connecting generator to solar inverter

[blu3 li4m]

my dad's trying to figure out a safe way to connect his 4000W DeWalt generator to his solar setup.

He's got a 10kW PowMr Sunsmart inverter, and he's worried about the 'dirty' power from the generator damaging the inverter's AC input.
He was thinking of running the generator through a THD filter or maybe even a UPS to clean up the power first.

I'm hesitant, will that actually work, or is it overkill? Is there a better way to do it? Any advice would be a huge help!

 

[Power4Home]

If you're dealing with power issues, using a THD filter or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can certainly help, but it might be more than you really need. You could try connecting the generator straight to the inverter's AC input since the PowMr Sunsmart inverter is built to handle different types of input power. However, if you still experience problems, looking into a dedicated inverter generator might be a good solution for more reliable, cleaner power.

 

[aicrag_reave]

Before hooking up a generator, check the PowMr's specs first. Newer hybrid inverters, such as the Sunsmart series, usually work with generators and have filters inside. The manual should tell you what THD levels and voltage ranges are fine for the AC input.

 

[causticresin_08]

If you're dealing with power issues, using a THD filter or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can certainly help, but it might be more than you really need. You could try connecting the generator straight to the inverter's AC input since the PowMr Sunsmart inverter is built to handle different types of input power. However, if you still experience problems, looking into a dedicated inverter generator might be a good solution for more reliable, cleaner power.

I'm new to solar setups so I have a quick question, does the Sunsmart automatically switch between grid, solar, and generator input, or do I need to set that manually?

 

[BradBjorn]

The best thing your dad can do is to match the generator output to the inverter input first. Make sure to include the voltage and phase.

Keep in mind that a 120 volt generator will not feed a 240 volt split phase input unless the inverter can be set to single phase 120.

Lastly, you will need to use a proper transfer switch to isolate sources and avoid backfeed. Then confirm the inverter allows charging from a generator on the AC input before relying on it.