Hi, first message here. I've had the SPF5000ES with 8x465w panels and without batteries since april 2021, running in SUB mode most of the time and mixing solar + grid when solar wasn't able to power the loads.
Last weekend I've added 1xUS3000C and tried SUB mode expecting the loads to be powered exclusively with solar and with solar + grid at the same time when solar wasn't sufficient as I was used to (and described on manual's page 16). That didn't happen. The solar generation stopped (battery were at 100%) and the grid started to power all the loads exclusively.
So I've changed the mode to SOL and I'm happy with it. Solar as first option, solar + batteries when needed (almost never), and when PV voltage drops under 120v OR battery drops under 50% (configured on P12), it uses the grid. My battery is configured to charge only with solar and I retain 50% of its capacity as backup.