Main Panel Disconnect Used As Solar Utility Disconnect

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.

Main panel disconnect used as solar utility disconnect.

No main disconnect switch in electrical panels with six or more breakers. The ac disconnect is used to separate the inverter from the electrical grid. 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. 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.

Voltage 240 480 600 volt. Amps 30 to 800 amp fused nonfused. Connecting a transfer switch to our breaker panel was one more thing we had to do before we could disconnect from the grid. Connect the battery to controller then the controller to solar panel that being the case to disconnect would be in reverse order.

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. 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. I thought that without the battery connected the solar panel would fry the controller. Line side tap with production meter.

In a solar pv system the ac disconnect is usually mounted to the wall between the inverter and utility meter. The ac disconnect may be a breaker on a service panel or it may be a stand alone switch. Each pole will handle one of the two hot 120 volt conductors coming from the inverter. It enables us to run our home on either a generator or solar power alternating between the two forms of power as necessary.

The instructions for my solar panel say. Types nema1 indoor nema 3r raintight nema 4x stainless steel. That is if six or fewer breakers are in the main panel that panel can be counted as a service disconnect nec ref 2.