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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Eric,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I do not have direct experience with this but have been
exploring the issue for a project I am currently doing.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>My response will be to take the trouble to interconnect the
Enphase inverters on the line side of the tranfer switch so that the inverters
can never be connected to the generator.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Here are the reasons why:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>1 - Enphase states that any such application is considered an
"off-grid" application which voids their warrenty. As I am installing under the
California CSI program, I am required to provide a 10 year manufacture equipment
warranty so I cannot afford to install the inverters in a dis-allowed
manner.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>2 - Enphase states that the waveform of the generator may be
"clean" enough such that the inverter may attempt to syncornize and connect to
it as if it were the utility. If this were to happen Enphase believes the
inverters will ruin the generator regulator before the generator ruin the
inverter. I don't want to be the one to run the experiment to find out which
would be which.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671071521-26032011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>3 - I considered a contactor on the output of the inverters,
such that the inverters would isolated by a loss of line voltage, requiring some
form of reset. Ulitmately my customer agreed with me that this was an
undesirable constraint on the operation of an otherwise reliable grid-tied
system and it was not clear that this would satify the warranty
issue.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mark
Frye</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Berkeley Solar
Electric Systems</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>303
Redbud Way</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Nevada
City, CA 95959</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2
face=Arial>(530) 401-8024</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A
href="http://www.berkeleysolar.com/"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>www.berkeleysolar.com</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
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<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Eric
Thomas<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 26, 2011 2:09 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Generator and
Enphase<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>I have a customer with a "30A Mechanically Interlocked Breaker" for
their generator feed at the main panel. My question is: If the home power is
transferred from utility to generator power, will the backfed PV see the
generator as grid power and sync up and produce? This is a nice Honda Generator
so the power should be fairly clean. Any experiences are
appreciated.<BR><BR>Take Care,<BR><BR><BR>Eric Thomas<BR>Solar Epiphany
LLC<BR>(206) 919-3014<BR><A href="http://www.solarepiphany.com"
target=_blank>www.solarepiphany.com</A><BR><BR></BODY></HTML>