How to use whole solar array in a apocalypse situation
Hi All,
I'm looking for the cheapest option, even if it's not "safe"/to code in a "Grid Gone" situation. I do mean gone not down. Desperate, Donner party vibes. A thought experiment.
I believe the gold standard is an EGP 6000XP/12000xp with two+ 5kwh batteries in AC coupling mode starting at $2800-$3500+ price range.
I have an Anker C2000 2kwh, Wen 3000 running watts inverter generator, and experience and confidence with residential wiring. My solar array is APSystems DS3-L with 17kw of panels so ac coupled from the micro inverter to my load panel.
My understanding is that if I were to close/remove my main breaker and start running a generator my panels may sense a grid and back feed the generator and kill it. Even if I plugged in an uncharged C2000 it would only pull 1800watts and anything my panels produce over that could fry anything connected with over current. This is all because there's nothing to modulate frequency and tell the panels to step down/stop production (I.e. ac coupled inverter)
I think the cheapest option for me would be to purchase a bulk of MC4 cable ends and a backup DC coupling inverter. Then re-terminate the romex cabling with MC4 and put the other end into the inverter. This would mean I'd just need to stock a crimp tool, ferrules, a bunch of MC4 terminators, some batteries, and a DC coupling inverter.
I'd have to research how to configure the strings in series/parallel to not overload 80% of the amperage of the (hopefully) 12ga romex.
Is this a feasible SHTF plan? Is there something in the sub $1000 or sub $2000 range that I can stock? I already have proper PV wiring to hook my Anker C2000 up to my panels directly in a mild emergency but I would love to have a plan to use my whole array in an apocalypse situation.
Thanks for anyone participating in this thought experiment. I'm hopeful with mass adoption of ac coupled balcony solar that some better, affordable options for ac coupled battery systems come out in the next few years.