Outback inverter / load center wiring?

VolcanoSolar
VolcanoSolar Solar Expert Posts: 56 ✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
Hi everyone,

My plan to run the output of a single Outback VFX3648 inverter into a standard AC breaker panel just ran into trouble. The following is from Outback's installation guidelines:

"WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire, do not connect a single FX to both legs of a 120-240 VAC AC load center having multi wire (common neutral) branch circuits connected. Use two FX's wired in a series configuration..."

Huh? What possible fire risk? If the two hot sides of the panel are wired together to form a single hot, and there's no other AC source present (no grid tie, no generator input to this panel) I'm missing something.:confused:
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Comments

  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    you sure are missing something as the 2 hots are not parallelable.
    WARNING!!!!!!!! across those 2 wires is 240vac that you would see flowing through the inverter thus smoking it minimumly and a fire possibly.
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  • GreenerPower
    GreenerPower Solar Expert Posts: 264 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    Hi, the key here is "multi-brach circuits" . Some installation uses 2 hot phases with a single common neutral return (10/3 for example) to supply 120V loads on each "branch". This is banged on the fact that the 2 hot phases are 180-deg out of phase and the combined current in the return neutral is the difference of the 120V loads currents on each hot phase "branch". Driving the 2 hot phases with the same phase would make the return current in the neutral to "add" and would exceed the current rating of the neutral wire and this is a fire risk since there is no circuit breaker in the neutral path.
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  • Roderick
    Roderick Solar Expert Posts: 253 ✭✭
    #4
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    GreenerPower speaks well; that makes a lot of sense.

    If you run a separate neutral for each circuit, you should be all set.

    However, consider whether you might want to just get a very large service panel, like a 200A one, with lots of slots, and only use one of the busbars instead of shorting both together. I'm not sure if there would be a kosher way of shorting both together, could be a little awkward. If you left one busbar free, and later wanted to add that second inverter, you could do so with minimal fuss. Also, let's say that in the distant future, you or someone else wanted to go grid-tied. After removing the old inverter, there's a very small, but nonzero chance that someone would overlook whatever was tying the two busbars together... I know, unlikely, but cowardice has its place.
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  • RCinFLA
    RCinFLA Solar Expert Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    Some folks make their auxilary break box only feed 120 volt loads. You can take some portion of 120v feeds from main breaker box over to auxilary box and run them on single side of main.
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  • VolcanoSolar
    VolcanoSolar Solar Expert Posts: 56 ✭
    #6
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    having multi wire (common neutral) branch circuits connected.

    Aha. Multi wire. Funny how you can read something, but not really read it.

    would make the return current in the neutral to "add" and would exceed the current rating of the neutral wire and this is a fire risk since there is no circuit breaker in the neutral path.

    If you run a separate neutral for each circuit, you should be all set.

    Got it, can't share any neutrals, can't use "multiwire." I still haven't wired the house yet, so I just won't use multiwire. (Always wondered how they were able to "get away" with running just a single neutral for two hot wires, now it makes sense.)

    Also, let's say that in the distant future, you or someone else wanted to go grid-tied. After removing the old inverter, there's a very small, but nonzero chance that someone would overlook whatever was tying the two busbars together...

    There's no grid power here, nor is there likely to be, but it's a good point nonetheless: I'll make a big fat warning sign inside the panel!!

    Thanks.
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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    GP,

    Welcome! 8)

    All,

    Greenerpower has been an active and informed contributor over on the OutBack forum. NAWS, its customers, and the rest of us on the forum will no doubt benefit from his insights.

    Regards,
    Jim / crewzer
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  • GreenerPower
    GreenerPower Solar Expert Posts: 264 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Outback inverter / load center wiring?

    Jim,
    Thanks for the kind words. I've been monitoring these RE boards for sometime, very informative. The information goes both ways. What a great information age.

    If you notice, I am also "new comers" on Solar Guppy and Xantrex boards :cool:

    GP
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