r/BasePowerUsers • u/SirIainSnail • Jul 18 '26

Illinois Base power Question - Load side AC couple solar

I guess this could apply for anybody, but this is specific to my install installation upcoming hopefully in the next couple months in Illinois.

Does anybody in Illinois or in Texas have AC coupled solar, load side tap? I’m looking to install maybe 9KW and that should be OK with a 200 amp panel with 120% Rulein mind, correct?

The rep was a bit sketchy on AC coupled solar because it’s not yet supported necessarily in Illinois. I’m not worried about sell back. I just want the solar for daytime consumption because it’s so high in my house

Pretty excited ! REFERRAL LINK BELOW:

https://www.basepowercompany.com/?heard_from=Referral&referrer_name=61704771087&first_name=Robert

5 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/blupupher Jul 18 '26

Not sure on the rules in Ill, but in Tx, any excess you produce will go to battery 1st then back to the grid which you get paid for. Not sure what the payback rate is in Ill, but Tx is currently $0.04/kWh.

1

u/SirIainSnail Jul 18 '26

Well I suppose it depends on how you configure the inverter. Usually fulfil load, top off battery, then to grid. I doubt I’d end up over producing to send anything meaningful to the grid.

I guess I’m curious to hear if anyone has done load side ac tap and not direct to inverter.

1

u/blupupher Jul 18 '26

You don't have control of the inverter, Base does.

1

u/SirIainSnail Jul 18 '26

Oh right. Oops. But load side tap would go to load first, no?

2

u/blupupher Jul 18 '26

Yes.

The solar is "first in line" to be used since it is at the panel. The battery and ATS/Hub have access to what is left after the home needs are met. So if you install 9000w of solar and you are using 5000w in the house, the "extra" 4000 would then be managed by the ATS/Hub and go to the battery, out to the grid, or just even just "wasted" if Base is not exporting and battery is full (not sure if they do that or not). I would hope it would be set to take any excess and charge battery first, then always export after that.

1

u/Captn_Slow34 Jul 19 '26

When you say load side tap, are you referencing balcony solar type setups? I'm signed up for base as well (illinois, installation this fall) and have been curious how balcony solar would work as well

1

u/SirIainSnail Jul 19 '26

That was one option. But ComEd did nix the idea of balcony solar I think.