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Operation
900-0020-01-00 Rev A 11
Grid Tied
IMPORTANT:
Selling power to the utility company requires the authorization of the local
electric jurisdiction. The method used by the local utility company to
accommodate this will depend on their policies on this issue. Some may pay
for power sold; others may issue credit. Some policies may prohibit the use of
this mode altogether. Please check with the utility company and obtain their
permission before using this mode.
The Grid Tied mode allows the Radian inverter to become grid-interactive. This means that in addition
to using power from the utility grid for charging and loads, it can also convert excess battery power
and sell it to the utility grid. Excess battery power usually comes from renewable energy sources, such
as PV arrays, hydroelectric turbines, and wind turbines.
In this mode, the inverter will offset the loads with excess renewable energy if it is available from the
batteries. (See page 19 for more information on the Offset function.) If additional energy is available
beyond what is consumed by the loads, the energy will be sold to the utility grid.
The grid-interactive function is referenced heavily in the Battery Charging section, as it is integrally
tied with the battery charger. Where the charger draws power from the AC input and puts it into the
batteries, the grid-interactive function removes power from the batteries (or the DC system) and
returns it to the AC input. When a renewable source of energy raises the batteries above a designated
reference point (or “target”), the inverter exports power in order to bring the voltage back down or to
prevent it from rising further.
The inverter uses several set points as targets for selling, particularly the battery charger settings. In the
MATE3, the
Absorb Voltage
,
Float Voltage
, and
Equalize Voltage
settings are all used as target voltages.
If the battery charger is not active, the target voltage used by the Radian inverter is
Sell Voltage
in the
Grid-Tie Sell
menu. (See page 21 for more information on charging and selling. See the MATE3 Owner’s
Manual to change any of these settings.)
Unlike the other target voltages, the Radian inverter cannot import AC power to raise the batteries to the
Sell Voltage
set point. It can only use excess DC power, if it is available, and export it as AC power.
CHARGING
:
In this mode, when the charger is enabled, the Radian will use the AC source to charge the battery
bank. (See page 20.) It will proceed through the entire battery charging cycle. After the end of the
Float timer, it will continue to alternate between Silent and Re-Float stages, entering the Selling stage
as appropriate.
BENEFITS
:
The most obvious advantage of this mode is the ability to return power to the utility grid.
NOTES
:
The Support function of the Radian inverter is unavailable in this mode.
The inverter has a minimum five-minute delay before selling will begin. Upon initial connection to the utility
grid, the inverter may be required to perform a full battery charge. This may delay the operation of the
grid-interactive feature.
The grid-interactive function only operates when excess DC (renewable) power is available.