How do YOU use your AC-Out-2?

[AnotherOffGrid]

For those of you running systems that can power a secondary (AC-Out-2) on your inverters when batteries are full and/or have excess solar, what do you use it for? The standard examples out there are hot water heaters, geysers, Air conditioning. In an off-grid scenario, what kind of uses do you find yourself using this for so that you're not losing out on free energy?

Additionally, how are you wiring this? Using a water heater example, it is wired into a panel that AC-1 is powering, so how could this water heater also be powered by AC-2? Is the assumption here that a completely separate, secondary water heater is plumbed in-line and only comes on when AC-2 is energized?

I'm trying to figure out a use case to utilize AC-2, but I can't think of any scenarios that don't also need to be powered more consistently via AC-1. (For example sprinklers. They need to run regardless of excess solar or battery state.)

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Assuming Victron.

I don't use it at all. I'm off-grid. Completely pointless to use the default case, but I may use it as below in the future.

What MANY use it for are loads they may want to run in certain circumstances. AC Out-2 can be programmed to behave different than the default.

You can cycle it on/off based on voltages, SoC and even total power. Two examples:

Only run AC Out 2 loads when SoC > 20%
Cut off AC Out 2 loads when total power is > 4000W

 

[AnotherOffGrid]

Yeah I've been reading more about it, but I just can't figure out a way to utilize it. ;D

 

[ricardocello]

Completely Disconnected from Anything

 

[CVCPJared]

You could use it as a dump load, when SoC is >90%, or the opposite, maybe your gen kicks on at 20%, you might not want pool equipment using power at <40%. Or maybe you have a mother in-law quarters and you want to cut power whenever SoC is under 95%. So many options...

 

[AnotherOffGrid]

You could use it as a dump load, when SoC is >90%, or the opposite, maybe your gen kicks on at 20%, you might not want pool equipment using power at <40%. Or maybe you have a mother in-law quarters and you want to cut power whenever SoC is under 95%. So many options...

That's part of my original question. Pool equipment needs to be run during the day more consistently than only when batteries are max SOC and PV is in surplus. If those conditions aren't met, then the pool equipment won't run. How would you run it on both AC-1 and AC-2?

 

[CVCPJared]

That's part of my original question. Pool equipment needs to be run during the day more consistently than only when batteries are max SOC and PV is in surplus. If those conditions aren't met, then the pool equipment won't run. How would you run it on both AC-1 and AC-2?

What would be the benefit of running it on both? If the point of 2 is to NOT run it under 40%, why would you run it on 1 when it is under 40%? And how would you control when 1 gets to drive and when 2 does? You're better off adjusting to your parameters to fit your needs

You would have to have something you're willing to either drop or only run given certain circumstances. Or maybe an entirely seperate circuit to run that you just want seperate control over