Solar Line Side Interconnection Issue

[abelov1984]

What's the easiest way to interconnect, on the line (supply) side in this case?

Hot taps would be tough because not enough room, and can't really find an info for this 200amps main breaker (if lugs are allowed to subfeed.. To upgrade would be pretty costly..

[inetdog]

What's the easiest way to interconnect, on the line (supply) side in this case?

Hot taps would be tough because not enough room, and can't really find an info for this 200amps main breaker (if lugs are allowed to subfeed.. To upgrade would be pretty costly..

I would attach an additional box to a KO on the left, feed the existing service conductors across into it, make the tap there using Polaris connectors or split bolt. Then feed the service back into the original box while taking the PV connection out from the new box.
With some luck you could house the PV disconnect in the new box and kill two birds with one stone.
Just remember that service and non-service conductors cannot share the same wireway. Obviously they can share the same box.

[solarix]

Line side taps are difficult especially if you have to pull a separate permit and have the utility de-energize you etc. An alternative is to do a simple load side tap if the sum of all the branch breakers is less than the bussbar rating (just have to label it with a warning not to overload it) or to inject the solar power through a backfed breaker in the breaker panel (probably hard to get to right?) The utility here doesn't like doing that, but they are getting used to it.
Very few residential service entry's are Listed for any method of line-side taps making for no good way to solar backfeed in some cases.

[Samsolar]

Any chance you can do a line side tap in the meter pan?

Some meter sockets even support the addition of dual lugs though I'm guessing finding lugs for the specific meter socket you already have is unlikely. Meter sockets with dual lugs are readily available but the swap could get expensive.

[inetdog]

Any chance you can do a line side tap in the meter pan?

Some meter sockets even support the addition of dual lugs though I'm guessing finding lugs for the specific meter socket you already have is unlikely. Meter sockets with dual lugs are readily available but the swap could get expensive.

Most POCOs will not allow user connections inside the sealed meter pan. It is under their control so you are at their mercy on that.

[abelov1984]

Line side taps are difficult especially if you have to pull a separate permit and have the utility de-energize you etc. An alternative is to do a simple load side tap if the sum of all the branch breakers is less than the bussbar rating (just have to label it with a warning not to overload it) or to inject the solar power through a backfed breaker in the breaker panel (probably hard to get to right?) The utility here doesn't like doing that, but they are getting used to it.
Very few residential service entry's are Listed for any method of line-side taps making for no good way to solar backfeed in some cases.

The main OCPD for PV is 80amps, have about 62 amps going from the roof. So the load side is not an option here, would break 120% rule

[solarix]

With 62A of backfeed you could derate the main breaker to 175A (if available in your type of breaker) that gives you 40 plus 25A of allowable backfeed into the load side. Still have to hassle with pulling the meter to change the main breaker.

Another new possibility is something called the "ConnectDER" - a special meter collar that fits between the meter and the meter can and all set up with a double breaker to inject the solar power right in there. Don't know where they are sold yet, but a neat solution although still requires getting the utility to reset the meter.

[Amy@altE]

Wow, that's an interesting product. I'm going to look into it more. It looks like it provides a nice solution for up to 11.5kW inverters. I'd love to get folks opinions of it here.

[Ben25]

I just installed my first ConnectDER yesterday. It's a pretty neat product. Green mountain power allows us to pull meters if need be, so it wasn't a hassle at all. They are also accepting that as the outdoor AC disconnect, so one less thing on the wall.

Ben