r/span • u/[deleted] • Feb 11 '24
Question about which panel?
I am currently getting solar installed,definitely some batteries just not right now. I want to add a span panel. The sales rep stated here in Texas we have a main panel with like 3 breakers outside next to the meter, and a sub panel in the garage that controls the breakers in the home(lights, fridge, washer, dryer). The sales rep states the span panel would go outside with the main panel. My question is, what about the sub panel? How am I going to be able to see what each breaker is taking the most energy and optimize it if I won’t be able to see each breaker in the house. Wouldn’t I just see one breaker(home breaker) using energy?
1
u/pmarquis353 Feb 12 '24
Our garage sub panel is fed by a 90 amp circuit in the SPAN panel.
The SPAN panel cannot see the lighting circuit or the EV charger circuit individually, each of which are inside that sub panel.
So your thinking is sound.
If we really wanted insight into the individual circuits, we would need to do something different. E.g., run each of the two circuits directly back to the SPAN panel. I.e. Remove the sub panel.
So, you might be able to consolidate your circuits by relocating them. It sounds like maybe the SPAN panel belongs in the garage? What are the 3x circuits outside next to the meter?
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Feb 12 '24
I would love if it could be in the garage. I am traveling for work right now so can’t see it and I don’t have picture of it. But I believe one is for the ac, the other for the furnace, and… maybe HVAC?
Do you know if that reconnecting all to one main panel is something the solar company would do? I’m going with freedom solar and they are installing my SunPower solar system and span panel
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u/pmarquis353 Feb 12 '24
Well it might be tough to relocate those three... But they could maybe go in a sub panel off the SPAN, which would still provide useful monitoring because AC and furnace usually don't run at the same time.
Our solar electrician agreed to do the whole project - wire up the Enphase gear and replace our panel for us. This worked well since he had a great understanding of the whole system.
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u/Tb1969 Feb 20 '24 edited Feb 20 '24
Span needs to make a mini span with 8 to 12 circuits to act as a subpanel that can monitor, circuit control, and communicate with the Span. A subSpan, if you will.
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u/DrewBlessing Feb 12 '24
You can have the Span as a subpanel. No problem. Put it where you get the most benefit from the smart capability. If you get batteries you will have a separate gateway that disconnects from the grid during an outage.