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My question: Is the power cut-off done at the Enphase IQ8 MicroInverter during a power outage?
Background: We have a fairly standard residential solar installation for California. 21 Panisonic panels with roof mounted EnPhase IQ8 microinverters, arranged in 3 arrays of 7 panels each to the $700 combiner with no batteries. We're on a California NEM 2.0 agreement.
We didn't install a cut-off switch for battery use but even if one of the arrays could energize a single non-grid-connected outlet I'd be happy. We have 5KWh of portable EcoFlow batteries that'll power the essentials for 24 hours, but I'd really like the option to charge them using the panels if a failure lasts beyond that.
We're in the well off and densely populated city of Newport Beach, so extended outages are highly unlikely, but a large section of Irvine (just next door) did have a 4 day outage a few years ago due to a major fire at a relay station. So it could happen, intended (terrorism caused) or otherwise. The Irvine one was deemed as unintended.
2 years ago the installer wanted a whopping $7K to add the cut-off switch, even without a battery. The Fed would have paid 30%, but it was still too steep for something we're not likely to ever need more than once or twice. So I spent $2K on portable batteries instead.
So now, 2 year later and with a Solar industry on the cusp of desperation, I'm wondering if solutions have evolved? Is there room to get inventive (without risking our 20 year NEM 2.0 agreement). I think if a power outage simply tells the MicroInverters to stop producing, then game over. If doing a homeowner's hack to bypass this could risk our NEM 2.0 contract, then game over.
Suggestions? Our townhouse doesn't have room to just buy a gas generator. Is using our existing panels without disturbing it's normal use in any way possible, or are we looking at buying new "emergency use" panels?
Background: We have a fairly standard residential solar installation for California. 21 Panisonic panels with roof mounted EnPhase IQ8 microinverters, arranged in 3 arrays of 7 panels each to the $700 combiner with no batteries. We're on a California NEM 2.0 agreement.
We didn't install a cut-off switch for battery use but even if one of the arrays could energize a single non-grid-connected outlet I'd be happy. We have 5KWh of portable EcoFlow batteries that'll power the essentials for 24 hours, but I'd really like the option to charge them using the panels if a failure lasts beyond that.
We're in the well off and densely populated city of Newport Beach, so extended outages are highly unlikely, but a large section of Irvine (just next door) did have a 4 day outage a few years ago due to a major fire at a relay station. So it could happen, intended (terrorism caused) or otherwise. The Irvine one was deemed as unintended.
2 years ago the installer wanted a whopping $7K to add the cut-off switch, even without a battery. The Fed would have paid 30%, but it was still too steep for something we're not likely to ever need more than once or twice. So I spent $2K on portable batteries instead.
So now, 2 year later and with a Solar industry on the cusp of desperation, I'm wondering if solutions have evolved? Is there room to get inventive (without risking our 20 year NEM 2.0 agreement). I think if a power outage simply tells the MicroInverters to stop producing, then game over. If doing a homeowner's hack to bypass this could risk our NEM 2.0 contract, then game over.
Suggestions? Our townhouse doesn't have room to just buy a gas generator. Is using our existing panels without disturbing it's normal use in any way possible, or are we looking at buying new "emergency use" panels?
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