Grid tie inverters and home wiring

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  • Rexus
    Junior Member
    • Apr 2013
    • 9

    #1

    Grid tie inverters and home wiring

    I don't know if there was already a thread about this. Sorry if i got too lazy to check it out. I'd really appreciate it if someone from this forum can help me. I'm still new in solar energy so i'm still researching all i can know about it. I'm planning to connect four solar arrays into parallel with 8 amps each making them a 32 amps solar array then use a gti with 40 amps max capacity. If I add another 4 panels that would make another 32 amps paralleled array, with another gti with the same max capacity, will that mean I have a 64 amp current running through my wires at home? I'm not 100% sure but I'm guessing that my wiring at home is mainly gauge 6 and I've read that it can only handle up to 65 amps. So will it be correct to say that my 8 panel solar array will produced 64 amps current that will run through my home wiring that has a 65 amps capacity making it dangerous to have my panels to be connected in parellels or does the GTIs lower the current which is very unlikely i guess.
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301

    #2
    Originally posted by Rexus
    I don't know if there was already a thread about this. Sorry if i got too lazy to check it out. I'd really appreciate it if someone from this forum can help me. I'm still new in solar energy so i'm still researching all i can know about it. I'm planning to connect four solar arrays into parallel with 8 amps each making them a 32 amps solar array then use a gti with 40 amps max capacity. If I add another 4 panels that would make another 32 amps paralleled array, with another gti with the same max capacity, will that mean I have a 64 amp current running through my wires at home? I'm not 100% sure but I'm guessing that my wiring at home is mainly gauge 6 and I've read that it can only handle up to 65 amps. So will it be correct to say that my 8 panel solar array will produced 64 amps current that will run through my home wiring that has a 65 amps capacity making it dangerous to have my panels to be connected in parellels or does the GTIs lower the current which is very unlikely i guess.
    240 volts x 40 amps = 9600 watts. Sorry but you are talking jibberish. Grid Tied panels are wired in series, and Grid Tied panels do not use the house branch circuit wiring. A Grid Tied inverter has its own dedicated wire going to the AC service disconnect. In short you lack of knowledge means you should never ever even open a breaker panel.

    What I think you are talking about is one of the Plug-N-Play inverters. Those are illegal to use and you will not get any help here. FWIW all your wring in your house is either 12 or 14 AWG with the exception of maybe a hot water heater, electric dryer, and air conditioning. Like I said you do not know the first thing about electrical and should even attempt to work on anything electrical. Sorry but I speak the truth.
    MSEE, PE

    Comment

    • Rexus
      Junior Member
      • Apr 2013
      • 9

      #3
      Originally posted by Sunking
      240 volts x 40 amps = 9600 watts. Sorry but you are talking jibberish. Grid Tied panels are wired in series, and Grid Tied panels do not use the house branch circuit wiring. A Grid Tied inverter has its own dedicated wire going to the AC service disconnect. In short you lack of knowledge means you should never ever even open a breaker panel.

      What I think you are talking about is one of the Plug-N-Play inverters. Those are illegal to use and you will not get any help here. FWIW all your wring in your house is either 12 or 14 AWG with the exception of maybe a hot water heater, electric dryer, and air conditioning. Like I said you do not know the first thing about electrical and should even attempt to work on anything electrical. Sorry but I speak the truth.
      Ok. Let me make it easier for you to understand. All I'm asking is whether it is safe to get panels connected in parallel then to the inverter and finally to the home wiring with those specifications for grid tie purposes. Well you're right I'm talkng about the plug and play inverters. Sorry if you felt that my question was so stupid, bu like I said I'm still researching and haven't done any connections yet because I'm considering safety. You said that I don't know anything about wiring, well that's why I'm asking and trying to learn. I'm trying to get knowledge about solar energy but am trying to get info everywhere because like I said I'm new to this and if this forum is just for the experts and not for those who are seeking knowledge and may possibly ask stupid questions then I guess I'm in the wrong forum.

      Comment

      • Sunking
        Solar Fanatic
        • Feb 2010
        • 23301

        #4
        Originally posted by Rexus
        Sorry if you felt that my question was so stupid, bu like I said I'm still researching and haven't done any connections yet because I'm considering safety.
        [...]. You do not even understand any basic electrical principles. If you did you would already know that a 30 amp 12 volt DC panel only generates 1.5 amps @ 240 VAC, or 3 amps @ 120 VAC volts.

