Batteries that support "islanding" during power cuts

Qyburn

propnut said:

You could always build your own off grid as I have done.

I don't rule that out. The hassle would be running extension leads out to the critical locations. 

propnut

Qyburn said:

I don't rule that out. The hassle would be running extension leads out to the critical locations. 

How many outages do you really have that would make running an extension to the fridge, a light and maybe the TV a big deal ? Even an EPS hanging off a PV battery bank only terminates normally on an RCD socket on the wall near the inverter.

Qyburn

How many outages? There were three during Winter 21/22 although only one one during 22/23. These were long enough to be concerned about the freezer and electric fence, although we got off lightly as some not far away were off for six days at a time.

Feedback from Government, local authority and even from the DNO is all about encouraging households and communities to make themselves better prepared for these cuts. I don't hear anyone suggesting they don't expect them in the future.

One unfortunate thing is that our current gravity fed water supply really needs to be replaced, most likely with a pressure system. That will mean we lose cold water as soon as power is off. So that's another thing we need to accommodate. 

We were planning a 4.5 or 6.5kVA generator, but battery storage which provides some benefit al year round might well make more sense.

Yes it would be possible to run leads to the critical places, but a pain in the !!!!!! given freezer and boiler are in different rooms, and water pump and energiser are in different buildings. Some sort of whole house backup, whether battery or generator, would cover all of these as well as potentially allowing some nice to haves like lights or Internet.

BossBob

When they installed my battery they also installed a small ring main that allows me to run the gas combi boiler (which uses electricity for its pump, ignition, fan and controls) the fridge, freezer, fish tank and the home network for control purposes. I have other ways of lighting and cooking but houses don’t get heated without electricity as some poor souls found in the winter storms (and local authorities are even removing solid fuel fire places!). As Qyburn comments, we’re encouraged to look after ourselves and limiting sources of power is short sighted if you are able to avoid that.

silverwhistle

I have a wood burner for heating and at a pinch cooking on the flat top (or inside - baked spuds, chestnuts and flatbread all successful!), but if push came to shove I bought an adapter for my MG4 for about £30 and could use an extension lead for a few vital needs - cup of tea and freezer being the main one. The latter doesn't need power for quite some time, so in my case getting a full islanded system is not worth it for rare events. Charging phones and LED lamp would also be easy. The V2L of the MG4 manages up to 7kW, so well within any of my demands.

Qyburn

I guess arrangements for power cuts is a whole separate subject. We have an LPG hob but electric oven so can do quite a bit of cooking. Lights are a pain. Aladdin style oil lamps run for ages but are fiddly and can't really be carried around, the Camping Gaz type are brighter and more convenient but don't last long on each cartridge. Our log burners only heat one end of the house. But it's all about convenience really, we're not going to starve or die of cold.

Separating normal and maintained electrical circuits would mean running separate undergroud SWA to at least two different outbuildings as well as complicating the house electrics. Much better to energise the whole system and just swich off stuff that isnt needed or shouldnt be used. Thats generally what people have done round here although mostly they're switching to a generator rather than battery.

propnut

Qyburn said:

I guess arrangements for power cuts is a whole separate subject. We have an LPG hob but electric oven so can do quite a bit of cooking. Lights are a pain. Aladdin style oil lamps run for ages but are fiddly and can't really be carried around, the Camping Gaz type are brighter and more convenient but don't last long on each cartridge. Our log burners only heat one end of the house. But it's all about convenience really, we're not going to starve or die of cold.

Separating normal and maintained electrical circuits would mean running separate undergroud SWA to at least two different outbuildings as well as complicating the house electrics. Much better to energise the whole system and just swich off stuff that isnt needed or shouldnt be used. Thats generally what people have done round here although mostly they're switching to a generator rather than battery.

I come from an African country that when it was still a British colony never knew what power cuts were but since "independence" knows nothing but. In fact some days you are lucky to get 2 hours of power. As such I built a similar system there that actually tied directly to the mains using a drop out 200A 240v relay. When mains were on the relay was picked and supplied power to the consumer unit from the mains via the primary contacts. However as soon as the mains dropped so to did the relay and then brought in the battery backup to the whole house. via the secondary contacts. This way the whole house could be on or off grid without worrying about the two halves ever coming into contact with each other. 

DougMLancs

The Givenergy All-in-One with gateway for whole house backup is now available- £6493.50 on Midsummer Wholesale https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/buy/giv-energy/giv-aio-gateway-bundle 

Magnitio

Like @BossBob I have the Huawei inverter, batteries and backup box. Doesn't provide whole house backup, but can cope with 5kW loads to power essentials.

Mikeyboy01443

DougMLancs said:

The Givenergy All-in-One with gateway for whole house backup is now available- £6493.50 on Midsummer Wholesale https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/buy/giv-energy/giv-aio-gateway-bundle 

That sounded expensive but looking at it all it does seem like a good bit of kit, anyone using these yet?
The GE kit seems to have a bad rep for software, is this improving too?