Back in 2023 I tried to find a Victron installer for a home battery system but there were non local to me in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Those further away didn’t respond / weren’t interested.
Today I was about to order a sodium system until I discovered that it needed to access the suppliers cloud system to operate. If I recall correctly, Victron system were all locally based and could fit in with Home Assistant or other home automation. Is that correct?
I’ve just looked at Victron’s installer map and again there are no installers locally. Nearest is 3 hours away.
Home battery storage uptake is increasing, so I’m somewhat surprised.
PS I have a PV system for 13 years and 2 years ago built a Raspi/Arduino energy monitoring system that controls the immersion and provides loads of stats via a web interface. With a battery system and PV charger I might expand my system or move to Home Assistant provided I can manage the modus operandi.
My current system is independent other than there are SO meters which are just like clamps. (SO meters give digital pulse outputs: 1/kW). So it doesn’t impact the house wiring other than the zigbee on/off switch to the immersion.
All you want is a victron battery based system installed and you handle the rest of the controls?
Do have an idea of sizing since you have energy monitoring in already?
Victron can do integration locally and over web apis.
Initially I would have the Victron installed as normal so the installer and I am happy it is all OK. Then I would get used to the system. I would then explore the HA integrations that others have done or Victron make available and implement as beneficial.
I have a 3.6kWp PV system generating from 2kWh per day average in Jan (worst day 0.15!) to 15kWh average in the best summer month (best day 22). I think winter months are hopeless. Consumption is 6-7kWh in winter to 7-8kWh in summer. Purchase is 5-6kWh in winter to 2-3kWh in summer.
Winter/Summer consumption may seem strange but 1) my system is using electricity to top up the immersion in the evening if the PV has not provided the minimum 3Kw in the day. Come autumn I switch to gas HW until spring but it is always hit and miss when to switch.
my wife doing loads of washing!). [on good PV days the immersion is given up to 5kW]
Over the year 2025 we exported 66% of what was generated and purchase 56% of what we consumed. There is just 2 of us in the house.
Based on spring/autumn I reckon a 9-10kWh minimum but 14-15kWh would cater for very cloudy days and I could switch to an overnight cheap tariff to make up any shortfall.
If I install another 5 or 6 panels on the west facing roof then I guess this might give another 5-6kWh per day average in spring/autumn and would support 14-15kWh system.
A heat pump would add to demand and as heat is used in winter when less PV. It would mean using the battery to store cheap overnight electricity, especially if cheap overnight meant expensive peak hour electricity.
I don’t have an EV and if I did my mileage is not high as I’m retired. I could top up the car if there was spare PV energy not needed to top up the battery based on the predicted next 24 hours need/PV.
You could always ask for a recommendation for an installer who is closer to you.
Sometimes there are guys who install and are decent at it but haven’t pursued to be put up on the website.
Sometimes the guys on the recommended installer list will know someone.
That was the purpose of this posting! Have you any thoughts why the Victron installer base doesn’t seem to have really grown over the last 2-3 years, certainly not in my area? People like the YT channel The EV Puzzle were doing great things with Victron stuff back in 2022.
I’ve just looked at Victron’s website again and after going round in circles to find a UK contact email I found it** at the very bottom of the Contact page by clicking on the “More info” for “Sales manager - United Kingdom & Ireland”. Let’s see if I get a reply.
** It also helped to use Opera as pages were not fully loading with Firefox - probably incompatible plug-in.
Victron only list installers who solely sell victron systems. You may have a capable installer in your region who also installs different manufacturers, unfortunately they won’t be on the list.
Thank you for the reason Nick. I think it is just a missed opportunity for Victron. In the Bristol / Bath / Swindon / Salisbury area there are over 2m people and probably one of the fastest growing regions outside London and the south east. You would I’m sure increase sales if it included installers who have been trained/accredited by Victron.