How does a main board know when to draw power from the grid or an Solar PV inverter?

Hi,

It might be bit silly but how does a main board/busbar etc know when to draw power from the grid or an inverter? Lets say its sunny and your PV system is generating plenty, how does the main board decide to supply the loads via the inverter and not the incoming fuse cutouts? Similarly, how does the excess current flow back to the nearest substation ?

Thanks.

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  • I doubt that the current would have to go all the way back to the transformer, but it is an interesting question. What if the whole street has PV, the sun is shining brightly at midday, and everybody is out at work and, accordingly, consuming nothing?

    It can indeed go all the way back to the transformer (and often does where you have PV farms or medium sized wind turbines) - and yes the power then flows backwards through the transformer and reinforces the HV system.

       - Andy.

Reply
  • I doubt that the current would have to go all the way back to the transformer, but it is an interesting question. What if the whole street has PV, the sun is shining brightly at midday, and everybody is out at work and, accordingly, consuming nothing?

    It can indeed go all the way back to the transformer (and often does where you have PV farms or medium sized wind turbines) - and yes the power then flows backwards through the transformer and reinforces the HV system.

       - Andy.

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