Your Solar Panels don’t Work When The Grid Goes Down

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Your Solar Panels don’t Work When The Grid Goes Down

Рет қаралды 13,635

3 жыл бұрын

Solar panels don't work when the power goes out. In this video, I'm taking a closer look at the components installed in a grid tied solar panels system and what is needed in order to retrofit a grid-tied solar panel system to operate off grid.
Most solar panel owners are familiar with "Rapid shutdown". This regulation requires grid tied solar panels system to shut down quickly when the system is disconnected from the grid. This is often referred to as "UL 1741 and Rule 21" see the reference below for more information.
UL 1741 and Rule 21 Reference:
www.cedgreente....
Contrary to what a lot of people think solar panels are not only required to shut down when the power goes out BUT they also are unable to produce solar independent of the grid. There are several electrical devices that are needed in order to allow a grit tied solar panel system to provide backup power.
Welcome to Solar Goat, the channel dedicated to all things solar! I'm Brandan Sirrine, and I'm excited to share my genuine love to content creation and solar panel technology. On this channel, you'll find informative how-to videos, product reviews, and plenty of DIY content to help you harness the power of the sun, save money on your energy bills, and create your own electricity
Check out all my favorite tools and gear (Amazon Store)👇👇👇
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Lastly, we want to remind our viewers to prioritize safety when working with solar panels, batteries, power tools, electrical equipment, and electricity in general. We assume no liability for any property damage or injury resulting from the information provided in our videos, and we recommend that only experienced licensed electricians install or service solar panel and battery systems. Thank you for supporting our hobby and we hope our content has been genuinely helpful and informative.
WHY SOLAR POWER? ON GRID AND OFF GRID
Solar power is a renewable energy source that converts energy from the sun into usable electricity. This environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy source has gained popularity in recent years. Solar panels made of silicon absorb sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity, which is then transformed into alternating current (AC) electricity for use in homes and businesses. As solar power continues to become more accessible and affordable, many individuals and companies are investing in solar energy systems to reduce their reliance on traditional sources of electricity.
INTRO TO OFF GRID SOLAR
If you're a DIY enthusiast looking to power your home or cabin off the grid, an off-grid solar system may be the perfect solution for you. These systems can be designed and installed without professional help, allowing you to generate and store your own electricity without relying on a traditional power grid.
To create an off-grid solar system, you'll need to invest in solar panels, batteries, inverters and other electronics and hardware. Designing and installing an off-grid solar system can be a challenging but rewarding project for DIY enthusiasts. It allows you to take control of your own energy production and live a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. With the right equipment and guidance, you can enjoy the benefits of off-grid solar power for years to come.
INTRO TO GRID TIED SOLAR
Grid-tied solar systems are a popular way for homeowners and businesses to generate their own electricity while staying connected to the traditional power grid. These systems use solar panels to produce DC electricity, which is converted to AC electricity with an inverter. Any excess electricity can be sent back to the grid for others to use, potentially earning credits on your electricity bill.
One of the primary advantages of a grid-tied solar system is that it allows you to generate your own electricity while still having access to power from the grid. If your solar panels aren't producing enough electricity to meet your needs, you can still draw power from the grid. If your panels are producing more electricity than you need, you can send the excess power back to the grid.
Grid-tied solar systems are easier to install, with pre-designed kits available from many companies that can be customized to meet your needs. These systems are an excellent way to reduce your reliance on traditional sources of electricity, save money on your electricity bill, and lower your carbon footprint.

Пікірлер: 45

@xtrader5644 6 ай бұрын

What kind of transfer switch can we use to by pass the grid when it is down and use solar backup?

@user-hh6ex9md4w 7 ай бұрын

Wow, that sounds like an amazing product! The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series seems perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us. It offers massive capacity, fast recharging, and even waterproof technology. So useful for camping trips or in case of a power outage. Thanks for sharing this recommendation!

@NHamel123 Жыл бұрын

Ive always been a fan of the idea to put a few outlets on their own solar powered breaker panels to run fridge/freezer, AC, circulation fans, etc. Can expand as your system production does and pull wires over as able.

