So I have so far avoided running out of battery power – my house has literally only been without power when somebody (usually Jaco) does electrical work.
But today I’ve had a power outage and with the weather in Gauteng what it has been the last two weeks, I started thinking that I probably should have plans if I do run out of battery power – especially since it will likely happen at 2:00 AM.
So couple of questions:
Should I look at an option to hook up my old generator (a 5.5 kVa Ryobi) to the system and use it to charge the batteries? I have a Victron Multiplus 1 5000 Va with 3x Pylontech US3000’s. Ive read this MultiPlus Generator FAQ [Victron Energy] briefly, so I doubt my generator is of high enough quality to charge the batteries at full amps. And of course, it is not connected at the moment at all.
At what point should I just shut down the whole system? 10% SOC? I usually let the Pylontechs go down to no more than 25% or 30%. I seem to recall that they will shut down by themselves at 8% but it sounds like a better plan to shut it down in a controlled fashion.
What should I shut down? Just turn off the inverter on the front panel and let the batteries sit idle but continue running the VenusGX? And when the sun do start charging the batteries again, do I just turn on the inverter again (say at 20% SOC)?
Do I switch back to Eskom for the time being or keep everything on the inverter until I either know the power is back on, or until the batteries have sufficient charge again? I have non-essentials showing me when Eskom is back on (oven clock).
With the Multi II 3k I have the battery will deplete up to 25% (ESS setting) and then it will just start using the utility power instead of the battery.
To be true with DVCC and my battery driver’s current management the discharge current will start limiting before it reach 25% and use utility power to supplement what is needed.
I’m not sure if your version does not have this option, but it is a set and forget. Only problem will be if the utility is not available during the night as it seems they are starting to do now. But then just set a higher min SOC
The battery will send a DCL=0 (discharge current limit) around the 10% point, if I recall, and that should cause the Multi to switch off on its own. If not, then 10% is still a good point to switch it off yourself.
If we assume that this will likely be a rare event, and given that the Multi will likely require all sorts of tweaks to accept the power, it’s probably good enough to just run from the generator in this case. I would just install another changeover switch, and a generator plug (the kind they use for caravans and sometimes welding machines), and on the rare occasion that it really gets that bad, just use the generator like the rest of the people in this country
Plonkster understood my concern - I already run with a minimum SOC of 20 to 30% during which the grid is available and all is well - ESS does its thing.
This is more a question as to what I do when there’s an extended power outtage and a bunch of clouds like there was the last two weeks in Pretoria.
So basically:
do I let it run down and switch off by itself?
do I switch it off myself at some point?
do I connect a generator and try and keep the batteries charged?
Obviously I will do demand side management as well - switch off more essentials such as freezers and fridges and PCs and TVs and lights as it gets lower too.
Yes, I would just turn it off by the rocker switch. If the outage continues much longer, and you worry that the GX and the other stuff still connected to the battery is draining it too much, then you can open the (fused) DC disconnect to completely shut it down.
OK so I’m now facing the prospect of very little sunlight, batteries at ~42% and unexpected electricity outage.
Currently running generator with a bunch of extension cords into the home and moved fridges and freezers and PC and network to it. Killed most of the other circuits on the DB.
My Victron system is running basically the inverter and the GX at this point and sending every last ounce of solar W to the batteries…
I’d say it was a good call to move the criticals to the generator to at least try and get some charge in the batteries to be able to get as far as possible overnight even if it is just lights and chargers. Hopefully there will be enough to get you through the night or at least until power is restored. Otherwise the MPPT’s should start it all up again tomorrow morning once the sun comes out.
I had some issues not too long ago and if I remember correctly you should be able to go between 24 and 48 hours without power on a freezer without an issue (depending on how full it is with fuller being better), so you can maybe try and stretch it some more by not moving the freezer back when you switch off the generator overnight. A fridge is another story, so depending on what’s in it you might have to keep that connected for as long as possible.
Plan for the night is to run on the generator a while longer, then plug back a couple of essentials (including one fridge/freezer) and then hope for the best.
I might just need to go and buy another Pylontech after this… 10.5 kWh is not cutting it.
Made it through the night with plenty to spare - around ~28% SOC this morning when the sun started shining.
Eskom power still not back so tonight will have to figure out how to do it all over again (although at least the sun is shining and batteries already at 100%).
I had the same problem but didn’t have to put on generator yet. Also ended with batteries @ 30 odd % this morning but within about 4 hours was all charged and ran all geysers and machines we could
Here we go again. Massive power outage in Pretoria East. Batteries charged to 100%, but no eta in when things are coming back on.
Generator lent out to friends in Mooikloof during their serious previous sprint of grid outages, so no backup.
Entering serious energy management to get until tomorrow morning. Camping stove, essential lights, PCs switched off.
Oh and also doesn’t help that it is real hot and aircon is on the non-essential side…
Edit: glad I posted this because 2 mins after the power came back on
Edit: and went out again (loadshedding and then for 30 mins after loadshedding didn’t come back on - luckily on again now).
