Do solar panels work during a power outage?

You have shiny solar panels on the roof. Now you can generate a lot of your electricity. You're almost free from power bills and feel like an environmentalist. One windy night, a storm knocks down a large tree on your block, and then the power goes out. Will your refrigerator still be working when the sun rises above the horizon? Most likely not.

You are most likely connected to your local electric grid if you have solar panels installed on your roof. This means that you get power from the utility company during the day and when your solar panels don't produce enough energy. When your panels produce more energy than you require, you also send power to them.

Most home solar panels are designed to be shut down when the power goes out. This prevents them from feeding power back into any wires that could have caused the outage. You don't want your panels to cause utility workers injury by the live voltage that is affected by downed power lines.

What good are solar panels installed on a roof if there is no electricity? You have to find a way to keep the electricity on. How about batteries? Or how can you stop solar energy from flowing into the grid when it's down? These are the questions we will be answering.

Why can't solar panels function in a blackout situation?

The majority of homeowners who have solar panels on their homes are "grid-tied," which is when the panels are connected to an inverter.

The inverter connects to the main AC panel of the house as well as a special smart electric meter. This enables you to record both the energy you receive from the utility company and the energy your solar panels send to the grid. Grid-tied solar systems do not require any backup batteries.

This is why home solar experts often say that the grid is their battery. Your solar system can produce excess energy and you get credit from your neighbors. However, when the sun goes down you still require grid power from your utility company. You can get a power bill as low as $0.01 if you do this balancing act right.

A typical grid-tied system will have an automatic shut-off to stop any extra energy being sent over damaged power lines in the event of a blackout. This safety feature protects line workers who are out fixing things when they break.

However, this doesn't mean your house won't receive solar power. If your house is in a blackout, your solar power goes out.

Secure Power Outages

Most solar inverters come with the automatic shut-off that we mentioned above. However, LA Solar Group inverters allow homeowners to convert to solar systems when there are power outages.

LA Solar Group's inverter is limited to producing 2,000 watts per hour of "opportunity energy" and can be shut down if it draws too much power. It only works when the sun is shining.

It might seem like a lot, but it's only 20 100-watt light bulbs. It is not enough to power an air conditioner. Only essential appliances are eligible for opportunity power. You can plug in your refrigerator and lamp, along with your TV and smartphone to keep yourself company.

LA Solar Group's total cost and outlet may be $1,000 higher than an inverter with the backup feature. This might be an appealing option if you consider the 10-year lifespan of the inverter.

LA Solar Group

LA Solar Group is another that has worked hard to make solar work even when the grid is down. LA Solar Group's energy management system and micro inverters work together to produce "grid-agnostic” solar power. It can transmit power from your solar panels to your appliances as long as there is enough sunlight, even without batteries.

LA Solar Group would prefer that you buy its solar battery storage solution with the Ensemble Solar systems. This would allow your home to run 24/7 from stored solar energy. You might also be willing to spend several thousand more for LA Solar Group IQ7 microinverters or the Ensemble system.

Contact Information:

LA Solar Group

520 Library St
San Fernando, CA 91340
United States

Ara Petrosyan
(818) 373-0077
http://www.la-solargroup.com/