Main Panel Disconnect Used As Solar Utility Disconnect

Solar disconnects have an essential safety role for pv systems providing a way to isolate equipment for essential maintenance or in the case of catastrophic events.

Main panel disconnect used as solar utility disconnect.

The ac disconnect is used to separate the inverter from the electrical grid. Connect the battery to controller then the controller to solar panel that being the case to disconnect would be in reverse order. In a solar pv system the ac disconnect is usually mounted to the wall between the inverter and utility meter. When you run your wiring from the ac disconnect to the main panel you ll need to install a new two pole aka dp circuit breaker into the panel as part of that connection.

This removes most restrictions imposed by the breaker box as long as the main breaker is big enough to receive the power from the inverter. Each pole will handle one of the two hot 120 volt conductors coming from the inverter. No main disconnect switch in electrical panels with six or more breakers. Types nema1 indoor nema 3r raintight nema 4x stainless steel.

The ac disconnect may be a breaker on a service panel or it may be a stand alone switch. Line side tap with production meter. That is if six or fewer breakers are in the main panel that panel can be counted as a service disconnect nec ref 2. If the six breaker rule is allowed locally the six switches must be together in the same panel enclosure.

I thought that without the battery connected the solar panel would fry the controller. It enables us to run our home on either a generator or solar power alternating between the two forms of power as necessary. Brands cutler hammer ge siemens square d westinghouse. Amps 30 to 800 amp fused nonfused.

In a grid tied pv system the national electrical code nec 690 15 requires disconnects to be used on both the direct current dc and alternating current ac side of the inverter. Voltage 240 480 600 volt. The main breaker box is completely bypassed and a fused ac disconnect is used to connect the inverter to the grid between the utility meter and the main breaker box.