ABarbarian
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2022
- Messages
- 48
I am planning a solar system to charge 10-20 computers, ~4-5000W inverter, I strongly want uninterupted power to these computers during power cuts, but also when switching to grid when solar/battery charge is low.
I am reasonably convinced I will need to run my load off batteries all the time (online UPS) to avoid interuption during a power cut where the inverter switches to batteries.
Any advice on the best method to reduce interuption when the batteries are low and need to switch to grid?
I understand hybrid inverters have an ATS that will do the switch and I guess this would be the most reliable switching mechanism. I have seen separate ATS that would perform the switch fast enough that a computer does not power off, but am not convinced it would be good enough for the large number of computers I am running.
I want to avoid separate (online) UPS's, I have not had good luck with them and would prefer a more unified setup, also want to keep prices down.
Interestingly I have been running a solar system that does the above, maybe not correctly wired although it has been in use for ~9 years, I have an inverter (STECA EXTENDER XTM 4000-48) that runs off batteries constantly and alarms when batteries are low, at which time we open a large switch that connects the inverter to the grid, once we pull that switch the inverter pulls its charge from the grid, and I think also charges batteries from the grid. Once we feel the batteries have enough charge we turn off the switch. It is an old system and was programmed by the installers so not sure it's configuration, but when doing this we never have any computers power drop.
I am reasonably convinced I will need to run my load off batteries all the time (online UPS) to avoid interuption during a power cut where the inverter switches to batteries.
Any advice on the best method to reduce interuption when the batteries are low and need to switch to grid?
I understand hybrid inverters have an ATS that will do the switch and I guess this would be the most reliable switching mechanism. I have seen separate ATS that would perform the switch fast enough that a computer does not power off, but am not convinced it would be good enough for the large number of computers I am running.
I want to avoid separate (online) UPS's, I have not had good luck with them and would prefer a more unified setup, also want to keep prices down.
Interestingly I have been running a solar system that does the above, maybe not correctly wired although it has been in use for ~9 years, I have an inverter (STECA EXTENDER XTM 4000-48) that runs off batteries constantly and alarms when batteries are low, at which time we open a large switch that connects the inverter to the grid, once we pull that switch the inverter pulls its charge from the grid, and I think also charges batteries from the grid. Once we feel the batteries have enough charge we turn off the switch. It is an old system and was programmed by the installers so not sure it's configuration, but when doing this we never have any computers power drop.