Jason,

Sounds like an interesting market.

A transfer switch is probably more expensive than two Tesla vehicle chargers, 
one for each system.  He just needs to remember which one to plug into and you 
just need to sell at least 4 PW3s, a couple gateways and you’re in business….

Matt



From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of 
Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 5:05 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Jason Szumlanski <ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Inverter ratings exceeding 25kw fir battery backup

Caution: This email originated from outside SES. Do not click links or open 
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Not bragging, but many of my clients in this situation are billionaires or at 
least some sizable fraction of that. Naples is a pretty interesting place. They 
are usually not willing to compromise. On the three barrier islands where I do 
off-grid work, it always starts off as a few mini-splits and then it ends up 
being a few mini-splits and a 5-ton central. And then they install an electric 
hot tub unbeknownst to me. And then there are three electric golf carts that 
show up. And how can you enjoy the beach with 30 of your favorite friends 
without a large ice maker (on top of the undercabinet unit at the outdoor 
wetbar)? It never ends.

For on-grid homes with common 400A service (dual 200A panels) we focus on 
backing up one panel while installing enough PV to cover the total annual 
household usage, which is usually the request we get. They would love to back 
up both panels, but when confronted with the space requirements and battery 
capacity limitations imposed by NFPA 855, the conversation usually goes my way. 
As for the PV portion, we always hear that if they can't cover 100%, they don't 
see the point in doing it. That's why you end up with giant PV arrays with 
battery capacities more typical of a modest home.

I just spent an hour explaining to a customer with an existing 25kW Enphase 
system why he can't back up two 200A panels with Tesla Powerwall 3's (without 
serious drawbacks associated with splitting the PV and battery). He was also 
under the impression that he could use Powershare from his Cybertruck to back 
up both 200A panels simultaneously, or at least switch easily between them (I 
actually toyed with the idea of a transfer switch to accomplish this, but 
decided to just say no).

These clients don't hear NO often. On the other hand, they are usually very 
smart and ask good questions. Most of them didn't get rich by accident.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208


On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches 
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> 
wrote:
Still Jason it seems very crazy! When I do energy for a home in your neck, 
usually offgrid, we use mini-splits and in a large home
like you are referring with the grid, the same thing, use a split for a zone, 
like the kitchen and save all that wasted battery capacity backing up the whole 
home. They may be a bit uncomfortable without the grid but they can survive a 
hurricane outage,
or longer.

The strategy of not backing up it all does require the people to be reasonable 
and trainable. Very few central air systems are useable without spending 10's 
of thousands more. I think none unless the owner has more money than brains. 
Good for the economy I guess but all that lithium has to go to the dump someday.

Seems alot of lithium is going to the dump with all these companies building 
batteries and then going out of business also.

Alot of my calls are for systems that the installer has long gone out of 
business. The owner is clueless because they never had
a clue about their power system. No Bueno for sure!  Stay Safe !



Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar

"we go where powerlines don't"

  <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> https://offgridsolar1.com/ 
<http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>

e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net<mailto:offgridso...@sti.net>

text 209 813 0060



On 2025-02-18 9:42 am, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
Haha, we would not have the pool heater on a backup system, but many times 
people want a partial home backup system with whole home annual grid offset.

But for practical purposes around here, full-time residents often just trade 
pool heating for air conditioning based on season. If you size a backup system 
for central air conditioning, sometimes it is technically possible to heat the 
pool off-grid in the winter because the house load is otherwise a fraction of 
what it is in the summer months. In the winter, we sometimes see batteries full 
by 9:00 am and a lot of wasted solar energy.



Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208

On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches 
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> 
wrote:

Sure I get how important it is to electrically heat a pool in a power outage. 😉

Dave An,gelini Offgrid Solar

"we go where powerlines don't"

  <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> https://offgridsolar1.com/ 
<http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>

e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net<mailto:offgridso...@sti.net>

text 209 813 0060



On 2025-02-18 8:05 am, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
There are many 4,000 sq ft pool homes in my area with electric pool heating and 
electric everything else where 25kW would just cover the electric bill. Some 
larger homes around here can definitely require more. Florida Power & Light 
allows up to 50kW on 120/240V split phase service, but only if expected 
production does not exceed an estimated 115% of historical annual usage.


Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208

On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches 
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> 
wrote:
Why is there a need for more than 25KW for residential please? Just curious. In 
Nevada, 25KW is way into commercial.



Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar

"we go where powerlines don't"

  <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> https://offgridsolar1.com/ 
<http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>

e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net<mailto:offgridso...@sti.net>

text 209 813 0060



On 2025-02-17 9:43 am, Tyrone Houck via RE-wrenches wrote:
Greetings wrenches,
In Pacific Power territory we are coming up against roadblocks with regards to 
whole house battery backup systems with inverter ratings higher than 25kw. Even 
when the generation capacity is below the 25kw residential limit, net metering 
applications are being rejected based on the inverter rating.. The inverter 
rating in these cases is sized to handle the customer's existing loads and will 
never export more than the 25kw limit dictated by Oregon PUC.  I am drafting a 
letter to Energy Trust, the state, etc. But am curious if anyone else gas had 
this problem or come up with a solution. I would appreciate to hear any 
experiences or similar interactions with PGE or PPL or even how this has worked 
in other jurisdictions, states, etc. Any input or support is greatly 
appreciated.

Tyrone Houck
Oregon Solarworks LLC
CCB #204937 LRT #076
541-787-1366
tyr...@oregonsolarworks.com<mailto:tyr...@oregonsolarworks.com>




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