Grid-Tie Question

[Martin Gray]

Can a AC disconnect (200A) be installed between the Hydro meter & the breaker panel?

In a typical Grid-tie setup, the AC disconnect (30A) is put between the inverter & the breaker panel.

The reason I'm asking is, if the disconnect is put between the meter & panel I could run a
backup generator through the whole house via breaker panel.

Martin.

[Ralph Day]

Hi Martin
Look on your present ac panel...there's already a breaker there between the meter and your load breakers. Shut it off and you have effectively disconnected the utility from your loads, and it really cuts down your daily consumption :)

I have a generator panel installed so I can use utility or my generator for charging batteries. It's 100 amps, you could put all critical loads (refrigeration, furnace, lighting etc) on it, then all that's required is to switch the breaker from utility to generator. Usually it's a on or off breaker, one has to be off before the other can be on (both can be off though).

If you're not going to the extent of the above you could just install a dp breaker on the panel for the generator input and always remember to shut off the main service breaker before initiating generator operations. Maybe a little padlock on the main breaker(mine has this provision) so you can't backfeed the utility with your generator power. This is probably not the best work around, but has been done for years by lots of people looking to do what you want to do.

If it were me I'd bite the bullet and install the generator panel downstream of the service panel (service panel is one input, generator is another input).

Ralph

Hows the Listeroid working?

[Rob Beckers]

I have a 200A AC disconnect between the meter and the house, downstream of that is an automatic transfer switch that starts a 30kW generator when the power goes down, and switches the whole house over to the generator. So, it can be done.

The original plan didn't call for the AC disconnect, but the inspector did not see the transfer switch as a disconnect (even though physically it is not capable of feeding back the grid) and required an additional, separate, disconnect switch (and 200A service-entrance rated disconnects are not cheap!).

-RoB-

[Martin Gray]

Thanks for the input guy's. Yea I think I'll stick with the 30A disconnect for grid-tie and shut off the main breaker when I run the listeroid generator.

Martin.