2 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

That is how grid tied inverters work. It is a MUST to ensure safety to the people working on the Eskom side.
And that is why there are hybrid inverters, inverters who will still use the panels to power the loads, the always on loads, after having disconnected from Eskom, anti-islanding.

I don't think this is quite the reason. I think it's more a technical issue than a legal issue. i.e. the inverter needs a stable reference voltage to work. This is how the Axperts work, for example. Without batteries it won't work as it needs a stable voltage reference. So with the grid gone there's no stable voltage reference.

And then you get the hybrid grid tie inverters with batteries built-in.

48 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said:

I don't think this is quite the reason. I think it's more a technical issue than a legal issue. i.e. the inverter needs a stable reference voltage to work. This is how the Axperts work, for example. Without batteries it won't work as it needs a stable voltage reference. So with the grid gone there's no stable voltage reference.

And then you get the hybrid grid tie inverters with batteries built-in.

are you saying with batteries it will continue to operate with solar? or at very least power off the batteries whilst providing charge to teh batteries from solar?

25 minutes ago, Dex_ said:

are you saying with batteries it will continue to operate with solar

yes. the inverter disconnects from the grid but keeps on supplying power to the back up output using solar (first preference) or the batteries or a mix of the two depending on availability. 

3 minutes ago, Fuenkli said:

yes. the inverter disconnects from the grid but keeps on supplying power to the back up output using solar (first preference) or the batteries or a mix of the two depending on availability. 

then i dont understand this thread? is he saying basically saying he has an inverter with solar and no back up?

6 minutes ago, Dex_ said:

is he saying basically saying he has an inverter with solar and no back up?

yes

1 minute ago, Fuenkli said:

yes

ah ok great this makes way more sense now. though i do agree it "seems" silly it can't work but as others have said there are reasons for this

1 hour ago, Dex_ said:

are you saying with batteries it will continue to operate with solar? or at very least power off the batteries whilst providing charge to teh batteries from solar?

Yes.

2 hours ago, SilverNodashi said:

I don't think this is quite the reason.

The technical people debate the finer technical details on the "how does it work" and "why it is right / wrong". 🙂 

The the rest of us, grid goes down, grid tied inverter goes off. End of story. 
Reason - if asked: To protect the people on the "other side".

Edited April 8, 20197 yr by Guest

7 hours ago, SilverNodashi said:

inverter needs a stable reference voltage to work

Not necessarily. SMA has a feature called SPS (Secure Power Supply), it can create a 230V output directly from PV without batteries, up to a certain limit (not full power). Most PV-inverters are actually quite capable of running on their own steam, using a phase locked loop that's synced with the grid frequency rather than the grid frequency itself.

12 minutes ago, plonkster said:

Not necessarily. SMA has a feature called SPS (Secure Power Supply), it can create a 230V output directly from PV without batteries, up to a certain limit (not full power). Most PV-inverters are actually quite capable of running on their own steam, using a phase locked loop that's synced with the grid frequency rather than the grid frequency itself.

There's always a caveat. And always a solution that does it different to the norm. SPS only gives power to that dedicated plug though. I don't know, or rather don't think, you can feed the SPS power into the house DB.