Adding an Inverter and electrical Path

[shearder]

Hey guys,

So I have a company doing an inverter installation with 2 x 4.8kwh batteries wired to thed DB.

QUESTION: what stops the power reaching the grid when power goes off WITHOUT dropping the mains switch?? If the inverter feeds into the DB, SURELY it can reach the grid if the mains is up?

 

[SHL]

What does the company that's doing the installation say?

 

[sgs]

Usually the grid feeds your inverter, and the inverter feeds your DB in turn.
So the grid never feeds the DB directly - if it falls away, the inverter just has to rely on battery power and cannot pull power from the grid.

 

[shearder]

What does the company that's doing the installation say?

They just said it won't back feed. Didn't explain why which is why I'm curious

 

[shearder]

Usually the grid feeds your inverter, and the inverter feeds your DB in turn.
So the grid never feeds the DB directly - if it falls away, the inverter just has to rely on battery power and cannot pull power from the grid.

Ah ok that makes sense. Thanks it would be disconnected from the mains and run via the inverter and back in.

 

[Sparkz0629]

From what i understand, your mains should feed into the inverter.
Then the batteries also feed into the inverter.
And lastly the inverter feeds into your DB board to power your house.

This way the inverter manages where it gets power from and does the switch overs for you

 

[Steamy Tom]

your DB will be split as someone else above mentioned.

incoming power will feed your inverter input as well as probably certain items like your geyser and oven. then your inverter output will go to another main switch input (earth leakage whatever you want to call it) and that will output to the other circuits.

The inverter has a distinct in and out

 

[deweyzeph]

By law a cutover switch must be installed so that the inverter and the mains can never power the DB board at the same time. Even if you plan to direct the mains through the inverter and then to the DB board, you will still require a cutover switch in case you need to take the inverter offline.

 

[Steamy Tom]

By law a cutover switch must be installed so that the inverter and the mains can never power the DB board at the same time. Even if you plan to direct the mains through the inverter and then to the DB board, you will still require a cutover switch in case you need to take the inverter offline.

this for sure. essentially a 3 way switch. down mains bypass, middle tripped, up inverter feed

 

[deweyzeph]

Usually the grid feeds your inverter, and the inverter feeds your DB in turn.
So the grid never feeds the DB directly - if it falls away, the inverter just has to rely on battery power and cannot pull power from the grid.

That's a terrible setup. If your inverter stops working for whatever reason then you have no way to power the DB board directly from the mains. Far better (and legal) to install a cutover switch so you can bypass the entire inverter/battery system if you need to.