Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

Fe-Wood
Fe-Wood Solar Expert Posts: 96 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I was at a fair a few weeks ago and was talking to a solar tech who had panel mount mppt controllers. If I understod him correctly, they reconfigered the voltage to 120VAC.... At the panel! Does something like this excist?
Thanks-
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

    They're micro-inverters, not charge controllers.
    It's a type of GT inverter, and like them it does use an MPPT "front end" and they produce 120 or 240 VAC. Not for battery systems.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

    maybe these...http://enphase.com/products/microinverters/
     
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  • Fe-Wood
    Fe-Wood Solar Expert Posts: 96 ✭✭
    #4
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    They're micro-inverters, not charge controllers.
    It's a type of GT inverter, and like them it does use an MPPT "front end" and they produce 120 or 240 VAC. Not for battery systems.

    I have 120-230VAC inverter/charge controller. It likes AC power. Could it work assuming it was sized appropriately?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #5
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

    Most likely not... A GT type inverter (micro or central inverter type) is designed to only supply AC power when connected to a functional power grid (and in spec. for frequency and voltage).

    A properly working GT Inverter will never supply AC power on its own (regardless of the load supplied).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • Fe-Wood
    Fe-Wood Solar Expert Posts: 96 ✭✭
    #6
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

    Thanks for the answers- I thought it sounded to good to be true...
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Mppt charge controller question- 120VAC at the panel?

    Terminology is important: you have an inverter-charger, not an inverter-charge controller.

    The micro-inverters work like any other GT inverter: no grid, no power. So on its own it would not power the AC in on your inverter to charge batteries.

    And let's not get started on yet another AC coupling discussion and confuse the OP even more! :p
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