[RE-wrenches] Integrating with a whole house generator

[Drake Chamberlin]

Hi William,

That is the way to do it.  The inverter controls the generator 
automatically, based on battery voltage and / or current.  The 
generator can be started manually whenever desired.  The inverter 
(critical) loads will also be fed by the gen-set through the internal 
transfer switch on the inverter, while batteries are being charged.

Drake


At 09:46 PM 11/24/2008, you wrote:
>Friends:
>
>I am bidding an installation in which the customer owns a whole 
>house generator.  The generator is 30 KVA and we will be installing 
>a 4.5 or 6.0 KVA XW system.  Obviously, the inverter will not power 
>the entire house.  If we segregate the non-critical loads and 
>connect them to a grid-fed panel, the generator will not power 
>them.  If we let the generator run every time there is an outage, 
>this negates the need for a inverter system. What to do?
>
>The transfer switch sends a two wire start signal to the generator 
>upon a grid outage.  After the transfer switch senses generator 
>voltage, it effects a transfer.
>
>My brainstorm is to intercept that two wire start signal.  I will 
>connect it instead to the XW inverter.  We will segregate the loads, 
>feeding the critical loads from the XW and the Non-critical loads 
>from the output of the transfer switch.  In the case of a grid 
>outage, the critical loads will receive uninterrupted power.  The 
>Non-critical loads will not have power unless the generator is 
>started by the XW.  Once the XW (or the home owner) starts the 
>generator, the transfer will occur.  We will put a control panel in 
>the house so the home-owner can start the generator if the 
>No-critical loads are needed.
>
>This seems clever to me, but I am biased.  Am I missing something???
>
>
>William Miller
>
>
>
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Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
740-448-7328
740-856-9648