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Twenty four US states are now considering legislation to allow small, plug-in solar power systems that connect directly into a wall socket. (www.nytimes.com)

submitted 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/energy@slrpnk.net

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I'm a little wary of plug-in solar in the US. Some of the bills propose allowing 1200 watt panels which can overload wiring depending on what else is on the circuit and how in the wall wiring is run. Limiting plug-in panel wattage to, say, 400 watts might be necessary

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[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 11 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Could be an issue for older homes with 14g branch circuits, but honestly i dont see 1200 watts being much of an issue on 20A circuits with 12g wire. Code required pretty much all branch circuits to be GFCI or AFCI protected now as well. Obviously that doesn't mean anything for older homes that haven't been updated yet, but AFCIs will catch the problems. Almost too aggressively.

1200 watts is only 10 amps, and branch circuits are laid out much more sensibly now than in previous decades.

Idk, as long as the home isnt like a double-wide from the 70s it should be fine.

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

There are a lot of older homes with really messed up wiring.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 11 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I mean, yes. That's how I make my living, im an electrician. But once again, supplying 10 amps is really not a risk in the majority of cases imo

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net -2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

My big concern is that somebody plugs a panel in plus two high-amp appliances, like a space heater and a microwave, in a sequence that means they don't trip a breaker.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 19 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Microwave on a dedicated circuit above counter in kitchens and gfci protected per code

You're not putting a space heater on your kitchen counter

And once again youre supplying up to 1200w, not drawing 1200w. Any power supply system will just be matching the load being drawn

I really dont think this is the degree of a problem you think it is

[–] cynar@lemmy.world 1 points 57 minutes ago

I think the issue is that, if you have a circuit designed and protected for X, then put Y solar in, you can get a situation where X+Y is flowing down some of the wires. It's more than they are rated for, but the breaker doesn't see it.