u/TooGoodToBeeTrue

Important Note. Running grid-tied generation at a premise will generally raise voltage levels. A proper voltage drop/rise study must be done to insure that resulting voltages do not cause problems at the customer premise and/or to the operation of the inverter.

If there are times when generator output will exceed the load of the premise, this will cause voltage rise across the line transformer and service line to the facility. Be sure this is taken into account when doing a voltage drop/rise analysis. If there are other customers that have grid-tied solar and their premise is fed by the same line transformer, be sure to take that into account when considering voltage rise across the line transformer. If the new generation system causes high voltage for other customers fed by the same transformer, it will be the responsibility of the newest generator installation to remediate the high voltage.

The normal voltage at the meter without generation is 120 V +/- 5% (or other secondary voltages such as 208, 240, 480, etc.). Be sure to assume the highest voltage (+ 5%) at the meter when doing the voltage drop/rise analysis to insure acceptable voltage at the premise and at the inverter. The utility is not responsible for elevated voltage caused by the operation of a generator. The electrical grid has been designed to maintain 120 V +/- 5% (or other standard secondary voltages) during the course of the normal load cycle.

Ok, I might not have the biggest system posted herein, or the nicest looking graph, and I might be a wee bit jealous of bigger producers, but I'm feeling pretty good about yesterday's graph. I have 14E & 3W facing panels and had a flat top graph and lower generation a few weeks back which I thought was clipping, but this seems to prove I'm not clipping. The funky curve at the far right is compliments of a wooded area blocking sunset. Can't help rethinking I should have put a few more panels on the west (who's panels generate 10-20% less than the east), but then I'd have all sots of excess to deal with.

https://preview.redd.it/s3qvutnfby0h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce52026842bff8ce76ffebdf8ed1cc07122ed6ec

Background: I undersized my system (energized 1/5/26) relative to my 180kWh/month EV commuting needs since retirement is on the horizon. I often L2 charge at a county facility a half mile from home for ~60%ish of my at home rate, and have continued to do so while I see how accurate we've predicted consumption and generation. My hope was to have an arbitrary 1GW buffer going into AC season when I'll have a 2-3 cent rate increase. Essentially buying kWhs now at the winter rate, to cover excessive usage I'd have to buy at the summer rate. (Unless we blew it and way oversized.)

So I've been closely monitoring my excess generation in the Enphase app, and loosely monitoring it on my electric bills which have date ranges that are +/- 5 or 6 days from the start/end of the month. I have had excess generation every month except for Jan. So yesterday (5/10) I looked at the app and had ~860 excess credits. I just looked at the most recent bill (issued 5/7) and it shows 999 excess credits. I had 1 day last month that didn't properly record my use/generation but due the weather, I'm certain it was enough to cover the difference.

I didn't expect my numbers to be in lock step with the utility even if I change my month start/end dates, but am shocked and happy to see the excess excess. Should the numbers be closer?

I have an iPhone and cheapo pre paid plan with limited data. I mainly connect for audio books, minimal phone calls/hands free texting and mapping mostly in time critical situations where the native map is too cumbersome. Oops and to check to see if my local L2 is available on my way home from work.

My issue is that the mapping app loads and pinpoints me whenever I plug in. This burns some of my data plan for no reason. Is there any way to keep this from happening other than disabling cellular on the mapping ap?

YT short, I couldn't resist sharing, hope I'm not breaking the rules.

https://preview.redd.it/glswmu2w2czg1.png?width=414&format=png&auto=webp&s=d415b7f0731d9357e05b1d5d26c29302bac3ee9b

My rear wiper was suffering what I felt was premature dismemberment. The blade part was separating through it had seen very few hours of use on my 2024. Some unknown person left an open 12” RainX blade w/arm on the “free to a good home” table in our break room. It sat there several days before I decided to see if I was the right home. I watched a couple replacement videos on YT, determined replacing the whole arm was a no go. Parts for various installs might have been missing, as were any instructions that might have been in the package. I measured the width of the metal stay that holds the rubber blade, it measured the same as the old blade. I destroyed the new arm getting off its blade, but installed it on the old arm without incident. Keeping an eye out on the table for front wipers.