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Thanks again, Texican and MagicDiver. I see now that it's a three-position throw on the lever. I looked into the interlock devices, but I could only just find the "plate" with nothing else. I was hoping to find a simple switch that would accomplish everything I needed to do, with a built-in...

Thanks, Texican. The sizes of the main and the subpanel are going to require some research, and perhaps I'm going to have to rely on a quote from an electrician for his expertise. My question is mainly if such a switch exists, as I wasn't able to find one using different keywords, so I could...

I searched the board, but couldn't find a match to my question. I'm intrigued by the possibility of adding the new Ecoflow Delta Pro Ultra as a backup system to our home for power outages. It has a lot of useful features, and is expandable. Our home is wired with a main panel on the outside...

Thank you, Balthazar-B, for investigating that a bit, and for the links. If what I understand about the replacement costs are true, such a project would make the battery backup plans a no-go for us, or at least put it off a while longer. It was installed new when the house was built in 2004...

Are these batteries compatible, and/or is there a protocol in the Sol-Ark menu for communication? Would their discharge rate be comparable, with, say, the SOK 5kW?

Maybe you're right, if you factor in the shipping. I think they want $800 and change to ship the Rhino, I think the rack mount batteries were around $200 apiece to ship? But then, with only three rack mount batteries, you'd also have to pony up for the server rack. Hmmm... Maybe it's not as...

We've had it serviced twice over the past 17 years we've lived here, replacing the heater element. I was told by the last serviceman to keep this one running as long as we can (it's a GE circa 2004). He said the newer models have lots of bells and whistles, but most of them need servicing...

I shouldn't have guesstimated with only five hours into the test, and following a defrost cycle. At the 24-hour mark, the refrig/freezer finished with 2.67kW. I did discover that the back of the metal case of the side-by-side felt cold, so, I may buy some of that reflective bubble-wrap and use...

An update on where I'm at: I went to Harbor Freight to look at the clamp-type current meters. Price range from about $25 to $100...my eyes glazed over, and I didn't know what I was looking at. Before going, I had tried reading instructions online how to calculate amps from a clamp meter, and...

Thank you so much for your continued help. Yes, I know that well pump is the BIG problem. If you only knew how many other systems I've investigated only to find that they are limited to a 30A output! That's why I thought "problem solved" with the Sol-Ark 15k. BTW, a few months back I thought...

Someone over on the Sol-Ark 15k thread just made a great point. Even though the unit doesn't need a transfer switch, he's going to install one anyway. If the unit goes down while there's grid service, he won't have to lose the house while he waits for it to be serviced/repaired...just throw...

Thank you again, svetz and Mattb4! There really isn't much user-content out there about the Sol-Ark 15k, so I was commenting on the "beefy" supposed nature of that product vs. the user-content critiques of the 12k. I assumed the 15k was more powerful and could handle placing ahead of the main...

Wow, thanks for that! I was trusting that number...didn't realize there was a discrepancy! I watched the video where Will opened up both the Lifepower and the SOK, and other than both being essentially identical inside, the build was superior with the Lifepower. I don't believe my load is...

OK. I think the only place with exposed wiring that I can get to is right on top of the cap of the well. I'll have to look.

Yeah, that was my mistake earlier. Other participants in this thread corrected me, and what I meant to say was 15kW. I took all our "must-haves," estimated the amount of time each would have to run, added them together, then added another 25% on top for overhead to last two days.

Yikes! I certainly don't want to entertain replacing it any time soon! I understand the process can set you back thousands. If I set up the backup system to the 110v panel, I don't want to move the pump to the 240v panel. That would completely defeat the purpose of keeping the backup...

I understand what you're saying, but we used the leading shingle manufacturer (can't remember which one at the moment) for their manufacturer's warranty, and as part of the warranty, also paid extra for the Peel 'n Seal underlayment...I think that was required for the warranty. The shingles are...

Thank you very much, both niktak11 and Balthazar-B. The pump, unfortunately, is of unknown power requirements, and is down 220 feet. I opened the service box for it, and they didn't put any label or paperwork in there. (They didn't even run the underground line in a conduit.) I called a...

Does the Sol-Ark have protective circuits for that sort of thing? I'm really limited in my choices for a home backup system, because of a deep well, running a 110v pump off a 40A circuit. Not many systems have the beef to handle something like that, along with other power draws on the home.

Three five ones. https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-lifepower4-lithium-battery-48v-100ah/

I just checked the spec sheet. It says "100A constant." It's the one Will recommends in his videos.

If I can find someone to install, I was thinking of three EG4's. It won't work with 15kWh?

They screwed up when they built our home, and didn't grade the property properly. The first owners completely ruined the septic and drain field because it was originally set up to be gravity-feed, which didn't work. The builder warranted the septic, completely tore out the old one, and...

Actually, it's not really a drinking water problem, or even a shower problem. It's our septic. Yes, we can store some water in buckets to flush the toilets, which we have done in the past, but the problem is compounded by the fact that our septic has a lift station. The lift station pump is...

I got that from the Sol-Ark 15k spec sheet, under the "AC power output" heading. "Continuous AC power to load (Off-grid) -- 12,000W." I'm new to all this, and I misunderstood this.

Haha...thanks for the laugh Mattb4! It's easy to forget to stay positive when you're struggling to understand something!

Thank you very much, Mattb4 and svetz, for your additional help to get my calculations closer. I'm trying my best to wrap my head around all this, and what's described is the reason I added about 25% overhead "slop" to account for stuff I just don't understand! I've watched Will's videos for a...

Now I'm wondering if I have to go back to all my original calculations. I basically just took the wattage ratings for various things, estimated how long they would run (or took estimates off the web), and added them up. Like, a microwave might be rated at 1,000 watts, but if it only runs for...

Thank you so much, svetz! OK, whoops! Looks like I've inadvertently switched terminologies. I guess it's correct to say I need 6kW per day...not 6kWh? Three 5.12kWh EG4 batteries would cover us for two days? Gosh, this is embarrassing. I'm glad I posted this on the Beginner's forum!

Thank you!

So, would that mean that only two batteries can be connected? Or, could a higher number be linked together before tying into the Sol-Ark? Thanks!

OK, so I totally misunderstood the specs on the Sol-Ark 15k. It says in the manual that it can provide 12kw backup, 15 with PV, so, I naively assumed there was battery storage included. Duh! There is a user thread that I just found that little tidbit. I just watched a user video on YT that...

It doesn't have 12k storage?

I was wondering if you add a bit more insight into what/how it runs better with a battery? Are you talking about additional battery storage, or some sort of auxiliary battery inside the unit somewhere? Or am I totally misunderstanding, and "they" means your power company? Thanks!

Thanks, Danke, for your input. Actually, the advantages for a battery backup are all pluses for me. A standby generator would have to be placed outside, next to our service line. That location gets brutal full sun all day. I know there are covers for them, but we would have to be here to...