Can I get some last minute advice before signing contract?

[mikedunkel]

>>> is there any way to manually jump start the solar array if I were to ever run out of LP?

Nope, it must sense 240VAC and a nearly infinite Grid Load before it will engage. While it may engage with the generator, if your house loads drop too low, the excess voltage from the inverter may fry your generator. The PV array/Inverter will try to always put out max power, thinking it's feeding the infinite grid

The generator has a built in circuit breaker but I do wonder where the excess panel array electricity will go. Its really no different than if I had a battery and it was full; the power has to go somewhere, they have to have figured this out but the salesman is having difficulty explaining it to me.

[Mike90250]

>>> is there any way to manually jump start the solar array if I were to ever run out of LP?

Nope, it must sense 240VAC and a nearly infinite Grid Load before it will engage. While it may engage with the generator, if your house loads drop too low, the excess voltage from the inverter may fry your generator. The PV array/Inverter will try to always put out max power, thinking it's feeding the infinite grid

[mikedunkel]

The generator is going to be 3600 RPM. no variation in speed, unless there is bold ad lettering "Inverter Generator".

As to the the rest, the sales droid SHOULD know how the gear operates.

That makes sense. I finally got the specs on the generator, it is 3600 RPM with a full and half capacity operating mode. Looks like the half mode is for test purposes only, they're not advertising any intelligence in the system. What I did just notice is the 10kw system's LP consumption is less than half the 14kw system so I might just downsize in order to conserve fuel.

Finally getting my install today and of course, there's a problem. Turns out I have 2 separate 200A services into my home, apparently the battery interface can only deal with a single service so we had to eliminate the battery from the system. It will be just the solar and the generator.

The installer said the way the system works in a power outage is the generator will turn on first. That will power the solar inverter which will enable my solar array. With no battery this means that if I were to run out of LP there would be no power source to my inverter and I'd be as out of electricity as the guy next door with no panels at all. I really want a zombie apocalypse option where I could keep my refrigerator/freezer going indefinitely, is there any way to manually jump start the solar array if I were to ever run out of LP?

Alternatively, is there another brand which will be able to incorporate the solar array, battery, and generator on my dual 200A service system?

and late breaking news...

Based on the unknowns I sent the installer home so I wouldn't be rushed into a decision I don't fully understand or necessarily want.

[Mike90250]

The generator is going to be 3600 RPM. no variation in speed, unless there is bold ad lettering "Inverter Generator".

As to the the rest, the sales droid SHOULD know how the gear operates.

[mikedunkel]

You wont regret it. That new RESU16H is impressive and coupled with the SolarEdge backup interface will get you through the shorter outages without a hiccup. The generator will kick in if the battery is depleted but I'm curious to know more about how the SolarEdge inverter and Generac will communicate and coordinate output when your household draw exceeds the 5kW max output of the inverter. I'm definitely jealous that the new SolarEdge interconnectivity allows your battery to power the entire house and not just a separate backup loads panel.

I'm not sure my installer really knows either. I believe he quoted me too large a generator but when I looked at price differences between the 10kw and the 14kw they were in the noise compared to the overall system cost. Neither of us knows if the generator is binary or variable speed -- ie will it be going full-bore even if the load is minimal or will it be smart enough to spin more slowly and use less fuel when the excess load is say 1-2kw. He also couldn't answer what happens when the grid is down and the sun is shining. Will the generator shut off completely if there's adequate solar production? Maybe somebody here knows and could share.

Regardless, what the installer knows really isn't important because it'll either do what I want or it won't based upon the solaredge software not his knowledge of the system. The installer also said that they're coming out with a 10kw inverter but the ETA is unknown at this point and I don't feel like waiting on promises and maybes.

[J.P.M.]

You clearly spoke with an idiot

I found out long ago that there's a high likelihood of that outcome when you call Tesla.

[soby]

Sounds like 2 batteries and just 1 inverter would've been silly. I ended up selecting the 11.3 kw of panels, single inverter, single battery, and 14kw generac generator.

