PV Storage System - "Grid Buddy" ( Battery backup & Grid failures )

[danesol]

Just received a flyer from Renewable Solutions in a brown envelope;

informing me about that unique storage systen for PV Systems - anybody have any experience of these guys ??

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[Worcester]

Nope, however seeing that the 'Hot Water Buddy' is an ImmerSun, I'd guess they are rebadging something

 

[mdovey]

Nope, however seeing that the 'Hot Water Buddy' is an ImmerSun, I'd guess they are rebadging something

A quick google search threw up a post in another forum (from March last year), noting a startling similarity (apart from colour) with these units: MultiPlus 800VA - 5kVA - Victron Energy

It look like it is an alternative to SMA Sunny Backup. However, I thought there was some issue with the SMA solution that the isolation switch (to ensure that power doesn't flow out to the grid during a grid failure) wasn't certified for UK use. I assume the Grid Buddy isolation switch is properly certified?

Also how much are the batteries, and how long do they last? I got the impression that any payback time in terms of electricity savings would be offset by the need to replace the batteries possibly even before you'd recouped your investment - i.e. these were a luxury to avoid power-cuts rather than a money saving investment, and not necessarily a green investment depending on how you disposed of end of life batteries.

Matthew

 

[Worcester]

According to the Victron website CCL are a distributor - I'd give them a call first.. The rest are boat people / marinas / chandlers

an interesting comment from elsewhere:
"Is it not true that the battery that can store over its lifetime, more power (in £ terms) than its own cost, has yet to be invented?"

I haven't done the math myself yet, though that would be a great sales argument against this type of product!