On Sat, 29 Jul 2017 21:14:24 -0400 MG via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:
> I'm not worried about loading the generator by pulling too much
> power out of it. My worry is what happens if the solar system
> feeds power into the generator when the house isn't using any power.
>
> Of course I could always take a small generator and hook the
> solar to it only and see what happens. Will the generator burn
> out because of the power that the solar is feeding into it?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
> Or at least mine does.
Well, when the grid-tie inverter tries to push power onto the "grid" the
voltage will rise more than when it's feeding the utility company's grid
(which has a very low impedance).
Exactly what will happen then depends on how the grid-tie inverter is
designed.
It may realize there is no load and stop trying to push the power,
or it may continue to try to push the power and raise its output
voltage significantly, which could damage things.
If you want to use the solar cells both when utility power is present and
when it is absent, it would be best if you had two inverters,
- the grid-tie inverter, which is designed to monitor the utility
grid and push power onto it when it is powered and has voltage
present, and,
- a stand-alone inverter which will provide AC power with only
a DC input.
A set of batteries to absorb the excess energy when the sun is shining
brightly and the house load is low would be beneficial.
|--------| |-----|
|grid-tie| |solar|
Grid -+-|inverter|-----------------+-----|array|
| |--------| | |-----|
| |
| |
| |----+-----|
| Grid Sense | DC |
|-----------------------|Disconnect|
| | Switch |
| |----+-----|
| |-------| | |---------|
| |Standby| +-------------|Batteries|
| |Battery|-------------+ |---------|
| |Charger| |
| |-------| |
| |----+-----|
| |Standalone|
| | Inverter |
| |----+-----|
| |
| |
| |--------| |
| | AC | |
|--------|Transfer|----------|
| Switch |
|---+----|
|
|
House
Loads
Craig
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