Grid-tie Inverter Analysis

Analysis by Paul Gelling of an inexpensive grid tie inverter. This inverter will plug into a normal wall outlet and allow you to produce 110 V electricity from a wind turbine or solar panel and lower your electric bill. We are going to use this inverter on a wind turbine but first wanted to give it a thorough testing out to make sure it wasn't a lemon.

To buy the grid tie inverter, click the following link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002S5NTZI?ie=UTF8&tag=jesbl03-20&li...

To buy the Kill-a-Watt Power Strip, click the following link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UKSESK?ie=UTF8&tag=jesbl03-20&li...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• grid tie inverter
• green energy
• wind power
• solar power
• Electronics
• DIY
• Gadget

[hotsexybrownguy]

Hey, I just had a quick question about grid tie. I have a 200 watt solar system in my back yard. If i were to get a grid tie inverter and plug it back into the grid, this would never ever turn back the main electricity meter. Will I be pumping electricity to the grid if my main meter never actually turns back?

[embeddedprogrammer]

@hotsexybrownguy Good question. You will still be pumping energy into the grid within your home and thus decreasing your energy bill. The appliances in your own home would draw less current from the electric company.

[pvampire]

I own a very nice 500W grid tie inverter that I was going to use for my solar panels. I would like to use it with my wind generator. Can I hook a grid tie inverter directly to the wind generator? The wind generator puts out anywhere from 9-36 volts depending on the wind. Would that work?

[embeddedprogrammer]

@pvampire That may fry your grid tie inverter. Use a marine battery as a regulator if the grid tie inverter is like many and can't take more than 24Volts.

[eddyogi]

One question, if I have this plug in grid tie inverter plugged in and I am not using any power at all, will it make my grid electricity meter run backwards?

[embeddedprogrammer]

@eddyogi Only if you have the right kind of meter. Many electric companies have put in "greedy" meters.

[doctorfuse007]

Always connect POSITIVE (+) first!

[cliffgaurd]

@pvampire you would need to connect your wind generator to a charge controller then to your inverter. Or find a grid tie inverter that is designed for use with a wind generator.

[solarpanels3]

@eddyogi Yes it will (my smart meter did)

[stavrosfilip]

Hey, great job!!! I have a question for you. I have 4 DIY solar panels 120W, 20V each and I am using a 1200W 14-28V grid tie inverter. With a Kill-a-Watt meter I can measure 280W on the AC side but 10 minutes later it drops to 100W. If I disconnect the DC source for 1 sec and connect it back, I get 280W for some minutes and then it drops again. Can you tell me why is that happening . Thanks.

[hotsexybrownguy]

Hey, I commented on your video a little earlier. We have a smart meter hooked up to our house. Will this concept still work with a smart meter? Lots of people say it wont. I think I know how to test it. If someone out there has tried the grid tie inverter with a digital energy meter, which measures the instantaneous Kwh usage of the entire house (not kill a watt meter), it should show a net decrease in power consumption. I am looking for people who have tried this. Do you know?

[5j5estes]

How to improve GTI & PV PNL system. Home made pnl (72 3x6 cells Voc=36VDC; Vload=24vdc). PNL designed for 24vdc system .Industry suggest 150% volts cell design 36vdc. For 24vdc system. Pmax for PNL is @ 24vdc. Why will GTI shutdown causing voltage to go to 36v; not reverse process.Placing a 2sec short on PNL causes GTI to start work.

[tgsnuwan]

how to find a greedy meter before i buy grid tie inverter?

some one help me plz

[tgsnuwan]

how to find a greedy meter before i buy grid tie inverter?

[digitalfuk]

@hotsexybrownguy NOP, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NET METERING METER INSTALLED BY THE POWER COMPANY THAT WILL RUN FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS.

[hotsexybrownguy]

Hey, I had a quick question about grid tie.

I have a 180 watt 36 V panel and a 85 watt 18 volt panel

A 300 watt grid tie can only handle 14 - 28 VOLTS

A 500 watt grid tie can handle 22 - 60 volts

How the heck would I try to grid tie both panels with just one grid tie inverter, since the voltages do not match up?