Sunny boy 2500

[retroman]

Hi, i have installed a Sunny Boy 2500 on my home and found out that because it is a grid tie only inverter that I cannot have a battery backup as well.( rats ) Any way I am in a remote area of southern Tucson and although I have grid electric I would like to run my system directly into my fuse box and only use it during peak sun days. here is my question, is there a transformer, inverter, what ever that will turn my pv 600volts from my inverter to usable two (2) legs of 110 volts to run to my fuse box? in other words I will shut of the main power during the day and run my solar and at night switch back. Thanks, Paul

[Naptown]

You would need to add a Sunny Island, transfer switch, and a very very large battery bank. This will probably cost twice what you have already paid and batteries will need to be replaced every 5-7 years if you take very good care of them. I would look into time of use metering for when you are generating the most and cheaper at night. By the way that is precisely what the sunnyboy does it converts the DC to AC

[retroman]

Sunny boy 2500

Hey thanks for responding, So I know what the inverter does and if the switch to go to batteries is outrageous then i just need a switch or something that would allow me to hook into directly to my main fuse panel. At this time I have two legs rated at 300 volts each coming from the inverter so if I can tone them down to 110 each that would be perfect. I could then tie into my main fuse block to the existing 110 legs and it should work. So let's forget about the batteries, can you think of a way to do what I propose, is there a thing, for lack of a better word, that would do that? Thanks again, Paul

[Mike90250]

Hey thanks for responding, So I know what the inverter does and if the switch to go to batteries is outrageous then i just need a switch or something that would allow me to hook into directly to my main fuse panel. At this time I have two legs rated at 300 volts each coming from the inverter so if I can tone them down to 110 each that would be perfect. I could then tie into my main fuse block to the existing 110 legs and it should work. So let's forget about the batteries, can you think of a way to do what I propose, is there a thing, for lack of a better word, that would do that? Thanks again, Paul

No such thing.
Xantrex makes a 600VDC input MPPT battery charger, it's a bit over $1,200
You could wire it up to the PV array, and manually switch over. Add a couple more thusand for batterys and inverter...... $$$$$

But in reality, if your area is NOT prone to extended storm caused outages, a small genset with some preserved gas, is the best bet to keep going for the 1 day outage every 3 years.

[Naptown]

Hey thanks for responding, So I know what the inverter does and if the switch to go to batteries is outrageous then i just need a switch or something that would allow me to hook into directly to my main fuse panel. At this time I have two legs rated at 300 volts each coming from the inverter so if I can tone them down to 110 each that would be perfect. I could then tie into my main fuse block to the existing 110 legs and it should work. So let's forget about the batteries, can you think of a way to do what I propose, is there a thing, for lack of a better word, that would do that? Thanks again, Paul

No you can't without the sunny Island. This does several things 1 it is a battery charger and inverter with several other inputs for wind and a generator.
Now your SB2500 will shut down as soon as it senses that there is no grid as it is supposed to. If there is no stable grid to sync to it will not start up again.
The sunny Island effect is to create an artificial local grid to allow your 2500 to operate. You are talking large $$$$ here

[retroman]

Sunny boy 2500

Oh well, I guess I can use it as a welder as long as the sun's up. Thanks, Paul

[Sunking]

Oh well, I guess I can use it as a welder as long as the sun's up. Thanks, Paul

No not really. A welder takes a lot more power than 2000 watts. Only grid power can do that.

The smallest welder I know of is a MIG welder and requires a 30 amp 120 VAC circuit and uses 2600 watts.

A Stick Welder require a 50 amp 240 VAC circuit and uses 9600 watts.

[retroman]

Sunny boy 2500

HI, well I guess I have to invest in that Sunnyboy Transfer unit, but do I really need to do the batteries as well? Thanks, Paul

[Naptown]

HI, well I guess I have to invest in that Sunnyboy Transfer unit, but do I really need to do the batteries as well? Thanks, Paul

You would have to dd at least one battery or better 4 for the sunny Island to pull from to create the appearance of a grid. otherwise everything shuts down.
I do not reccomend that you do this however without enough battery there you will fry stuff in your house and the system will shut down very quickly from a low battery. Just do the standard grid tie system and shut stuff off as best you can in the house.

[retroman]

Sunny boy 2500

Cool, thanks, I'll let you know how it came out. thanks again. Paul