Hi,
I’m looking to cobble a backup “power pack” for my house that can be plugged into a generator input/transfer switch that I already have to run the gas boiler and a few led lights when we have one of our frequent power cuts. Instead of a noisy generator, I started thinking about cobbling something together with maybe second hand parts based around 12V lead acid leisure batteries - but I do like the look of Victron gear.
So I’d prefer to go for single purpose components and they limit failures to that component and would be cheaper to maintain and probably easier to source cheaply.
So if I used an MPPT from a single PV panel to top up one or two leisure batteries, and a simple inverter in the 500W region, and a mains-12V charger for fast recovery from utility power when it’s back:
Q1 Can I just parallel any decent solar grade 12V charger onto the battery(ies) with the MPPT and inverter or does it need to be one of the recommended Victron ones like a Phoenix Smart Charger as mentioned here: - ie will the MPPT just play nice with other charging sources or do they need to have comms between them to coordinate?
Q2: If I did use a Phoenix, is there any way to rig it via comms so that the charger shuts down if the inverter is supplying any load? - or am I going to have to do that myself with relays? In that scenario we don’t want a loop from the inverter back to the charger via the house…
Ordinarily I’d leave the unit unplugged from utility power input and leave a small solar panel on the unit enclosure to keep the batteries topped off. But after a long power cut, I would like to be able to recover the battery quickly in case of further outages…
PS I’m quite interested in Victron solar/etc and this is partly an excuse to have a play in a low risk way. I am competent around mains wiring and IT related stuff - I just don’t know the Victron system in depth. All of this would sit outdoors in a small rain proof enclosure with it’s battery(ies).
Many thanks 