For as long as we’ve been in business (15 years) if you wanted to use a large solar panel array during a power outage it required some pretty expensive solutions, such as much more array wiring, combiner boxes, and reduced system efficiency.  Now there is a simple way to keep that PV working when the grid goes down, and if you are interested we would like to tell you about it.  It involves an “AC-coupled” inverter and battery set that can be powered by your solar panels during a power outage.  The key component is a charge controller that takes the high voltage (300-500VDC) from a PV array, new or existing, and steps it down to charge a 48VDC battery pack of any size, which then provides power to critical circuits through an inverter/charger.  This allows your PV system to work at maximum efficiency while there is grid power, and when the grid is down, the PV becomes a battery charger to keep your lights on and refrigerator running, even during an extended outage.  We are in the process of designing some pre-engineered solutions so let us know if you would like to receive more information about this upgrade.