.122. You would use the max current in any given circuit.

Typically you would do it the other way around, 3 sets of (3 Panels in series) and then those 3 in parallel.