Thanks, very helpful. If I have two sources of AC PV power, can I bring both of them into the same disconnect box or do I need two separate disconnect? (let say I have a SolarEdge system with max. AC current of 32 amps and Enphase system of max. AC current at 7.2 amps) Thanks in advance>
Thanks. When it comes to the neutral is this how it is configured no matter how big the wire? I'm using 4awg. If using a 3 pole switch would it be ok to have the neutral use one terminal with a fuse of its own?
no, the house will be unaffected. Idea is that the solar system in this case is a separate source of power into the main service panel, in parallel with the utility. if the solar input to the MSP is cut off by the solar AC disconnect switch, that does nothing to change the MSP connection to the utility, all remains just like the neighbors w/o solar. Interesting contrary answer for the case of the utility being shut off. In that case the solar does NOT continue to operate on its own. The solar system, in this case, is dependent on the presence of utility voltage and frequency to operate. [ This is the reason for so much interest in solar systems with storage; in such a configuration, the solar system can instantly change over to being autonomous, independent of any utility connection, drawing energy from the battery, and any solar if the outage is during the day].
I'm using an Eaton DG221NRB 2 pol 3 wire switch. 2 lines are switched and 1 is fixed. This latter has the ability to be grounded to to the box with a grounding screw. It doesn't have a grounding block and doesn't appear to have an option to install one. How would you wire the neutral and ground in this switch? Electrically it makes sense to tie the neutrals together, ground the fixed line with the screw and then wire the grounds to fixed line, but it's going to "look odd" (I would expect a grounding block and the neutrals wired to the ungrounded fixed line). Any advice?
Couple of things important there. I need to understand what you mean by ‘side’. Is it referring to top side or bottom side, or left-right side? The main point I am stressing is that the wires from the Main Service Panel go on the TOP of the switch mechanism, and the other wires go on the bottom. That is following a safety convention where the ‘hot’ wires will be on top. So when you flip open the switch, to disconnect the circuit, the wires and terminals and metal stuff on the BOTTOM is DEAD and safe to touch, but the wires and metal terminals on the TOP are STILL LIVE and dangerous. The other thing that his just visually shown here, but important, is that the red on top has a red underneath, the reds are on the right and the blacks are on the left. Now to your question perhaps, it does NOT matter if the L1 is on the left or right side. What matters only is that whichever side you choose, that you match the red to red and black to black. Some electricians may have a rule of thumb, like ‘always have L1 be red’ or something like that. That is fine. So probably the answer to your question is NO it does not matter which side (left-right) is L1 or L2. Just be consistent, and have the always hot wires from the MSP go on the top side.
Thanks, very helpful. If I have two sources of AC PV power, can I bring both of them into the same disconnect box or do I need two separate disconnect? (let say I have a SolarEdge system with max. AC current of 32 amps and Enphase system of max. AC current at 7.2 amps) Thanks in advance>
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Thanks. When it comes to the neutral is this how it is configured no matter how big the wire? I'm using 4awg. If using a 3 pole switch would it be ok to have the neutral use one terminal with a fuse of its own?
If PGE turned off the Solar AC disconnect, will the entire house loose power to from the grid?
no, the house will be unaffected. Idea is that the solar system in this case is a separate source of power into the main service panel, in parallel with the utility. if the solar input to the MSP is cut off by the solar AC disconnect switch, that does nothing to change the MSP connection to the utility, all remains just like the neighbors w/o solar.
Interesting contrary answer for the case of the utility being shut off. In that case the solar does NOT continue to operate on its own. The solar system, in this case, is dependent on the presence of utility voltage and frequency to operate. [ This is the reason for so much interest in solar systems with storage; in such a configuration, the solar system can instantly change over to being autonomous, independent of any utility connection, drawing energy from the battery, and any solar if the outage is during the day].
I'm using an Eaton DG221NRB 2 pol 3 wire switch. 2 lines are switched and 1 is fixed. This latter has the ability to be grounded to to the box with a grounding screw. It doesn't have a grounding block and doesn't appear to have an option to install one. How would you wire the neutral and ground in this switch? Electrically it makes sense to tie the neutrals together, ground the fixed line with the screw and then wire the grounds to fixed line, but it's going to "look odd" (I would expect a grounding block and the neutrals wired to the ungrounded fixed line). Any advice?
Does it matter which side the L1 and L2 wires go on?
Couple of things important there. I need to understand what you mean by ‘side’. Is it referring to top side or bottom side, or left-right side?
The main point I am stressing is that the wires from the Main Service Panel go on the TOP of the switch mechanism, and the other wires go on the bottom. That is following a safety convention where the ‘hot’ wires will be on top. So when you flip open the switch, to disconnect the circuit, the wires and terminals and metal stuff on the BOTTOM is DEAD and safe to touch, but the wires and metal terminals on the TOP are STILL LIVE and dangerous. The other thing that his just visually shown here, but important, is that the red on top has a red underneath, the reds are on the right and the blacks are on the left. Now to your question perhaps, it does NOT matter if the L1 is on the left or right side. What matters only is that whichever side you choose, that you match the red to red and black to black. Some electricians may have a rule of thumb, like ‘always have L1 be red’ or something like that. That is fine. So probably the answer to your question is NO it does not matter which side (left-right) is L1 or L2. Just be consistent, and have the always hot wires from the MSP go on the top side.
Helpful, thanks!