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Aaron, In many locations where an external disconnect isn't required, the utility reserves the right, in the net metering agreement, to disconnect the service as might needed for maintenance work or troubleshooting. What you are suggesting is nothing different than that. Whether that is acceptable or not depends on the customers expectations and the utility in question. If the utility requires a lockable blade-type switch, then that settles the matter. For maintenance purposes a disconnect within site of the inverter is necessary. The utility company's meter isn't available for that purpose, but the breaker in the main panel may be sufficient. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. Aaron Mandelkorn wrote: It seems as though almost every utility has a different requirement concerning Utility External Disconnects and the AC disconnects for the PV system in general. Some utilities require lockable blade style disconnects while others will accept the backed breaker in a load panel(if outside) as the photovoltaic AC system disconnect. My question refers to situations where grid tied inverters and the AC point of connection are both inside a dwelling. Specifically, if a grid tied inverter is located inside a garage and it's output is connected to a back fed breaker in the main panel (also in the garage), can the utility disconnect at the meter serve as both the utility and PV system AC disconnect? I see nothing in the NEC that says the PV system's external AC disconnect has to be independent of the utilities' disconnect. Can this one breaker act as the disconnect for two sources of power? Any thoughts would be appreciated. |
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