Is there an inverter that will run on solar during power outages?

[Travis76]

Is there an inverter that will run on solar during power outages?

[SunEagle]

Is there an inverter that will run on solar during power outages?

As far as I know the only inverters I know of are the SMA with secure power option or hybrids that are designed to charge batteries. All other inverters require the grid to work.

[foggysail]

Try Enphase IQ8 series

[Travis76]

On the SMA with secure power supply, I take it that you just run a wire from the connection to a dedicated outlet?

[SunEagle]

On the SMA with secure power supply, I take it that you just run a wire from the connection to a dedicated outlet?

The SMA has an outlet that can provide maybe 15 to 20 amps of power at 120V. You would plug something into the outlet and then manually switch it on. Unfortunately this option requires it to be manually turned on and off and may not provide continuous power if the panels are darkened by clouds but at least you can get something out of your panels as long as the sun is shining.

As foggysail mentioned the IQ8 is still new to the US and may work if the grid is down but I do not know what other equipment is needed to make it work. You will have to do more research.

[peakbagger]

There is fundamental issue that US electrical code requires that all panels on an occupied dwelling are shut down immediately when grid power is lost so that the wiring from the back of the panels to the main panel is not energized. It is called Rapid Shutdown. What is Rapid Shutdown and why was it implemented in the United States? - AC Solar Warehouse Therefore trying to get power out of an array that is required to be shut down by code is a problem. Note, if you have ground mount panels or they are not on an occupied dwelling than you may find a solution as rapid shutdown is not required.

I really do not know how a new hybrid system with roof mounted panels are going to get away with this barring a code change.

[Mike 134]

Peakbagger, that article is about protecting fire fighters from a shock hazard.
The section prohibiting BOTH roof and ground mount grid connected systems from operating when there is a loss of grid power is in Section 705.40 of the 2020 NEC.

NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® It's free to view.

[Travis76]

Note, if you have ground mount panels or they are not on an occupied dwelling than you may find a solution as rapid shutdown is not required.

I am planning on building a ground mount out of Unistrut. What kind of solution did you have in mind? I actually have four 7KW LifePo4 server rack batteries that I bought dirt cheap at an auction. Debating if I should spend the extra money on a Hybrid inverter and use the batteries as a backup power source in emergencies or just buy a SMA grid tie inverter with the secure power option and sell the batteries.

[peakbagger]

Your call, I have a Sunny Island Inverter which is swiss army knife of inverters (but it needs a charge controller. There were a lot of the SMAs for sale for relative cheap aftet the DC Solar auctions but that source is drying up. The SPS units have lot of limitations.

[Travis76]

I was thinking about getting a couple of the Sunny Boy SB5.0-1SP-US-41. Is this a decent inverter?

[peakbagger]

Peakbagger, that article is about protecting fire fighters from a shock hazard.
The section prohibiting BOTH roof and ground mount grid connected systems from operating when there is a loss of grid power is in Section 705.40 of the 2020 NEC.

NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® It's free to view.

Mike, I think we are talking about two different things. Off grid systems are legal and do not need to have UL 1741SA protections if not connected to a grid. On the other hand the RSD requirements appear to be applicable to all PV systems on occupied dwellings. I do not claim to be a code pro but would be willing to be educated. It would be helpful if you stated the actual chapter and section of the code rather than just a link to the code.

[peakbagger]

I was thinking about getting a couple of the Sunny Boy SB5.0-1SP-US-41. Is this a decent inverter?

IMHO Sunny Boys have a good rep or at least not a bad rep as they sure do not pop up as topics of frequent discussion on various forums. I have not used the SMA tech resources for the Sunny Boys but the resources on the Sunny Islands are hard to beat. I have a soft spot for SMA as they were one of the first grid tie inverters out there. I think they had far less issues with their first models than the first Trace units but that is now ancient history

If you buy two of them you in theory will have two 2000 watt 120 volt manually switched outlets (one for each inverter). Given there is zero surge capacity or ride through for diminished panel output (a cloud passing by) I think having a small UPS plugged into the outlet might be the best option.

[Mike 134]

Mike, I think we are talking about two different things. Off grid systems are legal and do not need to have UL 1741SA protections if not connected to a grid. On the other hand the RSD requirements appear to be applicable to all PV systems on occupied dwellings. I do not claim to be a code pro but would be willing to be educated. It would be helpful if you stated the actual chapter and section of the code rather than just a link to the code.

I did Peak, 705.40. of the 2020 NEC. and yes you are correct if your not grid connected no worries about "islanding", but perhaps I misread his question it sounded like he was going to be grid connected since he was worried about service outages, and having an inverter keeping his power flowing.