3 phase solar inverter

bwise863 said:

I've been asked to help facilitate the installation of a 100 kw 3 phase commercial pv system. There are some budget concerns. The inverters that we've looked at are quite expensive and are hoping there is a work around.
1. Can we use a single phase pv system that backfeeds the 3 phase main panel?

2. Can we use 3 single phase pv inverters and wire it in such a way that it is essentially the same as a 3 phase inverter? (someone told me you can)

I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks,
Byron

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 3 phase inverter for solar panels.

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1. If you do, you would need a switch scheme that would isolate out the 1 phase loads that you want to run off of the inverter from the 3 phase utility source, you cannot have them co-exist. I doubt by the time you were done with all that that you would have saved anything.
2. Only if the 3 separate 1 phase inverters are designed to coordinate with each other in a 3 phase arrangement, in which case, they would more likely be more expensive than a single 3 phase inverter.

I'm not sure I follow your logic on investigating this. If you need 3 phase, you need 3 phase and it costs what it costs. Someone should have looked into that before deciding to go through with this.

One thing to make sure you are looking at correctly. There are essentially two types of inverters, Grid Connect and Off-Line. If they are wanting to be isolated off the grid when using the solar PV system, i.e. a transfer switch connects either one way OR the other, then make sure you are not buying a more expensive Grid Connect inverter.

If however they do want to have the PV system feed excess power back into the utility, then again, no way around using a Grid Connect inverter and it will cost you.

I'm not sure I follow your logic on investigating this. If you need 3 phase, you need 3 phase and it costs what it costs. Someone should have looked into that before deciding to go through with this.One thing to make sure you are looking at correctly. There are essentially two types of inverters, Grid Connect and Off-Line. If they are wanting to be isolated off the grid when using the solar PV system, i.e. a transfer switch connects either one way OR the other, then make sure you are not buying a more expensive Grid Connect inverter.If however they do want to have the PV system feed excess power back into the utility, then again, no way around using a Grid Connect inverter and it will cost you.