You wont regret it. That new RESU16H is impressive and coupled with the SolarEdge backup interface will get you through the shorter outages without a hiccup. The generator will kick in if the battery is depleted but I'm curious to know more about how the SolarEdge inverter and Generac will communicate and coordinate output when your household draw exceeds the 5kW max output of the inverter. I'm definitely jealous that the new SolarEdge interconnectivity allows your battery to power the entire house and not just a separate backup loads panel.

[mikedunkel]

I have 10kW of solar panels hooked up to the SE7600 StorEdge with the RESU10H. During spring and fall, I do have clipping at 7.8kW AC but the excess is used to charge the battery. I normally keep the battery at 35% charge.

We don't usually have power outages and when we do they are 1-2 hours. The RESU10H at 35% is more than enough to power our 2Xfridges, freezer, 2Xfurnaces, on-demand hot water, internet infrastructure and office. It's a non-issue unless we are cooking or it's crazy hot out. We don't have A/C backed up and that is the only weakness of our system. 2X A/C condensers would eat up the battery very quickly.

The RESU16Hs are each rated at 7kW continuous but you will be limited by the inverter(s). My SE7600 can only handle 5kW DC regardless of the number of batteries and it looks like the SE7600H is no different. See here: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/defa...tasheet-na.pdf

With one inverter, you will still be limited to 5kW even with two batteries. That is one advantage of using two inverters. Then you would be limited to 10kW which is more than enough. I even question the ability to use 2X RESU16H on a single SE7600H. The spec sheet says Maximum Battery Capacity Per Inverter: 19.6kWh. That allows a single RESU16H or 2XRESU10H. If you really want to get the most out of the two battery system, you need that second inverter.

Sounds like 2 batteries and just 1 inverter would've been silly. I ended up selecting the 11.3 kw of panels, single inverter, single battery, and 14kw generac generator.

[scrambler]

I told the Tesla rep they were going to lose the sale if the panels went offline during a grid outage. I specifically asked why their competitors and why a generator can operate during an outage but not their panels. It was like talking to a non-interactive recording. He just kept repeating the same thing "Tesla solar panels will not produce electricity during a grid outage, once your battery depletes you will not have any electricity."

I found it hard to believe that was how their system operates but either way I wasn't giving them my business. Either their system sucks or they employ idiots. A company like that won't get my money.

You clearly spoke with an idiot

[soby]

I have 10kW of solar panels hooked up to the SE7600 StorEdge with the RESU10H. During spring and fall, I do have clipping at 7.8kW AC but the excess is used to charge the battery. I normally keep the battery at 35% charge.

We don't usually have power outages and when we do they are 1-2 hours. The RESU10H at 35% is more than enough to power our 2Xfridges, freezer, 2Xfurnaces, on-demand hot water, internet infrastructure and office. It's a non-issue unless we are cooking or it's crazy hot out. We don't have A/C backed up and that is the only weakness of our system. 2X A/C condensers would eat up the battery very quickly.

The RESU16Hs are each rated at 7kW continuous but you will be limited by the inverter(s). My SE7600 can only handle 5kW DC regardless of the number of batteries and it looks like the SE7600H is no different. See here: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/defa...tasheet-na.pdf

With one inverter, you will still be limited to 5kW even with two batteries. That is one advantage of using two inverters. Then you would be limited to 10kW which is more than enough. I even question the ability to use 2X RESU16H on a single SE7600H. The spec sheet says Maximum Battery Capacity Per Inverter: 19.6kWh. That allows a single RESU16H or 2XRESU10H. If you really want to get the most out of the two battery system, you need that second inverter.

[mikedunkel]

Either they did not understand, or they misled you

A full Tesla Installation does recharge during an outage, the gateway isolate the Inverter from the Grid.

