solar pv inverter cost

Posted August 2, 2011 By admin

solar pv inverter cost
Can a Solectria PVI 3000 inverter be used as a grid intertie?

I just had a grid-tie solar pv system installed with 12 Suntech panels (205kw) and a Solectria PVI 3000 inverter. My installer does not work with batteries, but knew that I would want to add battery backup.

Someone just told me that the Solectria is grid-tie only, ie, does not have the capability to use power from batteries. This person told me I would have to replace the Solectria inverter. Is this true? I can’t believe that the company that installed my system would give me an inverter that is grid-tie only, even when they knew I would add battery backup to the system.

Is there a way that I can add battery backup without replacing the Solectria? Any cost or other drawbacks of doing this, provided it is possible?

Thanks for any help!

You absolutely can add the batteries. You just need to install the batteries and charge controller between the panels and the inverter. The inverter will use the DC voltage from the batteries the same way it uses the DC voltage from the panels.

The following is just my personal opinion.
Unless you have frequent power outages the money spend on batteries and the power lost through heat while “pumping” electricity in and out of the batteries would really take away from the efficiency of the system. You also may be able to talk to your power company and check into time of use billing. They will charge you a higher rate during the day and an extremely low rate at night. Your solar will provide most of your day time needs, so you will mostly use power from the grid only at night when the rates are cheap.

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