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If I'm following this thread correctly, the relay is to break the
flow of AC current to the battery based inverter (Outback) from a direct
grid tie inverter when the grid is down and the batteries are full.
The AC coupling here would be done at the protected loads panel, fed from
the AC Out of the Outback. <br><br>
We are having problems breaking the AC from direct grid tie inverters
feeding directly into the grid. When the relays open, the breakers
that the inverters feed into, trip. They don't always trip, but
trip randomly. <br><br>
The relays are open frame, similar to the ones you describe below.
Why are we having this problem, as it seems that what we are doing is
common practice? <br><br>
Thanks for your help.<br><br>
Drake <br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I have usually done the same
setup as Kirk – but I have used the Potter Brumfield “PRD” style relay –
which are available from Grainger under the “Dayton” brand name (of
course). These provide a “visual break” which is nice to be able to
check when doing testing etc. <br>
<br>
I like using the AC coil together with a DC coil signal relay as it
allows some nice options for redundancy and fail-safe design. <br>
<br>
These are large, heavy duty, open frame 30 amp 2 pole with normally
closed and normally open contacts and available with 12vdc, 24vdc, 120vac
or 240vac coils. Grainger even has one now with an auxiliary switch
included – which could be used to send a signal or turn on a light to
alert the system user that there is an outage. <br>
<br>
Relays:
<a href="http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/catalogPDF.shtml" eudora="autourl">
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/catalogPDF.shtml</a><br>
<br>
NEMA 1 Type Relay Enclosure:
<a href="http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1EGH7" eudora="autourl">
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1EGH7</a> <br>
<br>
I hope this helps! <br>
<br>
Christopher<br>
<font size=2> <br>
<br>
</font>Christopher Freitas<br>
Director of Research and Development <br>
OutBack Power Systems, Inc.<br>
<a href="mailto:cfreitas@outbackpower.com">cfreitas@outbackpower.com</a>
<br>
Tel 360 435 6030<br>
Cell 360 202 4239<br>
<font size=2>19009 62<sup>nd</sup> Ave NE <br>
Arlington WA 98223 USA<br>
</font><a href="http://www.outbackpower.com/">www.outbackpower.com</a><br>
<div align="center"><br>
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<font face="Tahoma" size=2><b>From:</b>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Kirk Herander, VSE<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:05 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> jryago@netscape.com; 'RE-wrenches'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] AC coupled relay<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><font size=2>I have done it with a SQD 60a, 240 vac contactor. The
coil is 120 vac. It is driven by a secondary 12vdc relay sending 120 ac
to the coil. The coil of the dc relay is driven by the 12 vdc auxiliary
output of the Outback FX inverter. I use the contactor and dc relay
normally closed contacts. They open when the inverter energizes the dc
relay.<br>
<br>
Kirk Herander<br>
Vermont Solar Engineering<br>
802.863.1202<br>
NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar Installer<br>
NYSERDA-eligible Installer<br>
VT Solar Incentive Program Partner<br>
<hr>
<div align="center"></font></div>
<font face="Tahoma" size=2><b>From:</b>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Jeff Yago<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:35 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] AC coupled relay<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><font size=2>What specific supplier, model number, and brand relay
have you found to be perfect to isolate the inverter AC output to the
sub-panel of a battery-based inverter in an AC coupled system?<br>
<br>
This will be in the 20 to 30 amp 240 VAC contact range. Also, do
you normally set it up as N.C. or N.O. for fail-safe reasons?
Coil voltage 12 vdc or 120 vac? <br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Jeff Yago<br><br>
</font><pre>
</pre></blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font color="#0000FF">Drake Chamberlin<br>
Athens Electric<br>
OH License 44810<br>
CO License 3773<br>
NABCEP Certified PV Installer </font><font size=1 color="#0000FF">TM<br>
</font><font color="#0000FF">Office - 740-448-7328<br>
Mobile - 740-856-9648 </font></body>
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