Islanding with an AC3

My current system comprises 5kWp panels, AC3 inverter, 2 x 5.2 kWh batteries. It all works well.

What would I have to do to enable "islanding" with this set up? I appreciate that the AC3 is grid-tied.

Has no-one looked into this?

Don't have one of those. But, with our hybrid one we got the installer to fit a manual switch over in the event of a loss of grid power. That works. I'm not sure whether you can do the same with the AC3. And i don't believe there is any magic register within the inverter that you can change to make this happen.

We have an AC3. There was a booklet available showing various options for backup power but I am away from home and can't access it at this time. I am not sure GivEnergy provided all the hardware then and so we went with the simplest option, which was a manual switch over, which sent battery power to a double socket with built-in MCB and a separate earth pole. This works fine for keeping freezer going and doing a bit of charging.

Browsing the web.
You will need to read up and will need an earth rod.
https://manuals.plus/givenergy/ac-3-0-ac-coupled-inverter-manual

wilfleek
I dont think anyone looked into this, as this is a user forum, not a product support site, and nobody from GivEnergy looks at this (if there is even anyone left at GivEnergy

https://givenergymonitor.co.uk/emergency-power.html

I am not investigating the EPS system of the AC3, but rather how to mantain solar and battery operations during a grid outage. At present, since the both the AC3 and the solar inverter are grid-coupled, any power cut leads to total loss of both solar panel and battery output.

I just wondered if anyone knew of what kit might overcome this, short of Givenergy AIO and Gateway units, or similar.

It might not be possible at all.

wilfleek If you mean you just want to keep charging your battery but not power the house or some emergency socket in the house during a daytime grid loss you will need to get your installer to fit some manual or automatic switch over as you would need if you wanted to say provide some sort of house coverage during a grid outage. The key thing is whatever solution they fit it will need to ensure that any output from solar/battery etc is isolated from the grid.

I don't think you can without switching to a hybrid?
You can have the AC3 running on EPS no bother but if you boot your PV inverter up it'll backfeed into the EPS and kill it.

If you switch to a hybrid (Gen 2 or above) it works the same as a AC3 for hoovering up excess PV but youd also have to route at least one of the PV strings through it.

Only the AIO & gateway has the frequency shift stuff in it to control 3rd party PV inverters when running off grid.

Eco Ess do a standalone gateway but doesn't seem to accept PV inverters alongside AC coupled so offers nothing you don't already have built inside the AC3 already.
https://www.eco-ess.co.uk/automatic-changeover-switch-for-solar-systems/