Hey everyone, I'm new to the whole power inverter and battery storage thing. My power company offers a pretty sweet discount for using a Level 2 charger. I'm wondering if it's possible to set up a hybrid or off-grid inverter system that only draws power from this Level 2 charger to supply electricity to my home. I'm planning to have a battery backup system for times when the grid goes down. My main question is how do I disconnect my home's electrical system from the grid without shutting off the main panel, since that would also cut the power to the Level 2 charger? I've heard about the EG4 18KPV inverter having a passthrough function for grid power, but can it be set to passthrough just from the Level 2 charger?
6 Answers
It sounds like you really know what you want out of your system! Since the discount only applies to off-grid charging during specific hours, you’ll basically need to charge during those times and then switch to battery power afterward. It’s important to ensure this transition is seamless for everyone at home so it doesn’t cause any inconvenience. If you're using something like the EG4 or another big inverter, it should support that kind of use effectively.
If I’m reading this right, are you looking to power your home using your vehicle's battery? That’s known as vehicle-to-home (V2H) and requires a special setup. If you want to use an inverter to charge your batteries while pulling minimal grid power, it’s definitely feasible with something like an EG4 inverter.
It might be worth checking if your power company has a specific off-peak tariff that applies just to installations like EV chargers. That could save you money while still allowing you to run things at home effectively.
That's a great question! I’m not sure how your power company distinguishes between Level 2 charger usage and other electricity, but I think they might require a special charger that reports the usage back to them. For example, in my setup, the EV charger I use is connected to the internet and tracks consumption, which might be how they see what’s happening. Without knowing the exact setup, it’s tough to suggest, but there are definitely hybrid inverters that allow both charging from the grid and off-peak usage.
There's definitely equipment that can help with this. For instance, EcoFlow Delta Pro can pull a substantial amount of power from a Level 2 charger, but you’ll need a considerable battery capacity to keep things stable. Additionally, be aware of your tariff – some setups only work with specific car models to maximize the discount, so that might affect your options.
One option you might consider is to charge your batteries with the Level 2 charger during the night when the discount is available, while keeping your house running off the grid. During the day, you could switch to using the batteries after fully charging them. The downside is that switching that interlock every morning sounds tedious and it’s still a challenge to use some appliances at night, which could eat into your savings.