NJ diy setup questions...is there a under the radar limit

[darkyputz]

Hello everyone...

I am new to the US solar market and it seems to be extremely different to the german side i am used to.
So i have a couple questions and was wondering if someone knows a little about the laws and stuff.
So "Balcony power plants" are pretty big in Germany right now where you buy a kit with max 800 watts and just plug it into your regular outlet to cover the base load as good as possible and maybe feed some into the grid in case the 800 somehow overcome your base load at a moment.
Normally 2 panels and a grid tie micro inverter as a kit.
Is there a similar legal grassroot thing in the US?
Cause i want to go solar, already have 20 Conergy 175 W panels, but i am not a friend of upfront costs and permits if avoidable.
Any idea how bad you can get fried if caught with a grid tie pirate system?! Inverters do have anti island protection, so line man are not in danger

[SunEagle]

As far as I know there isn't any legal or smart way to just "plug in" a power source to an existing outlet unless that outlet is dedicated to accept the power from solar panels. Even though the equipment is sold in the US I do not know of any town or POCO that will allow that type of equipment. So maybe checking with your town code enforcer and your POCO will get you some info.

If you decide to go ahead with your plan then penalties may range from additional fees to being cut off from your POCO or maybe even being dropped by your house insurance company for not complying to code. Anything or everything that can happen might happen.

[darkyputz]

Hello and thx for the answer...
Well...smart/safe way is proven and working in europe...islanding protection on the inverter and right into the outlet...no permits needed...and legal...adjusts to the voltage and frequency and pumps power into the house...
Unplug and touch the leads and nothing fries you...
Power outage and island protection saves the line man...
And since its only 800 watts, it just lowers your bill and not pushes to much into the grid...and the POCO would even get that little drizzle for free...
So thats why i thought this country does same thing...
But will get in touch with my POCO and see what they say

[SunEagle]

Hello and thx for the answer...
Well...smart/safe way is proven and working in europe...islanding protection on the inverter and right into the outlet...no permits needed...and legal...adjusts to the voltage and frequency and pumps power into the house...
Unplug and touch the leads and nothing fries you...
Power outage and island protection saves the line man...
And since its only 800 watts, it just lowers your bill and not pushes to much into the grid...and the POCO would even get that little drizzle for free...
So thats why i thought this country does same thing...
But will get in touch with my POCO and see what they say

Just be aware that the outlet you plug your solar into may not be rated to handle all of the amperage it generates along with any other loads on that circuit. Having a dedicated output or input for solar is a safer way to use it.

[sdold]

It's not allowed here because it can add current to a branch circuit that bypasses the circuit breaker. For example, with 800W from panels feeding a branch circuit, you could have over 20A flowing in a 15A circuit because the branch circuit breaker wouldn't "see" the 6A from the solar.

[darkyputz]

Thats where the trip curve comes into play. The wire is has typically no problem with the extra 6 amps when put in according to breaker in box. And the 6 amps plus the the rest load happens exactly in how many scenarios?
There are tons of how it works in the net. I was not trying to start a base discussion since its already proven safe and law in europe...i was just wondering if i missed that over here.
cause if we want the get energy moved iver to renewables, we cant wait for the government or comoanies to do it...this can only work as a grassroot movement.
otherwise we will not make it in time, or at all with all the lobby groups working on pro carbon still

[SunEagle]

Thats where the trip curve comes into play. The wire is has typically no problem with the extra 6 amps when put in according to breaker in box. And the 6 amps plus the the rest load happens exactly in how many scenarios?
There are tons of how it works in the net. I was not trying to start a base discussion since its already proven safe and law in europe...i was just wondering if i missed that over here.
cause if we want the get energy moved iver to renewables, we cant wait for the government or comoanies to do it...this can only work as a grassroot movement.
otherwise we will not make it in time, or at all with all the lobby groups working on pro carbon still

I understand why you want to install solar but please understand that what you are doing can hurt the home wiring and is illegal in the US. If you continue to post that it is ok to do this then I will have to kick you out of this forum.

[Mike 134]

Thats where the trip curve comes into play. The wire is has typically no problem with the extra 6 amps when put in according to breaker in box. And the 6 amps plus the the rest load happens exactly in how many scenarios?
There are tons of how it works in the net. I was not trying to start a base discussion since its already proven safe and law in europe...i was just wondering if i missed that over here.
cause if we want the get energy moved iver to renewables, we cant wait for the government or comoanies to do it...this can only work as a grassroot movement.
otherwise we will not make it in time, or at all with all the lobby groups working on pro carbon still

What would be helpful is to know what countries in Europe allow it. Even just the one country you are familiar with so curious minds can research it.

[SunEagle]

What would be helpful is to know what countries in Europe allow it. Even just the one country you are familiar with so curious minds can research it.

It doesn't really matter where in Europe they allow this type of installation. The OP stated he is doing a DIY in NJ or New Jersey which as far as I know is still the US

[Mike 134]

It doesn't really matter where in Europe they allow this type of installation. The OP stated he is doing a DIY in NJ or New Jersey which as far as I know is still the US

I'm thinking he's BSing us, which is why I asked for more specifics.

[darkyputz]

Holla...hold your horses...
not sure where this went sideways...
Appologies to what ever...i was just hoping that such thing is available here...
Learned it is not. Subject cna be closed or deleted.
Never thought that this is getting this direction or even insults anyone..
No BS anywhere

[SunEagle]

Holla...hold your horses...
not sure where this went sideways...
Appologies to what ever...i was just hoping that such thing is available here...
Learned it is not. Subject cna be closed or deleted.
Never thought that this is getting this direction or even insults anyone..
No BS anywhere

Ok. Apologies not necessary. I just wanted to convey my thoughts to you and some of the non members that come into the forum that using a plug in inverter to a non dedicated outlet is illegal in the US and dangerous.

[darkyputz]

Pooh...was not quite sure what went wrong...
either way, i got a cgotle quotes and an average of 50k for solar at 11 cents/kwh will never repay itself. So thats why i initially started this to find out what is possible, cause i want solar but not for a second mortgage

[SunEagle]

Pooh...was not quite sure what went wrong...
either way, i got a cgotle quotes and an average of 50k for solar at 11 cents/kwh will never repay itself. So thats why i initially started this to find out what is possible, cause i want solar but not for a second mortgage

You and I are in the same boat. At less then $0.10/kWh and installation cost of $2/watt would take over 12 years to pay off. So installing a solar array for me is not financially smart.

[Will792]

Pooh...was not quite sure what went wrong...
either way, i got a cgotle quotes and an average of 50k for solar at 11 cents/kwh will never repay itself. So thats why i initially started this to find out what is possible, cause i want solar but not for a second mortgage

I am sure that NJ residential rates are much more than 11 cents per kWh. Probably you are looking at generation rate but netmetering includes credit for generation and distribution charges. My utility rate in CT is more than 30 cents per KWh. My system unexpectedly paid for itself in 3 years since rates went up so much.