A couple more options that are available:
Replace the main panel (not upgrade the service to 400A) with another 200A panel. This panel should have one of the following:
a. add'l SUPPLY SIDE busbar space for a (N) PV supply side breaker
b. add'l supply side lug provisions (to connect a separate PV fused disco to).
c. a "split service" panel with two main breaker locations.
d. a MLO panel, a main panel with no single main breaker.
In all cases, as they are supply side PV connections, 200A is the PV limit.
2. DOWNSIZING main breaker in existing panel won't work IMHO.
If this service needs 2 @ 50A of PV....100 A (!) that indicates so much demand for power that i think this biz/residence (?) would be the last service that could handle a downsized main breaker that would limit power supply to service. And....as GGUNN pointed out that main breaker would have to be 140A tops...which in practice means 125A, right?
For reference, I don't think I have even connected more than 60A tops to a 200A service. Let alone 100A of PV!
100 AMps stile xceeds the 120% rule on a 400 A service!
Why so much amps of PV? What are the inverters? Are they oversized?
I have found that when trying to cram 50% of the service rating in PV....the service just needs to be larger in teh first case, just for their demands. . Way larger.
It;s like adding 50A of PV to a dinky 100A service.
Replace the main panel (not upgrade the service to 400A) with another 200A panel. This panel should have one of the following:
a. add'l SUPPLY SIDE busbar space for a (N) PV supply side breaker
b. add'l supply side lug provisions (to connect a separate PV fused disco to).
c. a "split service" panel with two main breaker locations.
d. a MLO panel, a main panel with no single main breaker.
In all cases, as they are supply side PV connections, 200A is the PV limit.
2. DOWNSIZING main breaker in existing panel won't work IMHO.
If this service needs 2 @ 50A of PV....100 A (!) that indicates so much demand for power that i think this biz/residence (?) would be the last service that could handle a downsized main breaker that would limit power supply to service. And....as GGUNN pointed out that main breaker would have to be 140A tops...which in practice means 125A, right?
For reference, I don't think I have even connected more than 60A tops to a 200A service. Let alone 100A of PV!
100 AMps stile xceeds the 120% rule on a 400 A service!
Why so much amps of PV? What are the inverters? Are they oversized?
I have found that when trying to cram 50% of the service rating in PV....the service just needs to be larger in teh first case, just for their demands. . Way larger.
It;s like adding 50A of PV to a dinky 100A service.
