Re: [asa] Electric grid

I don't understand why with a generator only system you would have to lose
power when the grid goes down. Square D makes a disconnect that is
specifically designed to enable you to power some circuits in your home when
the grid goes down. The description is at
http://www.squared.com/us/squared/corporate_info.nsf/unid/ECA90110AB7098CA85256A3A007091D7/$file/productsa2zFrameset.htm
This panel sells for between $100 and $200. If you want automatic changeover
you can get a switch that does the job for ~$400.

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM, j burg <hossradbourne@gmail.com> wrote:

> Just for the record, the following is an exchange of emails between me
> and a friend in Rico, Colorado, who generates his electric from solar
> panels.
>
> Me:
>
> > I've been dialoging with some colleagues on the net -- he
> made this > statement about electric systems such as yours:
> >
> > ""And to top it all off. If you want to sell electricity back to the
> grid,
> > it is the law that if the grid goes down, your equipment has to have
> > automatic shut off switches. This means that when you really really need
> > the power, you don't have it. Why is this? Well if your > equipment
> continued to work when the rest of the grid was down, you could >
> electrocute the workers fixing the problem."
>
> My friend:
>
> MY INVERTER HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF SWITCH SO IF THE GRID
> GOES DOWN IT STOPS PUTTING POWER OUT ON THE GRID AND
> SWITCHED AUTOMATICALLY TO MY BATTERY BANK. ALSO IF THE
> LINEMEN NEED TO WORK ON THE LINES THEY CAN SHUT OFF THE
> HOUSE CONNECTION AT THE BOX OUTSIDE AND LOCK IT TIL THEY'RE
> DONE. IF YOUR SYSTEM IS JUST A SELL BACK WITHOUT BATTERIES
> THEN IT'S TRUE THAT IF THE GRID GOES DOWN YOU STILL DON'T
> HAVE ELECTRICITY.
>
> Me:
>
> I add that my friend built his "green" house about 8 or so years ago
> and he reports that it works very well. It can be seen from the road
> (Rt 145) just south of Rico on the east side.It is built into the side
> of the mountain with large windows and solar panels facing south.
>
> Burgy
>
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>

-- 
William E (Bill) Hamilton Jr.
Rochester, MI/Austin, TX
248 821 8156
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