switching between mains and off grid supply

[donkey07]

We decided to go off grid with no grid connection because it was economical. The local power company wanted $140,00 just to get power 250m down the road! Our system cost $29,000 which runs a 4 brm house with no trade offs regarding energy use, so the decision was no brainer. I understand the fact using battery will often cost more that using grid power but I also think i depends on where you live. The average cost of power here runs at $1200-$1800 per quarter well over the $100/month you guys are lucky to have. In the end though you need to do your homework based on your local area as in some cases it is actually cheaper to move to battery over the long term as long as what you get is quality and your not fluffing around with crap products which don't work as promised.
Just my thoughts, I'm new to this site so be nice

[Paul Land]

O.P. 6 years old, better late then never? Merry Xmas

[laser69]

You can switch on the high side with something like this. You should have a common ground, so you can switch hot and the neutral with a cam switch...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SKNMY9P/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A3HMB6GLG0WJ17&psc=1

[niel]

Hi,

does anybody know if there exists a mechanism for fast switching between power from a domestic mains supply and the power from an inverter linked to my battery bank?

The reason I ask is that I have installed small PV system but I think I am not using it to it's full potential. We have lots of sunny days where the system is always fully charged and we could run the household PC, lights, TV etc... then, when the sun sets, the battery bank voltage tends to drop off fairly quickly (batteries probably on their way out)... We usually manually switch over to mains power to preserve the power in the battery bank but at the moment this involves unplugging things, turning the PC off etc...

I would love an automated switch that could change over from the inverter to mains power without interupption - does such a thing exist? If so what are they called? Or would it be easier to get a small UPS which could act as a buffer whilst we manually switch over?

Thanks a lot,

John

Actually there is a device - solar immersion, that is mostly used to divert excess pv power to the grid. I believe you can use it for this purpose as I saw it in a pool for water heating. The device was configured to divert power from the inverter to the pool heater.

Hi Neil - if you wish to advertise contact user name Jason please.

[J.P.M.]

Well like you say, Critical Thinking is one class de goberment is afraid of and not taught in public schools.

Or, it seems to me, most anyway else as well. Lack of teaching that skill seems to me a big part of why/how we've wasted what the greatest generation and others behind them have left us.

Now, back on topic for me anyway.

[Sunking]

There sure seems to be a lot of potential for hard way learning around here.

Well like you say, Critical Thinking is one class de goberment is afraid of and not taught in public schools.

[J.P.M.]

Sure you can, use the best teacher there ever was, failure and loosing a whole lot of money. Like the old saying goes; You have been told, now it is time your learned. In this case the Hard Way.

There sure seems to be a lot of potential for hard way learning around here.

[Sunking]

Sometimes folks have their minds made up and don't want to be confused by the facts. I'm with you on the solar stuff, but some folks you just can't reach, and never will.

Sure you can, use the best teacher there ever was, failure and loosing a whole lot of money. Like the old saying goes; You have been told, now it is time your learned. In this case the Hard Way.

[SunEagle]

A lot of the time people see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. Sometimes folks have their minds made up and don't want to be confused by the facts. I'm with you on the solar stuff, but some folks you just can't reach, and never will. A lot of the time folks they seem to be looking for some affirmation of some B.S. they were fed by someone or some thing like news spoor, trying to get in their financial knickers. Sometimes, folks are sheeple following the crowd.

10-4 on being confused by the facts.

[J.P.M.]

It might be entertaining for some people but to me I hate to see someone waste their money going "off grid" expecting to save on their electric bill.

I don't believe they forget to do the math. I really think that they have been brainwashed by all of the inaccurate news reporting concerning "free and green energy from solar" It is neither free or green.

I am a very big supporter of solar energy generation and I would love to see more installed as long as it is sensible to do. I just want to help people make better decisions when they consider using solar power.

A lot of the time people see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. Sometimes folks have their minds made up and don't want to be confused by the facts. I'm with you on the solar stuff, but some folks you just can't reach, and never will. A lot of the time folks seem to be looking for some affirmation of some B.S. they were fed by someone or some thing like news spoor, trying to get in their financial knickers. Sometimes, folks are sheeple following the crowd.

[SunEagle]

It is not that they are brainwashed, they just forget to do the rest of the math on whether there $100/ mo power bill is cheaper than solar. Like most on here, they think they can replace there grid power with a $700 harbor freight system and there old car batteries they don't know what to do with.

It is actually very entertaining to read.

It might be entertaining for some people but to me I hate to see someone waste their money going "off grid" expecting to save on their electric bill.

I don't believe they forget to do the math. I really think that they have been brainwashed by all of the inaccurate news reporting concerning "free and green energy from solar" It is neither free or green.

I am a very big supporter of solar energy generation and I would love to see more installed as long as it is sensible to do. I just want to help people make better decisions when they consider using solar power.

[mschulz]

Is this a British thing you got brained washed with in school?

It is not that they are brainwashed, they just forget to do the rest of the math on whether there $100/ mo power bill is cheaper than solar. Like most on here, they think they can replace there grid power with a $700 harbor freight system and there old car batteries they don't know what to do with.

It is actually very entertaining to read.

[russ]

You guys hurt his feelings so he said nasty things but at least he promised to not return.

[Sunking]

Does he not realize that the cost for those batteries and switch will never pay for themselves compare to the cost of using the utility at night.

No he does not understand even after being told.

[SunEagle]

An automatic transfer switch. It'll transfer in about 20-50msecs with a switch sized for a house. As I work for ASCO as a field technician, I work mainly in industrial anymore. As that is, I will of course recommend an ASCO ATS. The switching scheme will need to be developed by you, be it a timer, or some kind of SOC device.

So now the OP adds a very expensive transfer switch to his battery system. Does he not realize that the cost for those batteries and switch will never pay for themselves compare to the cost of using the utility at night.