GW2 Site and Conductor Limits

[Vines]

Curious what others experience with AHJ approving these types of designs or not?

Does anyone have one of these labels in their Gateway 2? We are just starting to use this as an alternative approach, so haven't had any issues to this point. In general though we try to create compliant installations with either the 100% or 120% rules, so haven't had a bunch get approved either.

I am curious what others experience is if you are in the industry, or an interested tinkerer.

Theoretically this will save many many panel upgrades, and give away no safety.

 

[SoCal Dave]

Do you also put a similar sticker in the main panel with the feed breaker? Something so if someone looks at it they will know what the maximum power feeding into that panel?

 

[Vines]

Do you also put a similar sticker in the main panel with the feed breaker? Something so if someone looks at it they will know what the maximum power feeding into that panel?

To this point only in the Gateway 2, but I can see an AHJ might want both.

 

[CrazyRabbit]

i'm guessing you set the current limit in the GW so as to not overcurrent the distribution panel(s)

if you have 10 powerwalls at 20 amps/each that is 200 amps, plus you could have 60 amps or more of solar, that would be 260 amps of generation and you may need to limit the current from the powerwalls with the GW..

if the distribution panel was a 400 amps and with the generation landing on the distribution panel you could set the current limit to 260 amps???

 

[Vines]

Current limit can never exceed the 200A rating of the Gateway 2.
Maximum setting is at 160A.

 

[SoCal Dave]

To this point only in the Gateway 2, but I can see an AHJ might want both.

Yah, I'm thinking something like this might be appropriate:

 

[CrazyRabbit]

Current limit can never exceed the 200A rating of the Gateway 2.
Maximum setting is at 160A.

GW can only handle 200 amps across it. but your generation panel can theoretically exceed 200 amps if not limited in software.
there are situations where you might be allowed to exceed more then 200 amps of generation. say you have 10 powerwalls and 60 amps of solar. tesla commands the powerwalls to power the grid (DG) and you are at full solar output with the house load at 60 amps. depending on how the system is wired it would be allowable as nothing would be overloaded. sounds like new regulations might allow software limitations of current.

 

[Vines]

GW can only handle 200 amps across it. but your generation panel can theoretically exceed 200 amps if not limited in software.
there are situations where you might be allowed to exceed more then 200 amps of generation. say you have 10 powerwalls and 60 amps of solar. tesla commands the powerwalls to power the grid (DG) and you are at full solar output with the house load at 60 amps. depending on how the system is wired it would be allowable as nothing would be overloaded. sounds like new regulations might allow software limitations of current.

There is not a software limit of generation output, only throughput through the Gateway 2.

You are correct that more than 200A of generation can be deployed as long as it doesnt cross the gateway threshold, and is NEC compliant otherwise with sizing.

The theoretical largest system could have 200A of PV generation (160A continuous) and 10 Powerwalls for another 300A of Powerwalls (240A continuous). It would just take a 600A subpanel to be compliant with the 120% rule.