Energy Grid Disruption

With the threat of war, whether nuclear or just cyber, knocking out energy supplies for days on end, it is now time to consider how to switch solar/battery systems to off-grid island mode. Does anyone know how to do this?

You need to have set your inverter up with EPS mode and a dedicated earth rod.

https://kb.givenergy.cloud/article.php?id=12&oid=1

Or get dual AIO's with a Gateway that has EPS built in. Though from personal experience that has a steep learning curve and little support when things go wrong.

With GE hybrid inverters EPS is built in. When there is a power cut, they go into island mode and can provide power on the EPS output. You will need your own TT earth point with EPS (the inverter can't use the grid earth). See the document that SteveCook linked to for your options. If you do set up an EPS circuit, you will need to have the inverter recommissioned by your installer to have EPS correctly registered with GE. When the inverter is in grid mode, the EPS output is provided with grid power.

The EPS system is fine, but it is not full "islanding", I understand that if the grid fails and the EPS is activated, solar power input cannot be maintained?

wilfleek The EPS system is fine, but it is not full "islanding", I understand that if the grid fails and the EPS is activated, solar power input cannot be maintained?

depends on what type of inverter you have. WIth a hybrid inverter the solar panels continue to work and will charge the battery when in EPS mode.

For AC coupled this isn’t an option, the solar inverter would be on the grid input side of the inverter not the EPS circuit side

geoffreycoan solar panels continue to work and will charge the battery when in EPS mode

On my gen1 hybrid inverter, the solar panels can also provide EPS power when in island mode.
It can provide 2.6kW max when only battery powered but can provide 3.6kW max if there is solar PV+battery, Later hybrids / batteries have different values.

My system is AC coupled, so no solar without the grid, sadly.

geoffreycoan For AC coupled this isn’t an option, the solar inverter would be on the grid input side of the inverter not the EPS circuit side

I may be wrong, but I don't think that is the case with an AIO with Gateway. I believe that the solar can continue in the event of a powercut if the battery SoC is low enough) - I haven't experianced this yet (the battery is always full so the solar is shut down!) so this may not be true

CW yes I believe the AIO with gateway can continue to run the panels. Its the original AC coupled where there isn’t an option

[unknown] Yes that is correct if you have dual AIO's you can still run the house up to 12kWh and the panels stay on I think if it is 80% or below. Mine is always in the 90's in the day in summer, but would fire up the oven and air con if that happened to keep generating. Then turn back off when generation is back online.