Hi,

I have a fairly large house with 23 circuits on the DB board, including 2 x geyser and 1 pool pump. 3 phase. Fitted a 5kva generator back in 2007 with a manual transfer switch which powers the whole board with 1 phase genny input. When I switch over I flip the geysers and pool down and consumption at night is then 800 - 1000 watts. Added an Emporia wifi energy consumption system so I can see total consumption as well as 8 individual circuit consumption from an app. Also have a mecer 1200w inverter charger and 12v 100ah lead acid battery for seamless internet and pc backup in the study.

I now want to go to a lithium backup solution wired into the db board for seamless changeover powering most lights, plugs and fridges. Petrol is getting pricey.

Am thinking of a 5kwh 48v lithium battery and a 5kw inverter charger with the option to add solar panels in future. My friend is sold on Sunsynk hybrids but I can't see the advantage of backfeeding the grid and I would then probably need a 3 phase model which gets pricey.

I want the system to be fully automated and to be able to monitor and change settings from a pc or phone.

My question is how can I achieve this simply and cost effectively. Is it better to go for an automated multi input changeover module (grid, inverter, generator) with smart capabilities if such a thing exists? Or to get an all in one inverter which can do this. I am assuming i will have to install a sub db board for essential loads too but it seems my non essential will only be 3 out of 23. Unless I can trigger the 3 circuit breakers to go off when grid power is not detected. If the decision is all in one with no changeover and also generator input into the all in one will a 5KW unit be able to handle 10+ KW when grid is on?

It would be amazing if I could also automatically toggle non essential breakers remotely.

Budget is 40-50k without solar so this might be a pipe dream but i'm sure there could be a way. Not interested in grid tie or solar feeding loads. Primarily battery - solar capability would be for battery charge if these outages become prolonged.

 

1 hour ago, Puffy said:

My friend is sold on Sunsynk hybrids but I can't see the advantage of backfeeding the grid

it does not need to be backfeeding to the grid, normally you'd likely have your pool pump, HWC, Oven etc. on the grid side of the inverter, the Deye/Sunsynk can feed to the grid side, its grid input side, but prevent feeding into the actual grid, if the current transformer that comes with the inverter is correctly installed. Thus you can then backup your house, but exclude the less essential/heavy consumers, which you can still feed with power from the solar end, if enough extra power is available and the grid is around, but when the grid disappears, your house will keep running, but not the non-essential items, connected before the inverter... hope this makes sense to you...

Edited October 9, 20223 yr by Kalahari Meerkat

Ok that makes sense. Does the Sunsynk have an app or web interface to monitor inputs and outputs? I assume it can then do all the switching between grid, battery and generator? One last thing, would i need a sub db board for the essential circuits or do you remove grid input to these breakers in the existing db board and wire them directly to the sunsynk load output?

@Puffy the Sunsynk has a data logger that you can monitor with or second option you can use solar assistant. Your second question is you can leave all the essentials on the main DB and move the non essentials will be easier to a sub DB. If you can the Sunsynk 8Kw will be a better option in terms of more power on solar and essentials aswell but the 5kwh is also a good option. 

Thanks Raj, I just checked the smallest 3 phase they sell is 12kw. Can I use the single phase?

1 hour ago, Puffy said:

Thanks Raj, I just checked the smallest 3 phase they sell is 12kw. Can I use the single phase?

@Puffy just to find out what is the 3phase for ? And if so how is your DB wired using the 3phase balance or ?

Hi Raj, I bought the house with 3 phase. So 3 meters and 3 mains into the db board. No special reason I think the previous owner wanted 3 x 63 amps power instead of 1 x 63 amps. Based on usage from each phase it seems the db board was wired with some breakers on each phase to distribute the load. My manual generator changeover switch is wired to connect the single phase output of the generator to all 3 input phase wires.