![]() ![]() With Enphase, the main feature to keep in mind is where the battery inverter can shift its frequency based on the state of charge of the battery bank. Installers can use any backup system that fits one’s budget, technical constraints and design preferences. If you are providing whole house back-up, you can achieve this same result with AC relays on the microinverter branch circuits to open when the grid is not present, thus reducing the effective off-grid PV array size.Ĭurrently, Enphase is brand agnostic towards storage inverters, but some work better than others. When designing these systems, select the number microinverters that is equal to or less than the battery inverter’s kW capacity and land the rest of microinverter array on the main panel. We want to make sure that all the AC output from that array can pass through the battery inverter system. ![]() It’s important to keep in mind that the battery inverter needs to be sized for the max AC output from the PV array that is connected to the critical loads panel. However, if the grid goes down, the microinverters that are connected at the main panel will stop producing as they are isolated from the critical loads panel which is being fed by the battery inverter. Even when some of the microinverters are connected to the battery, the entire array is eligible for net metering credits. Thus, the use of microinverters allows for flexibility in the size of storage capacity. For instance, some branch circuits can connect to the sub-panel that the battery inverter feeds while others can exclusively connect to the main panel. One advantage of using Enphasein an AC coupled system is that microinverters allow for the flow of power to be divided between the backup system and the grid. An external ATS would be required when a customer is looking to power the main service panel however, it does add extra cost and complexity. This could eliminate the need for a separate critical loads panel if the inverter(s) and battery are big enough to carry all the loads and surge loads on the MSP. You can also configure the system to have an external ATS or contactor on the grid side of the main service panel (MSP) to power the main service panel directly. Hence, when the grid goes down, the battery inverter uses an internal contactor to separate from the grid input and to isolate the critical loads panel from the grid. This battery inverter is responsible for managing the flow of energy to the batteries while also mimicking the frequency of the grid in case of an outage to allow for continued PV production. They are then fed to a critical loads panel which is also connected to a battery inverter. ![]() In this type of system, microinverters are attached to the modules and the branch circuits or strings are combined at a gateway combiner box. This article covers the basics of adding energy storage with microinverters moreover, it discusses the methods Enphase uses to communicate with battery inverters. Further, battery adoption will likely continue to accelerate as utilities impose more time-of-use rates, cap net metering interconnections, and add demand charges.įor homeowners interested in maximizing their production on a module-level and or those who would also like an energy storage system to take advantage of a TOU rate and/or backup power solution, AC-coupled storage systems with microinverters are a great option. If you’re interested in learning more broadly about retrofitting solar PV with battery backup, see HERE. For more information regarding the basics of AC coupling, see HERE for design considerations. ![]() This microinverter manufacturer is headquartered in California and has pushed the envelope with AC coupling compatibility. One of the leading microinverter manufacturers in the U.S. This article will discuss the advantages of using microinverters with AC coupling for residential, single-phase applications. ![]()
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