Looking to increase my battery with an extra EP11. I have the option of adding an EPS Gateway as well at not much more than cost but I read that some Gateways do not allow for battery charging from solar while in island mode.
I only have a 3.7 H1 gen 2 inverter which is fine for my usual needs but if the batteries can't recharge from solar then it may not be as suitable as I had hoped
Thanks
You would need to ask a sparkie that for your specific regulatory circumstances.Jonesthesteam72 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:26 pm I read that some Gateways do not allow for battery charging from solar while in island mode.
A similar thing is done when the grid fails and an ATS transfers house circuits from the grid circuit to the EPS circuit.
Thanks, asked my installer and confirmed it can do so going ahead with it.
Imo little point getting a whole house backup if no way to charge the batteries even if there is sun available to utilise.
Imo little point getting a whole house backup if no way to charge the batteries even if there is sun available to utilise.
Most people don't get any outages, some parts of the UK went out earlier this year for about 2 hours and people started freaking out after rumours swirled about Russian sabotage because a navy vessel was in the area.Jonesthesteam72 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:45 pm Imo little point getting a whole house backup if no way to charge the batteries even if there is sun available to utilise.
On the other hand we get lots, at least 1 in recent years for more than 24 hours.
Fox inverters can be DC or AC coupled. AC needs extra work if needed during blackouts.
I've been in my house for just over a year, one fairly short one but another that was at least 12 hours and now I am fully electric with a heat pump I would struggle if I had a 24 power like I did at my last house.
Maybe I am just unlucky
Maybe I am just unlucky
With my KH Inverter that has an EPS socket only, it charged up the battery from solar just fine.
Unless there is some oddity with your Inverter that blocks this?
I am also not sure if your small Inverter is a good candidate, it cannot supply much power. So I don't think you would run the heat pump, some lights and maybe one ring main.
Unless there is some oddity with your Inverter that blocks this?
I am also not sure if your small Inverter is a good candidate, it cannot supply much power. So I don't think you would run the heat pump, some lights and maybe one ring main.
I have a 5kw heat pump, usual consumption is 500-700wh, 1.2kwh for the induction hub, or microwave, but if the worst happens I could run them sequentially as I live on my own so feasible and would last for a couple of days in winter
It is possible if the heat pump doesn't spike high on startup, otherwise it will trip you out. So theoretically possible.
I would say my battery charged up when I was being disconnected from the grid, as I was being unlooped from my neighbour.
Am I right in thinking your Inverter is a Hybrid, in which case I am sure it will charge via PV in a power cut.
I would say my battery charged up when I was being disconnected from the grid, as I was being unlooped from my neighbour.
Am I right in thinking your Inverter is a Hybrid, in which case I am sure it will charge via PV in a power cut.