Hey everyone,
I have a 2.4kW solar setup with an SRNE hybrid inverter and a 5kW battery. I'm currently planning to run this system completely off-grid, mainly to use during power outages or for powering some devices. However, I'm considering the possibility of connecting it to my main panel to help lower my electricity bills, even though I know it won't fully cover all my energy needs.
I have two main questions:
1. The inverter outputs AC at 110 volts, while my main panel operates on both 110V and 220V. Will this be an issue when my 220V air conditioning kicks in, or will it just draw from the grid while my 110V fridge uses solar power?
2. Since I live in the US, do I need permits and utility approval to tie into the grid? Given that my system is small and won't feed back into the grid, is it possible for me to connect it without any red tape?
Thanks for the help!
1 Answer
You definitely need to get the necessary permissions before connecting to the grid. DIY installations for grid connections can be tricky because they involve permits, planning, and interconnection agreements—not really something you can do on your own. A better option would be to install a manual transfer switch. This allows you to choose which loads to run off your solar while keeping things safe and compliant. A model like the Reliance R306A should work well for what you need!