Grid-Intertconnected Solar-Electric Systems with Battery Backup

Grid-Intertconnected Solar-Electric Systems with Battery Backup

Without a battery bank or generator backup for your gridintertied system, when a blackout occurs, your household will be in the dark, too. To keep some or all of your electric needs (or “loads”) like lights, a refrigerator, a well pump, or computer running even when utility power outages occur, many homeowners choose to install a grid-intertied system with battery backup. Incorporating batteries into the system requires more components, is more expensive, and lowers the system’s overall efficiency. But for many homeowners who regularly experience utility outages or have critical electrical loads, having a backup energy source is priceless.
The following illustration includes the primary components of any grid intertied solar electric system with battery backup. See this section for an introduction to the function(s) of each component.