No. of Recommendations: 4
I suspect different utilities have different rules, so yours in WA may allow what you describe. Though I believe backup generators work the same way, and they allow those. It was just solar, apparently. Or maybe it's because we're residential (i.e. they might not allow an automatic backup generator either). - 1pg
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I didn't comment when the grid connection for solar was discussed. However, I do have a 32KW whole house generator that runs on propane. The setup includes a transfer switch that connects to the grid, the generator and the home.
The transfer switch passes grid power to the home in normal operation. If the transfer switch detects loss of grid power for 15 seconds, it will signal the generator to fire up. It lets the generator spin up for 30 seconds and then disconnects the home from the grid and transfers the load to the generator.
The transfer switch will monitor the grid while the generator feeds the home. When it detects grid power for 15 continuous seconds, it will switch the load back to the grid, and signal the generator to shut down. All automatic, easy peasy. I don't see why solar would be any different solar as far as the transfer switch goes.
