How the solar cuts out in a power cut

Robertr

I knew I would lose my system with the power cut but was surprised to learn that I could still access what was in the batteries. On my Solis hybrid inverter there was DC output socket and I had a little plug in a bag that I previously didn't know what it was for. A little tinkering later and I had power back for a few key items. Didn't last that long, as my system uses the batter at night so when the power cut it only had about 30% but it was better than nothing. Has started me thinking about installing a much larger battery and charging it during night time rates and using it during the day and for backup. Will probably get the changeover switch also.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123108822#Comment_123108822

Maybe have a read of the relevant threads including this one. I ran the whole house off my batteries and solar power from 4 am Friday until power was restored yesterday and had power still left in my batteries so no back to the drawing board.

flipper2009

me too. I was charging the mobile phones of the neighbourhood

_Brian

I started this thread.
people need to remember the purpose of batteries on solar systems in an Irish context is to facilitate further savings on a daily basis and not rally as a battery option for wjen the power goes out.

graememk

Yes the main purpose is to facilitate savings.

But for a lot of us, being able to fall back on solar and batteries has been very useful.

creedp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123113698#Comment_123113698

How difficult/expensive would it be to retrospectively install a changeover switch?

I don't even have a socket enabled on my invertor which is crazy when an installer is installing a hybrid invertor with battery back up. Very disappointed that a highly recommended installer would not offer advice on both these options during an installation.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123117253#Comment_123117253

I've seen multiple rough estimates of 1000-1500 touted about, need an extra cable from inverter, and depending on your consumer unit, moving the main power out to the changeover, as it takes a minimum of 4 module spaces.

My dad's one was put in as part of a consumer unit change, which we needed to do to put in solar and an EV charger.

Grumpypants

Just incase anyone else hit it after the power cut. My battery was completely dead after 6 days without power . And when power was restored it started throwing a CAN-COM FAIL and beeping like crazy.

It turns out the battery didn't even have enough charge to turn on and talk to the inverter.

After a lot of searching I stumbled on a "manual start" option in the inverter's advanced settings that will send 200w to the battery for 20 seconds. I had to change the 20 seconds to 1000 seconds so it would charge for 20 mins and get to 1%.

Once that was done it's been fine.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123118238#Comment_123118238

Something to keep in the back of the mind

creedp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123118181#Comment_123118181

That's pretty steep and in my case, if an additional cable needs to run from the invertor in the attic to the consumer unit, this would require significant hassle due to reopening of external trunking and a disruptive routing of the cable due to central location of the consumer unit.

Must at least look at getting a plug activated at the invertor so an extension lead could be used

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123118561#Comment_123118561

Yeah Defs get a plug and have a dedicated extension lead that won't be nicked to do other duties 😂.