MPPT Regulators, Pure Sine Wave Bi-Directional inverters, Grid Tied Inverters, and Grid Tied Limiters

are designed, developed, and manufactured by MICROCARE in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Microcare Single Phase

Grid Tied Limiter

1st Floor Neave Industrial Park, 7 Bennett Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth – P O Box 7227, Newton Park, 6055 – Email: info@microcare.co.za
Tel: 041 453 5761 Fax: 041 453 5763 – VAT Registered: 4480110222 – www.microcare.co.za
1. System without the Grid Tied Limiter:

DC
AC

PV ARRAY GRID TIED

INVERTER

A1

A3 A2

B1
AC LOAD
HOUSEHOLD OR
POWER GRID INDUSTRIAL

1.1. The grid tied inverter feeds all of the power available from the solar panels
(A1) to the AC Load (A2), all excess power is then exported to the Grid (A3). If
the Gird fails (Grid V = 0v) then the grid tied inverter will turn off. When the
Grid comes back on line the grid tied inverter will export power back again.
1.2. If the grid tied inverter is producing less power than what is required by the
AC LOAD then the load will be supplemented with power from the Grid (B1).
1.3. If the grid tied inverter is producing more power than what is required by the
AC LOAD then the excess power will be exported to the Grid (A3).
1.4. Power Meters (Except Smart Meters) are not aware of the direction of
power flow. They will charge for power in both directions and this is a
problem. (B1 and A3).
1.5. The GRID TIED LIMITER will fix this problem by preventing the export of
power to the grid (A3)

1st Floor Neave Industrial Park, 7 Bennett Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth – P O Box 7227, Newton Park, 6055 – Email: info@microcare.co.za
Tel: 041 453 5761 Fax: 041 453 5763 – VAT Registered: 4480110222 – www.microcare.co.za
2. System with the Grid Tied Limiter:

DC
AC

PV GRID TIED
ARRAY INVERTER
A1
AC LOAD
A3 A2 HOUSEHOLD OR
INDUSTRIAL
POWER GRID TIED
GRID
B1
LIMITER

2.1 The GRID TIED LIMITER will Prevent the grid tied inverter from exporting
power back into the Grid (A3).

2.2 The GRID TIED LIMITER will measure the power required by the load (A2) and
notify the grid tied inverter To Limit the power generated (A1) to equal that
of the AC Load (A2). Because no extra power is generated no power can be
exported (A3).

1st Floor Neave Industrial Park, 7 Bennett Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth – P O Box 7227, Newton Park, 6055 – Email: info@microcare.co.za
Tel: 041 453 5761 Fax: 041 453 5763 – VAT Registered: 4480110222 – www.microcare.co.za
3. System Setup and Function:

Height = 210mm
Width = 215mm
Depth = 100mm
Weight = < 2Kg

MAINS

AC LOAD
HOUSEHOLD OR
GRID TIED INDUSTRIAL
INVERTER

RS 485 COM
Connection
(Cable Supplied)

POWER – (Flashing) GREEN LED –

Power is present.

COM – GREEN LED –

Shows that there is communication with the grid tied inverter through the
RS485 Connection.

LIMIT – YELLOW LED –

Shows that the GRID TIED LIMITER is restricting the power produced by the
grid tied inverter.

1st Floor Neave Industrial Park, 7 Bennett Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth – P O Box 7227, Newton Park, 6055 – Email: info@microcare.co.za
Tel: 041 453 5761 Fax: 041 453 5763 – VAT Registered: 4480110222 – www.microcare.co.za
4. DIP Switch Settings:

4.1 DIP Switches 1 & 2 are used for the Grid Tied Inverter Selection:

INVERTER SELECTION - DIP SWITCHES 1 & 2

1 2 Result
OFF OFF 1.5 Kw GTI
ON OFF 3Kw GTI
OFF ON 5Kw GTI
ON ON No Limit

4.2 When disconnecting the GRID TIED LIMITER from the grid tied inverter,
the grid tied inverter will limit the maximum power output to the last
value as set by the GRID TIED LIMITER.
4.3 To correctly disconnect the GRID TIED LIMITER from the grid tied inverter,
the settings on the GRID TIED LIMITER must be changed to the No Limit
setting before removing the GRID TIED LIMITER from the grid tied
inverter.
4.4 DIP Switches 3 & 4 are used for the Offset Values:

OFFSET SELECTION - DIP SWITCHES 3 & 4

3 4 Result
OFF OFF No Offset
ON OFF 50W Offset
OFF ON 100W Offset
ON ON 150W Offset

4.5 For the client to ensure that no power is fed back to the grid, Offset
options are available. These allow the user to select an offset value.
4.6 This offset value will be deducted from the measured load value:
Eg. If Load = 1000W and Offset is set to 100W, then the power output
controlled by the GTL will be 900W.

1st Floor Neave Industrial Park, 7 Bennett Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth – P O Box 7227, Newton Park, 6055 – Email: info@microcare.co.za
Tel: 041 453 5761 Fax: 041 453 5763 – VAT Registered: 4480110222 – www.microcare.co.za