Hey, did you lose power in the wind storm?

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Sep 2, 2015

For as long as we’ve been in business (15 years) if you wanted to use a large solar panel array during a power outage it required some pretty expensive solutions, such as much more array wiring, combiner boxes, and reduced system efficiency.  Now there is a simple way to keep that PV working when the grid goes down, and if you are interested we would like to tell you about it.  It involves an “AC-coupled” inverter and battery set that can be powered by your solar panels during a power outage.  The key component is a charge controller that takes the high voltage (300-500VDC) from a PV array, new or existing, and steps it down to charge a 48VDC battery pack of any size, which then provides power to critical circuits through an inverter/charger.  This allows your PV system to work at maximum efficiency while there is grid power, and when the grid is down, the PV becomes a battery charger to keep your lights on and refrigerator running, even during an extended outage.  We are in the process of designing some pre-engineered solutions so let us know if you would like to receive more information about this upgrade.

About The Author - Jeremy Smithson

Started Puget Sound Solar in 2001 with 30 years of construction contracting experience, and a desire to turn Seattle on to solar energy. Achieving NABCEP certification in 2004, Jeremy believes that our customers often follow a path similar to the one he took, starting out with solar daydreaming, then progressing to education on the subject, and eventually leading to action. In addition to leading the company he also does some teaching and speaking engagements about various aspects of solar energy, and experiments relentlessly with various solar, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle projects.

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