        Originally posted by Rexus
        You said that I don't know anything about wiring, well that's why I'm asking and trying to learn. I'm trying to get knowledge about solar energy but am trying to get info everywhere because like I said I'm new to this and if this forum is just for the experts and not for those who are seeking knowledge and may possibly ask stupid questions then I guess I'm in the wrong forum.
        We are here to help. But what you are asking is illegal and you will find no help here. If you want to get help on Gorilla systems go to the [mod: other solar forum/link removed]. There they will tell and sell you everything you need for illegal connections. You are not going to get help here because we care about your safety, and brother you have no biz working on anything electrical.

        Next question you will ask is what size battery do I need.
        Last edited by Jason; 06-05-2013, 09:56 AM. Reason: Link removed.
        MSEE, PE

        Comment

        • russ
          Solar Fanatic
          • Jul 2009
          • 10360

          #5
          For use of plug and play inverters in the US this is the wrong forum. They are illegal and generally junk sold to unsuspecting suckers.

          When the sales are intentionally a scam what can you expect from the equipment - unsafe junk.
          [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

          Comment

          • Rexus
            Junior Member
            • Apr 2013
            • 9

            #6
            Originally posted by Sunking
            No feel about it, just plain ignorant. You do not even understand any basic electrical principles. If you did you would already know that a 30 amp 12 volt DC panel only generates 1.5 amps @ 240 VAC, or 3 amps @ 120 VAC volts.

            We are here to help. But what you are asking is illegal and you will find no help here. If you want to get help on Gorilla systems go to the AZ Wind And Sun Forum. There they will tell and sell you everything you need for illegal connections. You are not going to get help here because we care about your safety, and brother you have no biz working on anything electrical.

            Next question you will ask is what size battery do I need.
            No help at all. it's just simply telling people that they are stupid and they are asking stupid questions. With legality of inverters, I'm not even from the US, why should I care if they are legal there or not. All I want to find out here is if they are safe or not. Which can be answered by yes or no. This is the most rude answer I've found in this forum.

            Comment

            • Sunking
              Solar Fanatic
              • Feb 2010
              • 23301

              #7
              Originally posted by Rexus
              This is the most rude answer I've found in this forum.
              Get over it and find another forum. I already gave you one forum to go to. If your electric service meters is one of the new ones (smart meters) will alert your power company of an illegal connection when they see power in reverse directions. To add insult to injury the power company will bill you as power used for any excess electricity you send out on the grid.
              MSEE, PE

              Comment

              • russ
                Solar Fanatic
                • Jul 2009
                • 10360

                #8
                Originally posted by Sunking
                Get over it and find another forum. I already gave you one forum to go to. If your electric service meters is one of the new ones (smart meters) will alert your power company of an illegal connection when they see power in reverse directions. To add insult to injury the power company will bill you as power used for any excess electricity you send out on the grid.
                From the Philippines
                [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

                Comment

                • Sunny Solar
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • May 2012
                  • 510

                  #9
                  Rexus Dont let them get you down.. Here in Philippines you can connect whatever you like to the grid,It doesnt have to either be safe or approved or legal..You are free to electrocute yourself and your family any time you want to..
                  As for your you bute plug and fry you inverters . you also have another problem that you may consider.. The meters here are power company friendly. Every watt you produce from your panels will make their way through your meter. SO if you produce say 1kw then for that privilege you will pay the power company about 12 peso... Idont know if you think thats ok or not but to me its not so good.

                  Comment

                  • SunEagle
                    Super Moderator
                    • Oct 2012
                    • 15161

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Rexus
                    No help at all. it's just simply telling people that they are stupid and they are asking stupid questions. With legality of inverters, I'm not even from the US, why should I care if they are legal there or not. All I want to find out here is if they are safe or not. Which can be answered by yes or no. This is the most rude answer I've found in this forum.
                    The simple answer is that they are not safe.

                    Due to poor quality control and the lack of proper over-current protection (by design) there is a high probability that they will fail with more than just a puff of smoke and stopping. Usually there is fire associated these events.

                    Where ever you live these type inverters are not safe. So please think first before you plug one into your home.

                    Comment

                    • Mike90250
                      Moderator
                      • May 2009
                      • 16020

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Rexus
                      ... All I want to find out here is if they are safe or not......
                      They are not safe, because of poor design (or no design, just parts stuffed into a box) and no certification. Most are less than 80% efficient.

                      All the plug-in modules can overload the house circuit they are plugged in to.

                      Enphase has engineered microinverters, that are certified and safe, as hard-wired to the electric panel.

                      Then you still have to get past the electric company meter, which will bill you for any excess you ship to the grid, only the OLD rotating disk meters will "unwind" your usage. (new ones have a one-way ratchet on them,)
                      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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