Solar 120 Rule Sub Panel

Because the subpanel will backfeed into the main panel i assume i will have to apply the rules to the main panel too.

Solar 120 rule sub panel. The inverter breaker in the sub panel is the breaker to use in the calculations. The bus will overload overheat and fail possibly catastrophically. The 2011 code was clean understandable and easy to safely apply. In a previous article the 120 rule explained 2011 nec 705 12 d 2 we clarified the philosophy of the 120 rule for load supply side interconnections of solar pv systems.

That 50a breaker in the main panel that is supplying the power to the sub panel is located in the middle of the main panel. How to wire grounds and neutrals in sub panels all the neutrals and ground wire and terminal bars must be separated from each other and your sub feed should be a 4 wire cable that has a separated insulated neutral wire and a separate ground wire. In the 2014 national electric code 705 12 d 2 was expanded to describe how to do a load side tap on feeders buses. Grounds and neutrals in electrical panel.

The solar is acting like a backdoor allowing additional current to feed the loads. This is what the 120 rule is protecting against. If i have to apply the rules to the main panel i have to follow the 120 rule unless i upgrade that panel. More about wiring a sub panel.

The 120 rule also known as 690 64 b 2 is explained. For example picture a 200a main breaker box feeding a 125a sub panel through a 100a breaker with a 100a main breaker in the 125a sub panel. That sub panel can have a 40a breaker added to it for the 7600w inverter as 100a 40a 140a which is under the 150a. Examples are given to illustrate how it works in real situations.