Best Practices During Power Outages | Tesla Support


Quote:
"How Powerwall Provides Backup Power


When a utility power outage does occur, your Powerwall instantly disconnects from the grid and restores backup power to your home in a fraction of a second, over one hundred times faster than typical standby generators. This means your appliances keep running without interruption, and there’s no need to reset your clocks. You may not even notice when an outage occurs. Learn more about what Powerwall backs up.

If you have solar, your Powerwall can recharge from your solar system to run your home from solar and Powerwall even when the grid is down. A traditional solar system without a Powerwall does not function during a grid outage.

If more solar energy is produced than can be used or stored during an outage, Powerwall will turn off the solar system and turn it back on when the energy can be used again."

I told the Tesla rep they were going to lose the sale if the panels went offline during a grid outage. I specifically asked why their competitors and why a generator can operate during an outage but not their panels. It was like talking to a non-interactive recording. He just kept repeating the same thing "Tesla solar panels will not produce electricity during a grid outage, once your battery depletes you will not have any electricity."

I found it hard to believe that was how their system operates but either way I wasn't giving them my business. Either their system sucks or they employ idiots. A company like that won't get my money.

[SunEagle]

Either they did not understand, or they misled you

A full Tesla Installation does recharge during an outage, the gateway isolate the Inverter from the Grid.

Best Practices During Power Outages | Tesla Support


Quote:
"How Powerwall Provides Backup Power


When a utility power outage does occur, your Powerwall instantly disconnects from the grid and restores backup power to your home in a fraction of a second, over one hundred times faster than typical standby generators. This means your appliances keep running without interruption, and there’s no need to reset your clocks. You may not even notice when an outage occurs. Learn more about what Powerwall backs up.

If you have solar, your Powerwall can recharge from your solar system to run your home from solar and Powerwall even when the grid is down. A traditional solar system without a Powerwall does not function during a grid outage.

If more solar energy is produced than can be used or stored during an outage, Powerwall will turn off the solar system and turn it back on when the energy can be used again."

That makes more sense. Why have a solar pv system and battery that won't be charged if the grid goes down.

[scrambler]

I am not an expert on any solar system, but I paid my $100 to get an individual advisor and a quote derived by a human who works for Tesla, and my project advisor told me in no uncertain terms that Tesla solar panel systems DO NOT produce ANY electricity in the event of a grid outage. They don't power the house, they don't power the battery, they just turn off. I don't know how he or I could be any more clear on that point.

Either they did not understand, or they misled you

A full Tesla Installation does recharge during an outage, the gateway isolate the Inverter from the Grid.

Best Practices During Power Outages | Tesla Support


Quote:
"How Powerwall Provides Backup Power


When a utility power outage does occur, your Powerwall instantly disconnects from the grid and restores backup power to your home in a fraction of a second, over one hundred times faster than typical standby generators. This means your appliances keep running without interruption, and there’s no need to reset your clocks. You may not even notice when an outage occurs. Learn more about what Powerwall backs up.

If you have solar, your Powerwall can recharge from your solar system to run your home from solar and Powerwall even when the grid is down. A traditional solar system without a Powerwall does not function during a grid outage.

If more solar energy is produced than can be used or stored during an outage, Powerwall will turn off the solar system and turn it back on when the energy can be used again."

[mikedunkel]

I don't think with the new setup that Tesla PV panel shutdown in a grid outage, they have to recharge the powerwall from solar panel during the day.

however, I'm not sure if Tesla (I have not ask or research into this) gateway can accommodate a backup generator.

I am not an expert on any solar system, but I paid my $100 to get an individual advisor and a quote derived by a human who works for Tesla, and my project advisor told me in no uncertain terms that Tesla solar panel systems DO NOT produce ANY electricity in the event of a grid outage. They don't power the house, they don't power the battery, they just turn off. I don't know how he or I could be any more clear on that point.

[bitslizer]

I don't think with the new setup that Tesla PV panel shutdown in a grid outage, they have to recharge the powerwall from solar panel during the day.

however, I'm not sure if Tesla (I have not ask or research into this) gateway can accommodate a backup generator.