Hi William, I don't want to hijack this thread but I want to give you another idea for disconnecting the Enphase circuit.
Generac makes a very convenient load shed device called Smart Management Module SMM50. This may be a good option for you. Instead of having a signal wire/trench etc, it is a pass through relay with a board that samples the line voltage. If it senses that the voltage is supplied by a generator, you can program it to lock out the load. You could place it on the interconnection of the enphase circuit. They only guarantee it will work with a Generac generator, but I suspect it will work with other brands as well. This could be worth considering. Good luck! On Thu, Jun 20, 2024 at 12:35 AM William Miller via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Friends: > > > > I have an installation of 12 Enphase IQ inverters that is downstream from > a generator transfer switch. During power outages the generator will run > poorly when the Enphase is on and the sun is shining. The problems go away > when the Enphase is shut off. No surprises about this. > > > > The Enphase is installed on a barn about 150 conduit feet from the > generator transfer switch. My plan is to create a low voltage signal when > the generator is running and send it to a coil on a contactor in the barn. > Said contactor will disconnect the 12 micro-inverters. > > > > There is existing one 26 AWG pairs of a Cat 6 cable running between the > buildings. I have found a two pole, 30A contactor that draws 7 watts on > the coil. The voltage drop calcs on 150 feet of 26 AWG wire shows a 24 > volt signal will not cause excessive voltage drop (~4%). > > > > Here is where I am uncertain: Should I run 24 volts AC or DC? My concern > about DC is if there are any damp connections, electrolysis will occur that > might erode the 26 AWG conductors. We’ve all seen powder where copper used > to be. Is AC less susceptible to electrolysis? My research has turned up > no pertinent conclusions. > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > William Miller > > > > Miller Solar > > 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 > > 805-438-5600 > > www.millersolar.com > > CA Lic. 773985 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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