Talk me out of a HIS by Sunrun

[ExCivilian]

So if you are using say 50% of your solar output, and the sun comes along an blocks 50% of the sun, your panels increase output so you are using all the available solar energy in the house.

This implies the IQ8s are capable of shedding excess power. Am I understanding you correctly that they are able to do that?

The current system that is being installed on my home doesn't have a battery in the plans. My installer texted me that in order to use the IQ8 grid forming tech I'd need to add the "empower smart switch, load controller, and critical load panel" for roughly $7,500. He followed that by saying the battery he was recommending wouldn't need any of it, which I believe was his earlier point of choosing a battery over the IQ8 grid-forming tech for the cost a few months ago during the design stage.

Sponsored

 

[PiMatrix]

This implies the IQ8s are capable of shedding excess power. Am I understanding you correctly that they are able to do that?

The current system that is being installed on my home doesn't have a battery in the plans. My installer texted me that in order to use the IQ8 grid forming tech I'd need to add the "empower smart switch, load controller, and critical load panel" for roughly $7,500. He followed that by saying the battery he was recommending wouldn't need any of it, which I believe was his earlier point of choosing a battery over the IQ8 grid-forming tech for the cost a few months ago during the design stage.

 

[VTbuckeye]

In lots of Texas, basements are rare (houses are either sitting on Limestone, or in a swamp)

And in central Texas (or at least Austin) in particular, they have to be installed outdoors by code

In vermont everything freezes if it is not in the basement. There are some houses built with crawl spaces, but I have no idea how they keep the water lines and sewage lines from freezing when it is -20 degrees and the incoming water is maybe 38 degrees and the top foot of ground is frozen. Upon further thought the middle of the house plus copious insulation may offer enough protection, but basements around here make sense.

 

[PiMatrix]

There are some other systems out there compatible with Enphase, Outback GD4048 and SMA sunny island that can also do this islanding. I have not looked into them all but I hear they work well. Perhaps that is what your installer initially referred to. I was looking from tech all from one company just for any warranty issues so no pointing fingers.

I think the generation shedding is done by simply turning off panels. For example, if you have a 16kW system with 40 panels it means you have 2.5% granular control of power generated. I assume you would see this real time in a maps of the individual microinverters. The smart switch is the system controller 2.
Here is what you need for sunlight backup. The IQ load controllers can be replace with a Lumin panel and do whole home backup and just pick the loads you want up to 16 circuits. Enphase has a 16 circuit upgrade coming early next year. Of course adding one small battery expandable with an EV battery at some point gives more flexibility while you drive to get a fast charge. The nice thing is with the system controller 2, a Distributed Energy Resourced (DER)/MID panel, you can add solar, batter, generator to the supplied inputs at any later time. All the power sources are additive, not either/or, a unique feature of the system since either the batter or the PV can form a grid and match phase and frequency to the utility grid or a attached generator. The only thing you can't do is run a generator and utility at same time

 

[ExCivilian]

There are some other systems out there compatible with Enphase, Outback GD4048 and SMA sunny island that can also do this islanding. I have not looked into them all but I hear they work well. Perhaps that is what your installer initially referred to.

His position is that installing all of the equipment necessary for the IQ8 grid-forming feature is an unnecessary expense compared to installing a battery that can power the house during inclement weather and darkness.

 

[PiMatrix]

His position is that installing all of the equipment necessary for the IQ8 grid-forming feature is an unnecessary expense compared to installing a battery that can power the house during inclement weather and darkness.

Don't know on the prices, but I agree that having 24 hour coverage is better than only sunlight hours with no battery. That's why I'll have a small Enphase battery for day time to handle clouds, and the EV additional capacity for overnight while it's in garage or extended outages. There are many many ways to accomplish the same thing. Devil is in the detail.

 

[ResidualJinx]

Another few perfect examples of this is their OTH updates that are not addressing core issues to the truck

If they're able to update bluecruise OTH, I have faith they can add the state of charge OTH lol

 

[smax64]

Finally got info back from the town of eastern long island and here is the issue for the HIS in NY at least

NY so far does not have a provision in their electrical code to allow for ER battery

 

[adoublee]

Finally got info back from the town of eastern long island and here is the issue for the HIS in NY at least

NY so far does not have a provision in their electrical code to allow for ER battery

Your Ford F150 lightning is an energy storage system, and is apparently banned where you live. Welcome to America.

 

[smax64]

Your Ford F150 lightning is an energy storage system, and is apparently banned where you live. Welcome to America.

Your Ford F150 lightning is an energy storage system, and is apparently banned where you live. Welcome to America.

only to put power back into the house, i can still charge it

 

[adoublee]

only to put power back into the house, i can still charge it

Does it not have Pro Power Onboard? That would make it an energy storage system, not just a load.

 

[smax64]

Does it not have Pro Power Onboard? That would make it an energy storage system, not just a load.

Yes sir

 

[Maquis]

Finally got info back from the town of eastern long island and here is the issue for the HIS in NY at least

NY so far does not have a provision in their electrical code to allow for ER battery

That’s really funny…..if you have an LP backup generator, having 5 gallons of propane on your property to run it violates those numbers.

 

[Firestop]

Finally got info back from the town of eastern long island and here is the issue for the HIS in NY at least

NY so far does not have a provision in their electrical code to allow for ER battery

Curious, what hazardous condition are they attempting to prevent……?

 

[tls]

Finally got info back from the town of eastern long island and here is the issue for the HIS in NY at least

NY so far does not have a provision in their electrical code to allow for ER battery

I believe they are misreading the code. Or, actually, almost deceptively quoting it. Here is the preamble to R327, which exempts vehicles from 327.2 thru 327.11.

[NY]R327.1General.​

Energy storage systems installed in buildings or structures that are subject to the provisions of this code shall be installed and maintained in accordance with Sections R327.2 through R327.11. The temporary use of an owner’s or occupant's electric powered vehicle as an energy storage system shall be in accordance with Section R327.12.​