Backfeeding a 200 amp panel with an Outback 3648 [RE-wrenches]

[Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services]

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While AC in (buy) and AC out (sell) are physically the same wire, there 
might be the possibility of getting Outback to have separate settings 
for buy current and sell current. That way when the grid was up the pass 
through current could be 60 amps and yet the sell current could be set 
lower, but since they both go through a 60 amp breaker this is probably 
moot.

Another point I don't understand is the largest Outback inverter is a 
3600 watt (GVFX3648). This inverter is only be capable of continuously 
selling 30 amps back to the bus, so it is de-facto limited by the 
capacity of the inverter. Yes, it can surge higher, but for a very short 
time, way too short for the buss bar to heat up.

Buy and Sell still both go through one 60 amp breaker which is actually 
the issue, but IMO it is curious we are dealing with a perceived only 
possible problem of overcurrenting the load center's buss bar. The 60 
amp current flow is in BUY mode only. The inverter is simply incapable 
of a sustained SELL current that would overload the buss. I would love 
to see someone try to damage a load center buss with a 30 amp inverter 
backfeeding. I would bet big money this is impossible.

(I know, this is all about "the rules"... not reality... sigh.)

Todd


Allan Sindelar wrote:

>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Ray Walters" <walters at taosnet.com>
>  
>
>>Here's some crazy ideas:
>>Could Outback separate Grid AC IN (for loads and battery charging at
>>60amps) and then have an AC OUT to Grid  that could be sized much
>>smaller just to accomodate the max. array size and therefore get around
>>120% bus limit?
>>1) Is this possible,
>>2) are there any other grid tie/ battery backup inverters with this
>>ability (two AC outs),
>>or 3) once again am I just dreaming?
>>    
>>
>
>The "turd in the punchbowl" of that idea is that AC OUT is for backup loads,
>not grid. The AC IN is the bidirectional feed with the grid. AC OUT has no
>UL 1741 anti-islanding protection. I think it would also be akin to plugging
>the inverter into itself. So 1) no, 2) I don't think so, and 3) yep.
>  
>


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