I'm looking to set up a solar and battery backup system that can help reduce my utility bill and keep my furnace fan or window AC unit running. I don't need to slash my bill drastically, but I'd like the battery setup to support some solar panels so I can utilize it year-round. Currently, I have a heat pump water heater, gas furnace, central AC, and an 8000 BTU inverter window unit. My plan is to run the window AC on solar and switch it off if there's not enough power, letting the central AC take over. I'm unsure how this will work in winter since I'm not confident about getting enough sunlight. Any advice?
3 Answers
You might want to check out the EG4 6KXP inverter—it could work well for your needs. Just make sure to have a critical loads panel for running your essential circuits. This way you can manage exactly what runs off the battery.
It sounds like you're trying to bypass the interconnection paperwork, which can be a hassle. Ideally, you should consider a proper hybrid inverter instead of just a standalone battery setup. This will give you more flexibility with your system.
Yeah, every utility has different rules. In my area, we still need an interconnect agreement even for systems that don’t export to the grid.
Have you thought about signing up for a Time of Use plan? You could charge your battery overnight when rates are lower and then use that power during the day. Just crunch the numbers to see if it makes sense for you!
Yeah, but my concern is about fixed pricing. Would that even help with a battery system?
Can you break that down a bit? Are you saying all critical loads would go to this separate panel and only run on solar or in a blackout?