Hey everyone! I just went through a blackout, and my grid-tied solar system didn't work because of it. I know this is expected, but it's frustrating. I have four 550W solar panels, a Solax X1 hybrid inverter, and a Solax 3.0 battery. I've read about the EPS box solution to prioritize power for essential circuits, but I don't want to overhaul my electrical system. Is there a simpler way to get power from my setup during an outage?
5 Answers
You could wire your batteries to your panel like it’s a generator. Just remember to turn off the main power when you want to utilize them. When the grid comes back, you can switch it back. It’s a bit of a hassle but doable!
If you need a quick and straightforward fix, grab a cheap backup inverter. You can plug it into your battery when the power goes out and use an extension cord to run what you need. It’s not perfect, but it’ll get you through!
Sadly, the answer is no; you’ll need to look into alternatives if you want backup power during a blackout.
Unfortunately, Solax inverters don’t have that flexibility. Some others, like Deye or Sunsynk, can handle both grid tie and backup operations without much fuss. But for your setup, some rewiring is necessary for off-grid use.
It sounds like your inverter might not have backup capabilities for off-grid use. I’m going for a Deye 5kW setup, which should work off-grid with my battery. That's a solid choice if you want backup options!