Mounting location for grid-tied inverter

[DavidY]

OK, here's question #1. I live in the Phoenix area and my electrical service panel is on the outside of the garage on the west wall of the house, which means it is subjected to direct afternoon sun which can be brutal here especially when it's 115 in the summer. I am considering several 5Kw to 6Kw systems with a single grid-tied inverter.

The question is, would it be wise to install the inverter inside the garage - on the wall directly inside the service panel location - with conduit through the wall for DC feed from the PV panels and AC feed back to the service box? This would keep the inverter out of the direct sun and in a much lower temperature location as the garage is cooled. Or is this illegal since it places the inverter disconnected switch inside and away from the service panel? Would installing a shade awning be a better solution? Or am I just being overly worried about heat?

Thanks!

[Naptown]

You can do that.
Use an inverter with integral DC disconnect and run pipe into the house. That should satisfy the requirement of a disconnect at the nearest accessible location after entering the building.
However it is ultimately up to the AHJ as to what is required.

[DavidY]

Excellent, thank you. I am drawing up my plans for submitting my building permit and that's how I'd like to do it. There will still of course be a breaker in the main panel and I could add a second disconnect knife switch on the outside of the house if they demand it.

[Naptown]

If the panel is located next to the meter that may suffice. But a separate disconnect may be required

[Mike90250]

I had to install an outdoor, AC disconnect on my system, they were happy with the GT3.8 integral DC switch on my inverter inside the garage. I used a common household fan on a $5 plug on timer, to circulate cooling air around the inverter, a lot of heat from my south facing exterior wall was passing through the wall heating the inverter. A fan solved that easily.

[josefaz]

Welcome! I'm also from the Phoenix area. It looks like we have a similar set-up in regards to the electrical service panel and the proposed inverter location. We have a 11.5K system with 2 PVI-5000 PowerOne Inverter. The inverters are in the garage and the electrical panel in the outside of the same wall (facing west). It's only been 7 months since the system came on line so I can't comment on how inverters function during the hottest part of summer. I know when I monitored my garage temp last year, 123 deg was hottest I recorded. Yesterday when it was 108 deg outside, the system had no issues with the heat other than lower than usual production which was expected. We also have our PV conduit run through the attic instead of outside.
As for disconnect box, we have 2 of each plus the inverter switch. For each inverter a disconnect box for APS is located by the panel and another box by the inveter inside the garage.
I'm also considering placing a fan with a timer as Mike suggested.

OK, here's question #1. I live in the Phoenix area and my electrical service panel is on the outside of the garage on the west wall of the house, which means it is subjected to direct afternoon sun which can be brutal here especially when it's 115 in the summer. I am considering several 5Kw to 6Kw systems with a single grid-tied inverter.

The question is, would it be wise to install the inverter inside the garage - on the wall directly inside the service panel location - with conduit through the wall for DC feed from the PV panels and AC feed back to the service box? This would keep the inverter out of the direct sun and in a much lower temperature location as the garage is cooled. Or is this illegal since it places the inverter disconnected switch inside and away from the service panel? Would installing a shade awning be a better solution? Or am I just being overly worried about heat?

Thanks!

[DavidY]

Excellent information, thank you.

[Ian S]

OK, here's question #1. I live in the Phoenix area and my electrical service panel is on the outside of the garage on the west wall of the house, which means it is subjected to direct afternoon sun which can be brutal here especially when it's 115 in the summer. I am considering several 5Kw to 6Kw systems with a single grid-tied inverter.

The question is, would it be wise to install the inverter inside the garage - on the wall directly inside the service panel location - with conduit through the wall for DC feed from the PV panels and AC feed back to the service box? This would keep the inverter out of the direct sun and in a much lower temperature location as the garage is cooled. Or is this illegal since it places the inverter disconnected switch inside and away from the service panel? Would installing a shade awning be a better solution? Or am I just being overly worried about heat?

Thanks!

I would definitely try to install inside the garage in lieu of a west facing wall in Phoenix. My inverter is installed in a small utility room off the garage and that's also where the breaker panel is. There is a shut off switch on the outside wall (that also faces west) next to the two meters - one for solar production and one for the utility. I've had a full year now and have had no problems with the inverter in its location even though it gets quite toasty there. Nothing like what it would get on an outside west facing wall though.

[inetdog]

I would definitely try to install inside the garage in lieu of a west facing wall in Phoenix. My inverter is installed in a small utility room off the garage and that's also where the breaker panel is. There is a shut off switch on the outside wall (that also faces west) next to the two meters - one for solar production and one for the utility. I've had a full year now and have had no problems with the inverter in its location even though it gets quite toasty there. Nothing like what it would get on an outside west facing wall though.

Depending on the brand and model inverter you get, be careful about mounting it either inside or outside on a wall which can transmit vibration into the living area of the house. Putting it on a post or using vibration isolation may be necessary.

[Ian S]

BTW, David, if you want to see how my inverter was installed, send me a PM and I'll arrange for you to get a look at it.

[Ian S]

Depending on the brand and model inverter you get, be careful about mounting it either inside or outside on a wall which can transmit vibration into the living area of the house. Putting it on a post or using vibration isolation may be necessary.

Good point. My inverter is mounted on the inside of an exterior wall so that's not an issue for me but I could imagine it might be for others.

[inetdog]

Good point. My inverter is mounted on the inside of an exterior wall so that's not an issue for me but I could imagine it might be for others.

Here is the thread I was referring to, for those who want to know more: http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...n-PowerOne-4-2