Question on interface between solar battery and propane generator

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  • lyraartisan
    Junior Member
    • Jun 2019
    • 1

    Question on interface between solar battery and propane generator

    During last winter's big snowstorm, our solar battery system worked fine for one day for the limited number of circuits on the protected subpanel. But there were several panels:
    snow was too deep and consolidated on the panels. So the battery did not recharge.
    The electric outlet for our modem that supports our land line phone and computer is not on a protected circuit ( I am considering installing a new electric outlet through a wall so that I can supply the modem from a battery protected circuit)

    My wife would like to get a propane/gas generator so that we can supply more power to our house.
    But I would like to have the option of using both the solar battery and the propane generator so that we can decide which one to use. For example, if our propane tank is running low, use only the solar battery for part of the time, but manually switch back to the propane generator if we want more power around our house on circuits not protected by the solar battery, e.g., the microwave or stove top.
    Does this require some special reconfiguration of our solar system or panel box beyond just simply installing the propane generator?
  • Mike90250
    Moderator
    • May 2009
    • 16020

    #2
    That's going to be a complex arrangement, but it can be pursued. You will need 2 Manual Transfer switches, and work out the details in advance of purchasing anything.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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