@AmericanPatriot-1776 4 ай бұрын

We want to disconnect our major rooms, i.e., kitchen, TV room and computer room from the main electric company grid and install a independent system with inverter and batteries. Our grid has brown outs all the time or straight out outages for up to 36 hours. One main reason we want to do this is our electric costs have doubled in the last 6 years since having the solar system we currently have because Edison keeps lowering the tier rates so the less you use the more you pay. We were $106 a month with getting money back from Edison, now we're at $230 a month and no money back. We can get a system for under $6,000 that will do that while producing more solar energy then what we currently have. May be easier then removing the electric meter and pissing off Edison.

@jackiechan3509 2 жыл бұрын

What are transmission lines ......

@richardprice5978 2 жыл бұрын

the 200A limitation of most of the systems im awareness of is really putting a damper on my decision as the house maid the 400A's and i don't want to make artificial choke point down to 200A's in diesel generator or utilities mode batteries and solar more the marryer but its more $$ for now to installation costs so for me thats a limitation in 2020-back

@TheMoonDejesus 6 ай бұрын

Can we just do this and disconnect from the grid?

@sharoncolbert6064 8 ай бұрын

Can you talk about Oupes-series Mega 3. How to hook it up to Solar system. We have 29 panels from Nivo. And would like to hook up a backup generator to have when the grid goes down.

@mikebecatti 2 жыл бұрын

With your second solution, wouldn't you have to configure your original inverter to not export excess production? If not, wouldn't it blow your new inverter/battery?

@solargoat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, some crazy tech most system use frequency shifting. Where is the off grid inverter will bump the frequency over 60 Hz and it will make the great tide inverter shut down.

@bootangy Жыл бұрын

i have microinverters and have been told i cannot use hybrid inverters to produce home bckup. what are my options?

@anewzack78 2 ай бұрын

enphase does it

@mafosa8519 2 жыл бұрын

Yea.. doesn’t make sense to not have “back up power “ when the grid is down. Worth the extra expense to add a “fuk you box!” To your system! “As a added bonus.” The electric co would be unhappy that your happy!!.. Great share! Larry

@solargoat 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed 😎

@richardprice5978 2 жыл бұрын

@@solargoat my county north of SLC Utah 🇺🇸 but in Utah government inspector said that twin 200A's will not pass in 2022 so have you ever seen a 400A setup or unidealised seen twin 200A installation in northern Utah?

@solargoat 2 жыл бұрын

I can do it. Done it before.

@richardprice5978 2 жыл бұрын

@@solargoat twin ATS's 🤔 how did that get sinned off ?

@richardprice5978 2 жыл бұрын

@@solargoat maid i have is b-line u404mc ( and is installed already ) and for now the main panel is siemens P2A54ML400FTS but the main panel might have accidentally been changed/wrong account or shiped the wrong 400A unit so i need to check it this week ( as covid delayed it for 6 months ish ) and or fix it for NEC 230 as there's no main pull for it any ways still not a problem? and can consulting work? as going from point A to B is got me stumbling and my main electrician with a home license as he's not a ATS/solar/gen guy and im a plant mechanic aka 3P 480V

@JacquesRice Жыл бұрын

I'm not entirely sure how different US elec is to the UK, but couldn't you just power your solar inverter with a portable battery generator and isolate your fusebox/'consumer unit' from the mains?

@slater1182 Жыл бұрын

And videos on installing a transfer switch?

@Juancarlo4342 Жыл бұрын

What state.you run out of, i would like an expert to reconfigure my system

@mariamajallow6304 2 жыл бұрын

I have a question to ask we install a solar system as a backup when the grid tied is off for it to take over bt we realized that it normally take sometime before the solar system pick up please need an answer if possìble tje cause tanks

@Electronzap 5 ай бұрын

Sounds good.

@centerpiecearcades4886 3 жыл бұрын

Can you use energy hub inverter and bui without a battery.

