Alternative Energy Forums

Hi,

I was hoping I could get some help with a question. I am in the process of remodeling our house and while we cannot afford it now I want to set it up for a future grid tie-in system, using the Xantrex GT series 3.0 inverter. The plan will be to gradually add panels and batteries as they can be afforded. My questions are as follows:

1) Is it possible to do a grid-tie in with battery back up so that when the batteries are fully charged the excess goes into the grid, but when the panels are not producing energy the batteries are not being drained? I figure the batteries will just be used for power outages and the like, similar to an emergency generator that just runs the fridge, water pump, and a few lights.

2) I am not to worried about running the wire from the panels to the batteries now -- I will have easy future access to that space. But from the batteries to the panel (or rather, the batteries to the inverter to the panel) will be inaccessible; I hope to sheetrock in a few weeks and need to run the wire soon. The distance from batteries to inverter is about 15 feet, and I don't know how many batteries I will have (it will be a 12v set-up, however). Planning for 16-20, though. What size wire should I run? 2/0? 1/0?

Thanks

Todd Leback

1) Grid-tie with battery backup is becoming a popular choice with customers to maintain their critical loads. I tend to favor the Xantrex XW System. http://www.xantrex.com/xw/index.html It is a nice setup. The system will allow power to go into the grid but will automatically switch to the batteries or generator should there be a power failure. Take a look at the link I included. This shows the XW System. It accommodates both AC and DC breakers and wiring.

2) I would go with a set of battery to inverter 4/0 cable set. You can purchase these in lengths up to 25'. You want as short of a distance as possible. The cables start getting really expensive the longer you go.

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