Home Improvement Asked on July 9, 2021
I know some people have solar panels and produce excess power that they then sell back to the grid. Since they generate some amount of power that they could sell back to the grid.
So hypothetically, if my neighbor and I were the last two loads on the power line, is it conceivable that If we were to experience a blackout, that I could get power off of my neighbors solar panels? (Additionally, if multiple houses kept their load under what was supplied off the solar panel, then could they all share the output?)
Edit: I realize a lot of answers have been posted, but for the original intent of this question I was curious about transferring power from my neighbors house to mine using only existing municipal wiring (eg: not bringing suicide cords or the like into the mix)
Nothing easier. You just need the right gear already installed and ready.
Here's the problem. your neighbor's solar panels are UL 1741 compliant, meaning they are only capable of "Grid Following" - for safety reasons they actively sense the presence or absence of the outside power grid, and shut off altogether when the external grid is absent.
Fortunately, Superstorm Sandy happened. And lots of smug, solar-owning East Coast business leaders and influencers got a rude awakening and told the market "Fix this!"
You'll need to create a local "grid" that looks, walks and quacks like a grid to a UL 1741 grid-tie inverter. A random inverter won't do, you'll need a grid-forming inverter such as a Schneider 40xx. This will fool the solar panels into powering up and doing their thing.
At that point it's a simple matter of disconnecting your neighbor's UL 1741 inverter from the utility and connecting it to your micro-grid. (remember not to backfeed the grid here!)
However... To form a grid, you need a power source. You need a battery for other reasons - as a buffer for a bunch of things, and since you have a battery, might as well use it for that power source. All the commercial gear that does this is built around that assumption, so you're stuck with it unless you want to get an EE degree and build your own.
Once you have established your micro-grid, it's as easy as rewiring your neighbor's UL 1741 grid-tie inverter to talk to your micro-grid instead of the utility grid. Again, don't backfeed the utility grid!
You also need to isolate your own microgrid from the utility grid. There are some sophisticated ways to do that. However I'm all for just using a utility/generator interlock on a "critical loads" subpanel (and by the way if you put every circuit in your house on it, I won't tell ;) You can't use the main panel for that, because certain loads have to be on the utility side.
Correct answer by Harper - Reinstate Monica on July 9, 2021
There is disconnecting hardware to prevent backfeeding into the grid when the power company loses power. These disconnects are similar to the transfer switches required on generators. The disconnecting device is usually or can be locked and inspected by the utility that feeds the grid. It would be highly illegal and dangerous to try and bypass any of this equipment. Just run some extension cords from you neighbor to your house.
Answered by JACK on July 9, 2021
The solar photovoltaic system installed on my house does not provide power if the grid power is unavailable. As noted in the comments, this is to protect linemen, but also to prevent power being distributed in the manner described in the question. It's been difficult to explain to people that we don't have power when it's out, grid-wise.
That was in the past. Nnow that we have a battery backup system for the entire house, the system is configured that we can pull power from the solar panels and from the battery when the grid power is lost. There is still a disconnect in the circuit but it's upstream of the solar panels.
I've discussed with my neighbor about being able to run a line to his refrigerator if the outage is going to be of an extended duration. Due to the current (amperage) limitations of this system, it's not like I'll be able to power half his house, but if he uses an extension cord of sufficient capacity, there should be minimal power drop over the distance.
The last part of the question can be answered thusly. Most homes have only sufficient power generating capacity to operate one house, sometimes not even the entire house.
Powerwalls and the concept of whole house uninterruptible power is a recent development in PV systems.
If the foundation of the question is "can power be drawn from the neighbor's PV system," the answer is yes if there's a battery backup system functioning, no if there is not. The yes answer is not correct for the specific question of using utility lines. That's a solid NO.
Answered by fred_dot_u on July 9, 2021
There are several possible answers to your question. First if your neighbors system is grid tied most shut down when the power goes out.
If there system can “island” them it may produce power for them to use (with the power out this is EXPENSIVE) not many go for the extra expense.
Could you (with there permission) use some of there power? This would be like hooking a generator up with a suicide cord.
if you had a proper power inlet and interlock it could work but only ? 1 ? and this would surprise me if there system would be that large. (That’s why I said only 1). It could not back feed onto the power lines that is what “island” means they are in there own power island.
Answered by Ed Beal on July 9, 2021
I don't know what the other answers are trying to solve.
Based on your question you need a high quality long 10 gauge extension cord, maybe a couple... Sometimes big issues need simpler answers. During an outage his solar panels will not be able to power your furnace or AC but he can hook you up to whatever power he has. There is no reason this has to be hard wired unless you have some expensive delicate stuff that has to be at a certain temp... and then you should get your own generator.
The idea of neighbors tapping into other neighbors power during outages has been going on since electricity was implemented. Extension cords have always been easiest and safest.
Answered by DMoore on July 9, 2021
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