DaveyG
New member
Long story short im in renewables and we install hybrid PV systems and batterys to existing PV.
The salesman had told the customer the battery system we installed to their existing PV would run the whole house in the event of a power cut...not true as it will only run the EPS (not ups but same thing), basically a 4 gang socket plugged into the AC coupled inverter thats basically there to run essential things like freezers etc.
Anyway they did not want to pay and probably going to have to remove the system tomorrow.
This got me thinking why couldn't it power the consumer unit and what would be required in order to do so and why do the manufacturers of these units not come up with a solution as simple as a changeover switch like you would have with most emergency generating sets.
The first issue to overcome would be safety. In the event of power loss if the issue is with the supply cable and not the sub station etc then there is possibility that the main earth could be lost so we would have to install an earth rod to TN systems like with the old EV chargers to provide an alternative means of earth.
Secondly would be getting a clean supply back to the PV inverter so it can still generate and convert to charge the battery(s). Im not sure about this one as im a spark not an electrical engineer so im open to suggestions?
The rest would just be using your standard gear used in most switched generating sets.
I think all of this has been designed and overcome with the gateway unit used in the tesla power wall but Im looking for a cheaper alternative we can make up ourselves to retrofit to the units we install...hopefully from just adaptable box and a bit of din rail with a few gadgets mounted to it lol.
Best regards
Dave
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Locked in 2023 to prevent being resurrected again (OP only stayed to post this)
The salesman had told the customer the battery system we installed to their existing PV would run the whole house in the event of a power cut...not true as it will only run the EPS (not ups but same thing), basically a 4 gang socket plugged into the AC coupled inverter thats basically there to run essential things like freezers etc.
Anyway they did not want to pay and probably going to have to remove the system tomorrow.
This got me thinking why couldn't it power the consumer unit and what would be required in order to do so and why do the manufacturers of these units not come up with a solution as simple as a changeover switch like you would have with most emergency generating sets.
The first issue to overcome would be safety. In the event of power loss if the issue is with the supply cable and not the sub station etc then there is possibility that the main earth could be lost so we would have to install an earth rod to TN systems like with the old EV chargers to provide an alternative means of earth.
Secondly would be getting a clean supply back to the PV inverter so it can still generate and convert to charge the battery(s). Im not sure about this one as im a spark not an electrical engineer so im open to suggestions?
The rest would just be using your standard gear used in most switched generating sets.
I think all of this has been designed and overcome with the gateway unit used in the tesla power wall but Im looking for a cheaper alternative we can make up ourselves to retrofit to the units we install...hopefully from just adaptable box and a bit of din rail with a few gadgets mounted to it lol.
Best regards
Dave
Split from resurrected post
Locked in 2023 to prevent being resurrected again (OP only stayed to post this)
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