[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15K Gen on Grid Terminal (with GTBB)

Mon Jul 7 13:24:27 PDT 2025

That is interesting. What happens if someone starts the generator manually
and manually engages the transfer switch to the generator position? Will
the inverter still detect it as a generator, or will that only happen if
the 2-wire start is being called for?

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208

On Mon, Jul 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM Poole, Jharen via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> For a setup such as this, it is recommended that the generator is started
> using the inverter’s 2-wire start function rather than a manual startup. We
> also want to make sure that the grid signal, gen signal, and gen connected
> to grid input settings are enabled on the inverter to ensure proper
> detection and operation. I wouldn’t recommend using this setup on a manual
> start with large generators rated 45kW or higher and are hospital grade.
> These tend to produce extremely clean power and can mistakenly be
> identified as the utility grid, which can interfere with its ability to
> properly determine the source of the input and affect the system behavior.
>
> If you're using a typical residential generator with the recommended
> startup configuration, and the generator is called upon, the inverter will
> display a generator icon on the screen once it detects generator power (on
> the latest firmware). Although the “grid sell” setting remains enabled, the
> inverter is programmed to prevent power from being exported back to the
> generator. During a grid outage, it will operate using generator power, and
> once utility power is restored and detected, the inverter will
> automatically resume normal grid sell operations.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Jharen Poole
> Applications Engineer II
> 972-575-8875
> ------------------------------
> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf
> of Jay via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 3, 2025 4:11 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Cc:* Jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15K Gen on Grid Terminal (with GTBB)
>
> *Caution:* This email is from an external source.
>
>
> Sounds like what they want the sol ark can’t do.
>
> I think either the eg4 flexboss and MID or the AIO might work.
>
>
>
> On Jul 3, 2025, at 2:33 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> 
> That might be their recommendation, but it doesn't stop someone from
> manually starting the generator when the utility is down. Their wiring
> diagram leave a lot to be desired in terms of how program the system in
> this configuration.
>
> Even if they strongly recommend that in webinars, it still isn't clear to
> me if Grid Sell is automatically disabled when the 2-wire start relay is
> closed. Honestly, I wouldn't trust the answer from a random tech support
> agent, especially with various firmwares floating around.
>
> This is just another example of poorly documented and ambiguous
> operational control that plagues all of the all-in-one inverters.
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>
> On Thu, Jul 3, 2025, 4:14 PM Lloyd Hoffstatter <
> lloyd at sunstruckconsulting.com> wrote:
>
> Sol-Ark strongly recommends only using a line side generator under
> inverter 2 wire control and with AC coupled inverters off, per several
> webinars.
> Best regards,
> Lloyd
>
> I’m lLlCOGet Outlook fo <https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf
> of Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 3, 2025 3:10:07 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Cc:* Jason Szumlanski <jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15K Gen on Grid Terminal (with GTBB)
>
> This guy wants the smart load capability, too.
>
>
> Jason
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 3, 2025 at 8:42 AM Jay via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> It’s got generator input terminals.
> Why not use them for the generator?
>
>
> On Jul 3, 2025, at 5:05 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> 
> The attached wiring diagram from the manual shows both a generator and
> grid connected to the Sol-Ark Grid input with a transfer switch to select
> between grid and generator.
>
> Question: If you program the inverter for GEN on Grid Input and allow Grid
> Sell, how would the inverter know what the input source is and prevent
> selling to the generator inadvertently?
>
> I suppose if it is an automatic transfer switch and the two wire start is
> called for, the inverter might stop grid selling when calling for the
> generator (but I'm not sure if that's the case). In any case, that's not a
> failsafe solution because the generator could be started and selected
> manually with the transfer switch and the inverter would not know it.
>
> I have someone insisting that Sol-Ark supports this configuration with
> Grid Sell enabled. I can't imagine that is the case. At a minimum, it would
> be bad practice.
>
> In my opinion, the interface should disallow Grid Sell altogether when GEN
> on Grid Input is selected. Maybe it's already doing that internally, but it
> isn't clear at all from the interface or the manual.
>
> Of course, the Off-Grid section of the manual does tell you to not use the
> Grid Sell option.
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Florida Solar Design Group
>
>
> <Screenshot_20250703_063315_Drive.jpg>
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