The lines to my house are buried... would take a pretty ambitious "doper". Nothing's "fool proof" because fools are so innovative.

I can imagine a second case: Go into island mode during those hours of the day when the price of electricity is highest.

I guess that depends on whether you have a "net metering" agreement with the power company and how strapped you are for cash. Operating in "island mode" without batteries is a highly inconvenient / problematic process. If your load ever demands more than the array can supply, then the line voltage will fall below specifications and the array will shut down... at which point, you will have to go through the complicated startup process all over again.

Illegall in many locations!
 

If you didn't have a "net metering" agreement with the power company,
(like many bootleg GTI users), you could limit your GTI output (using amount of PV connected)
to an amount that was less than your house was currently using.

That seems to be one way of not 'running the meter backward'..
But rather, allow it to run forwards, just much slower.. :p


It would be very simple to implement at my house, using a current sensor
on my Sanyo 230vac line, to connect 9vdc to an 120AC SSR that was in
series with the AC connection of a 120v GTI.. (If the GTI had some PV connected).

I could actually build this gizmo in about 5 minutes.. :D
But, all my PV is currently being used.. :o

Grid Tie System
 

I have 4 60 watt panels (averaging about 21 volts in direct sunlight wired parallel), and when I connect them to my grid tie inverter the voltage drops to 5 to 6 volts. I am trying to go directly from the panels to the inverters, Do I have to have a voltage regulator, or a battery bank? I was told that I could go directly to the inverter, but so far this has not worked because the inverters only function 12-28v and when hooked up they drop to 6. Any ideas?

Yeah it should work. A GTI should be connected to PV (never a battery).

I see you are saying, "I am trying to go directly from the panels to the inverters, "

How many inverters are you connecting to the PV??

PV meaning the panel itself? I have 4-60w but I was just trying to connect one for testing purposes. I just cant get the inverter to turn on (because when I hook up to the inverter my voltage drops to 5.8), I am also just using 16 Gauge wire for the testing purposes, could that possibly be my problem?, although when I test it before I hook up the inverter through that same wire the voltage is 21v, so I am not sure that would be the problem.

I don't know what kind of inverter you have, but I'm gonna guess it's rated a lot higher than 60w..
Grid tie inverters have a minimum input wattage spec. Check your manual.

Connect three or four of those panels in parallel, and see what happens.

Interesting Web Site 120 volt Micro Inverter/Panels
 

Hey, Just to let you guys know there is a startup company in Rhode Island, USA that is now making 245 watt mono crystalline solar panels with an installed micro inverter in 240 or 120 volt AC that is able to plug into an outsude recepticle. They are UL approved. If you want check out their company it is SpinRayenergy. They have a cool web site with info.

Nice.. And 120vac too! No need to find a 230 outlet.. ;)

But before you hang one of these on your deck and plug it into your outlet,
wind, SpinRay Energy N.Scituate, RI Solar Panels

http://spinrayenergy.com/images/436_DSC00643-1.JPG

You will need to get it approved by your power company.
And around here, you are going to need town approval too.

Not sure Nstar will give me a free Net-Meter for 245 watts..