ConnectDER Introduces IslandDER Home Energy Storage Solution

Rooftop solar, home EV chargers, and residential storage batteries all put extra burdens on that circuit breaker panel most of us have in the basement or in the garage. If a home was built in the 1980s or before, it may only have 100 amp service, which is too little to handle those modern conveniences. The only alternative usually is to upgrade the home’s electrical service to 200 amps or more. Today, 400 amp service is not uncommon.

Other methods used to enable whole-house backup, like circuit relocation, can add hours or even days to a project install and add thousands of dollars to the homeowner’s quoted price. This is particularly relevant in the Western US where meter/main combination service panels are common. Those panels do not provide the necessary space to install a microgrid interconnect device (MID). IslandDER solves this with ease by incorporating the voltage-sensing, CTs, and isolation switch (the MID) all in one, right at the meter socket.

ConnectDER — DER stands for distributed energy resources — has a better idea. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on electrical upgrades, it has designed a number of what it calls “meter socket adapters” or MSAs. Pull the meter, insert the appropriate MSA, and voilá! You can now connect your solar panels, EV charger, or residential storage battery without touching your breaker panel.

It is still necessary to hire a licensed electrician to install the MSA, and you may need approval from your utility company as well. But the cost will be minimal compared to the cost of replacing your breaker panel.

IslandDER Takes Minutes To Install

On its website, the company says: “It shouldn’t take an expensive electrical panel upgrade to connect solar panels or electric vehicle chargers to your home. ConnectDER meter socket adapters (MSAs) were designed to make it easy. Think of MSAs as a power adapter for your home. With the help of a licensed electrician or participating utility meter technician, MSAs are easily installed between the meter socket and utility meter, enabling easy solar and EV interconnection.” The company emphasizes that all of its products are UL listed and NEC certified.

Many people who have rooftop solar systems think their panels will supply the home with electricity during a power outage. That is incorrect. The home must be disconnected from the utility grid for that to happen, a process known as islanding. The reason should be obvious. Repair crews have to be protected from electrical shocks when fixing downed power lines. If your solar system it sending electricity through the wires that connect your home to the grid, that endangers those crews.

In a press release, the company says its new unit is “designed to accelerate residential solar and storage installs as a standardized backup solution. Its strategic approach gives installers the option to choose the battery system that fits their customers needs, while de-risking their business from supply chain issues and accelerating timelines to [completion].”

Open Access To Most Products

The difference between IslandDER and other meter collar manufacturers is that other products lock installers into using a manufacturer’s entire product suite. By contrast, IslandDER is compatible with multiple leading batteries, including the SolarEdge Nexis Solution, FranklinWH’s aPower 2 and aPower S, Lunar Energy’s Lunar System, and EcoFlow’s OCEAN Pro.

The company claims to have 22 additional partnership agreements in place. We don’t see the word “Tesla” anywhere, so you might want to make sure its Powerwall battery systems are compatible with the IslandDER equipment before proceeding.

It takes fewer than 30 minutes to install the IslandDER, which can streamline partial and whole-home backup systems by integrating “islanding” functionality directly into the meter socket via its built-in Microgrid Interconnect Device and Consumption Current Transformers, which effectively eliminates the need for complex electrical work.

The unit costs just $600 and can save installers hours to days on battery energy storage system (BESS) installs while homeowners avoid surprise costs that can suddenly put electrification beyond their reach financially. Once installed, people with rooftop solar and/or a residential storage battery can keep the lights on and power flowing in their homes during a grid outage.

“The residential energy storage market is at a critical inflection point, but its full potential has been constrained as installers must choose between labor intensive battery installations or locking their customers into a closed ecosystem,” said ConnectDER CEO Ivo Steklac.

“IslandDER is the breakthrough that unlocks this growth, saving installers countless hours on the job site and giving them the flexibility to deliver the best possible battery backup solution for their customers — whether that’s for a new install or adding backup to an existing solar setup. By launching with four of the industry’s most innovative battery partners and with more in the pipeline, we are giving installers a universal solution that accelerates the industry as a whole.”

Going Nationwide Soon

ConnectDER said it expects to be selling its meter socket adapters nationwide in the next few years. In California, both PG&E and SDG&E are promoting innovative vehicle-to-grid and Builder’s Express programs designed to make the interconnection process simpler for home and business customers.

In 2023, New Jersey passed legislation that requires public electric utilities in the Garden State to authorize the installation and operation of a “meter collar adapter,” as long as it meets specific requirements for safety, suitability, and adherence to the National Electrical Code. The new law is an important step forward for residents who want to connect rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle chargers to their homes more easily.

Inserting a device between the meter and the entry cable to a home or business makes so much sense that it’s a wonder people didn’t think of it sooner. Even if you don’t need to island your solar system or residential storage battery, just using a meter socket adapter to feed an EV charger is an elegant solution to what can be an annoying — and expensive — problem. But like all inventions, it has to be tested and approved by all relevant authorities before it can be installed at your home. There is a link on the ConnectDER website that lets you check whether its products have been approved for use in your area.