[RE-wrenches] Integrating with a whole house generator

[Geoff Greenfield]

Thanks Tump... I'll play with the setpoints. 



On the x-fer switch, I was assuming that the built in X-fer would be used to switch the inverter critical loads to the AC1 (main panel).  My suggestion was to add a second upstream to power these loads from the genny should there be an inverter failure AND a power outage.  Just an option. 


For a brighter energy future, 

Geoff Greenfield 
Founder and CEO 
Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. 
340 West State Street, Unit 25 
Athens, OH 45701 

740.597.3111     Fax 740.597.1548 
www.Third-Sun.com 

Clean Energy - Expertly Installed 






----- "Tump" <tump at hughes.net> wrote: 
> 
The XW would have the inverter by-pass breakers assembly if you installed it w/ the conduit box, so the second transfer switch is not necessary. 
Reset your gen AC "transfer" cycles to their minimum as well as your generator low voltage parameters to 110 volts (IF it is a quality gen set & it produces a constant 120V), you should see no more lag transferring off the gen.Make sure you reset the settings in ALL the VFXs. 



> -----Original Message----- 
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Greenfield 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:39 AM 
> To: RE-wrenches 
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Integrating with a whole house generator 
> 
> 

It all depends on the homeowners expectations (and what THEY think is a reasonable critical load).  Your scheme looks like it would work - (I might include a second X-fer switch to run the inverter supported loads off the genny if the grid AND the inverter are out). 



Second issue is transfer speed and power drop out.  I am not sure of the XW, but I have found that outback is a very quick and clean switch (no computer/com drops) from grid to backup... like a UPS.  However... it is NOT as smooth when turning off the genny on back up mode.  Lights all fade as genny coughs off and inverter kicks back over to batts.  I always make sure customer computer has a deadicated UPS. 
> 
For a brighter energy future, 
> Geoff Greenfield 
> Founder and CEO 
> Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. 
> 340 West State Street, Unit 25 
> Athens, OH 45701 
> 740.597.3111     Fax 740.597.1548 
> www.Third-Sun.com 
> Clean Energy - Expertly Installed 
> 
> 
> ----- "William Miller" <wrmiller at charter.net> 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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