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[dtbaker61]

Are you saying the inverter that charges from the grid must be disabled? You can charge the batteries from solar, but the link to the power grid must be disabled as a safety for linemen doing repairs. I am looking into a sub-panel for the circuits on the backup, just so I could more easily isolate them from the power grid. It would also be a pretty easy tell when the power was restored, since everything else would just start to work again.

there are various levels of automation/complexity/cost.... an inverse relationship ; )

The simplest use of Emergency generator typically costing $2k-$3k is to:
- manually isolate from the grid by turning OFF your main disconnect
- turn OFF all 'non-essential' circuits, and grid-tied Solar backfeed if you have it
- plug in a Generator.... and energize

The manual 'Generator' could be gas, diesel, propane, natural gas.... or a standalone 'offgrid' solar/battery system with its own Inverter. The advantage of a Solar Generator is that you recharge on sunny days to have some (probably small) amount of Energy in extended outages.

on the other end of the spectrum are systems that typically cost $20k-50k to implement:
- to add an automatic transfer switch that senses Grid outage an isolates either the whole home, or more typically an essential load subpanel. Circuits like hot tub, electric heat, range, and grid-tied Solar are left on the 'outside' of the essential loads panel.
- Existing Solar *may* be utilized to charge the backup batteries with the addition of hybrid inverters that are designed to 'wake up' the existing PV and capture the energy rather than backfeed to the grid. These are typically combined Inverters, charge controllers, transfer switch, and large (expensive) lithium batteries: Tesla Powerwall, Enphase Encharge, SolarEdge HUB, Generac PWRcell, and the like....
- a more sophisticated charger/inverter is wired to the essential loads panel, and 'comes on' automatically milliseconds after grid outage is sensed. It draws energy from batteries. The batteries can be charged from the Grid when the grid is up, and/or charged by standalone PV modules

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