All things Solar (merged threads)

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I haven't looked into this for a while, so I don't know if the WA laws or technology has changed??
Is there anyway to switch (simply) between Grid and Off-Grid, in the event that the Grid goes down??
Not withstanding that I understand that grid-invertors are designed to shut-down by default, the last time I looked into this, the law in WA said that your invertor MUST shut down when disconnected from the grid. (I can only assume that completely off-grid systems were exempt from this requirement).
The result was that in the event of grid failure, you could not isolate and power your own home.
We live in an old suburb, with overhead power, and outages are annoying. (Plus there is always the impending zombie apocalypse.)

im in WA and now have grid batteries
i also talked them in to throwing in a extra package at no extra cost and its all been installed already and was approved by the west gov body western power
i have the blackout package
this will not run the whole house as the battery inverter apparently cant cope with the bungee power spikes n drops as power increases or drops and this slack is taken up by western power
however there are essential circuits wired in that in a blackout i cant tax power up to a certain Kw per that the batteries inverter can cope with for lights and a few other power outlets
but nothing like hot water , oven , aircon
and as long as there is power in the batteries
the only other caveat i know of is the grid cant/isnt allowed to power the batteries as such

[zilo]

Originally Posted by wodahs

.....the only other caveat i know of is the grid cant/isnt allowed to power the batteries as such

Nah....you can install an off grid system connected to the grid by having a battery charger connected to the grid charging the batteries...grid goes down...battery charger stops charging....batteries not connected to grid so no compliance issues.

Think of it as having a battery charger connected to your car battery...when the grid goes down do you have to do anything?

On a state of the art SMA Sunny Island system you can connect the grid to the generator input of the inverter and the grid operator doesn't need to know a damn thing....but of course there is no grid feed....

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by zilo

Nah....you can install an off grid system connected to the grid by having a battery charger connected to the grid charging the batteries...grid goes down...battery charger stops charging....batteries not connected to grid so no compliance issues.

Think of it as having a battery charger connected to your car battery...when the grid goes down do you have to do anything?

On a state of the art SMA Sunny Island system you can connect the grid to the generator input of the inverter and the grid operator doesn't need to know a damn thing....but of course there is no grid feed....

firstly if you read the whole of what i typed and what i quoted youd see we were only talking bout grid connected setups
and secondly well plain you wouldnt need this caveat you quoted me on as with off grid as there is no way it could charge from the grid

yes i know all about off grid systems and still chose this route with my current circumstances , i was just answering the question asked