Problem installing PV system with battery and common generator

[Mike90250]

What is it that is different from the power generated from a "prime power" generator that keeps it from appearing the same as utility power?....

Impedance. A generator has much higher impedance than a Grid. Some of the grid qualification testing involves frequency stability and some involves Grid Impedance. It's testing for 5 minutes, and only needs one fault to reset the clock. And if it does somehow pass, and your loads drop off, how does your generator deal with 5 or 10kw of power being pumped into it ? Will the inverter shut down first, or will the generator fry ?

[Ben25]

I forgot about impedance... Inverters that are AC coupled are able to simulate this as well.

[ButchDeal]

I forgot about impedance... Inverters that are AC coupled are able to simulate this as well.

No need to simulate it. A bimodal inverter has batteries thus giving it all it needs to simulate a valid grid for the inverter that is AC coupled.

[Average Joe]

It seems like a manual tranfer switch Would work fine. Power goes out then gen kicks in Maybe a yellow light comes in saying thst your on gen power. The gen dies. U go to a closet and flip a switch to easy. Maybe remove the gen wirei g completly hook it to a battery charge system And run off your system letting the gen assist the chargeing. Especially at night when there no solar and minimal use.

[Ampster]

It seems like a manual tranfer switch Would work fine. .......

A manual transfer switch is what Mike 90704 suggested a month ago and we haven't heard from the OP since then.

I suspect this is like a mini grid where the generator is connected at the HOA entrance and it has an auto transfer switch. If that is the case there is only one feed to the individual units. That feed is from the grid or the generator depending on the state of the auto transfer switch at the HOA entrance.

[solarhappy]

Is water jetting under the driveway for a comm cable an option in lieu of digging it up?

[Mike90250]

Is water jetting under the driveway for a comm cable an option in lieu of digging it up?

yes, but I'd put the cable inside conduit before connecting it to the transfer switch. That's the topic on this thread, Transfer Switch.