@solargoat 3 жыл бұрын

No :( not any more

@centerpiecearcades4886 3 жыл бұрын

Is there any other way to make solar work with no battery them same way the bui did? Also when you have 1 battery, every hub, and bui are you still limited by the 25 amp max out put? And if your using bui during the day when the sun is out and grid is down is that same limitation there or is your whole house working as normal?

@hoodoocrawfish5713 3 жыл бұрын

@@solargoat not anymore? Like the functionality was removed?

@solargoat 3 жыл бұрын

@@hoodoocrawfish5713 correct… you have to pass the battery self test in order to but the system in backup mode :(

@anewzack78 2 ай бұрын

tf they dont. enphase 8 stuff can create its own grid if you have the gen5 combiner box

@williamarmstrong7199 Жыл бұрын

The reason for this is to stop killing linesmen Who are electrocuted every year when working on supposedly safe cables.. until some numbskull turns on a generator and plugs it onto his home power circuit! That puts lethal voltage down the lines and electrocutes anyone working on them. Not a clever thing to do but done very frequently! If you want a backup system then any competent Solar installer can do this for you with little to no added cost at time of install. It is all down to choice of equipment. My system gives me a 2KWh backup while my battery has power (it's a 5 KWh battery system) however it is NOT connected to my house electrics but runs off a totally separate circuit and I can plug in my Boiler and fridge / deep freeze into when needed. It is not auto switchover (that costs more) and unless you have a huge battery and Solar system running 4Kwh or more output there is little to no point as demand will outstrip supply.

@johnstuckey2384 Жыл бұрын

Question: When the power grid is on and you have your power coming in from the panels going through the transfer switch, are you supplementing your power usage with the panels also, or just being able to disconnect from the grid when the power grid goes off line. My main thought is by adding a 5kw panel system that's producing wattage and have it on at the same time as the power grid going through the transfer switch to reduce the kW usage? Does this make sense?

@Electricology Жыл бұрын

I think I understand what you're saying. You can have an automatic transfer switch or a manual one. Most are automatic and if you were to incorporate it into your system, essentially it would click over in milliseconds and your backup/critical loads panel would be powered by the battery system. In most cases you will not notice a break in power to those critical loads. The solar might trip off for 5 minutes until the inverter can sense everything is okay to power back on with the battery. Yes, if you were to have the 5kW panel system producing wattage at the same time as the grid, it would still go through the transfer switch to offset the cost of power from the grid. In any case it's important to involve your authority having jurisdiction. Certain utility companies have certain regulations. Certain meters need to be swapped so they can charge appropriately. If you don't, the meter might double charge you because it can't tell the difference of energy flowing to and from your property.

@jameswilsin5348 6 ай бұрын

You can have grid Ty and solar power to but solar panel do not relie on the grid they will still put out power but the grid Ty inverter needs grid for power all it does is give ower back to power company

@geovannymartinez7760 Жыл бұрын

You have a web page ???

@geovannymartinez7760 Жыл бұрын

How can I talk to you about my system

@jameswilsin5348 6 ай бұрын

Nop a grid Ty system will not suply power when grid goes. Down you need a regular solar system

@TERoss-jk9ny Жыл бұрын

I was told I can’t put that switch in.

@solargoat Жыл бұрын

What’s was the reason?

@TERoss-jk9ny Жыл бұрын

@@solargoat: Idaho Power would not pass it. Perhaps later?

@bramjondolo Жыл бұрын

Power switch

@sherimatukonis6016 Жыл бұрын

This is why I haven't gone solar.

@Electricology Жыл бұрын

It bothers me too but it's just for safety reasons. If the grid goes down and the utility company needs to work on the lines they have to be sure there's nobody back feeding. There is an inverter by SMA Sunny Boy that has an option called SPS. Secure Power Supply. You can add an outlet to provide up to 2000 watts from solar without battery back up. It's a nice middle ground if you don't want to spend thousands on the additional equipment.

@jameswilsin5348 6 ай бұрын

He’s wrong there to he don’t know how solar works