Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel

Posted by Jd N on June 22, 2009, 08:39:16 PM

Re: Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel (Reply #5)

Is this cottage also hooked up to a power grid or just solar? It sounds like you just plugged the inverter directly into an already live power outlet, or am I reading this wrong?

Posted by Mike Zaborski on June 22, 2009, 10:01:36 PM

Re: Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel (Reply #6)

No this cottage is not hooked up to the grid. The solar panel and batteries are the only source of power.

Posted by Ken Hall on June 23, 2009, 03:47:29 PM

Re: Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel (Reply #7)

I think that we are going to find that Mike's 1500W inverter is an inexpensive half voltage scheme inverter. And, his 110V panel is grounded, with the neutral bonded to ground in the panel.
So, when he plugged it in, he was pumping 60V into a direct ground. Flash, bang.

Half voltage schemes are a good reason that you should avoid plug in cords (power source) to a distribution panel. Although it is not as dangerous as a cord with male plugs on both ends, it is still a "suicide cord". If you want to use a distribution panel, make sure your inverter has connection terminals for a hard wire scheme.

Posted by Thomas Allen Schmidt on June 24, 2009, 04:16:00 PM

Re: Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel (Reply #8)

What Ken describes makes sense, although the technology doesn't.
Assuming that its 12/2 with a ground Romex wire from the inverter to the panel, just for clarity, you're saying Ken, that these inexpensive half voltage scheme inverters are sending out half the voltage, 60 vac, on the black wire and the other half of, 60 vac, on the white wire and they come together in the load making the full 120 vac? (Which in Mike's case the white neutral wire is bonded to the bare grounded wire or EGC in his panel and 60 vac went to Earth and everywhere the EGC goes.) Yikes!

Would you tell us, what is the advertised trade name for this technology Ken?
I know there is; true sine wave, modified sine wave, and square wave inverters on the market.
How can someone know if they are buying an inexpensive half voltage scheme inverter?

Posted by Ken Hall on June 24, 2009, 11:01:44 PM

Re: Hooking up an Inverter to a 110 Volt Breaker Panel (Reply #9)

Thomas:

I wish there was an advertised trade name, or a requirement that they be plainly labeled as half voltage.Ā

Most of these used to be square wave, many are now modified sine wave. One of these days, I imagine they might even creep into the true sine wave. I haven't seen one yet, but they might exist.

Here are the Samlex FAQ's on grounding and bonding inverters. Numbers 10 and 11 are on point.
http://www.samlexamerica.com/customer_support/faq_06.htm

As far as telling them apart, I would treat any inverter that did not have hard wire terminals (receptacles only) as suspect, until proven otherwise.Ā Many have instructions that say the inverter is not to be wired to a distribution panel, plug in use only.Ā (But who reads instructions, anyway ??)
The ultimate test is a volt meter.

Ken

« Last Edit: June 24, 2009, 11:13:06 PM by ken hall »

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