Switch to power home is called?

[Djs63]

We have wind and PV generation but can’t use it if the grid is down, I fully understand why. But I assume we can isolate the house from the grid and use our “own” electricity but I don’t know what to look up on the web. What is such a gadget called please?

[Djs63]

And I’ve just realised that the inverters need grid connection to work so presumably we need a battery plus inverter to keep the inverters going?

[Stinsy]

It is an "Automatic Changeover Switch" and is only one part of what you need to run your house off-grid in the event of an outage. Also there are solutions that do not require a changeover switch. And there are complex considerations with regard to earthing...

[Stinsy]

And I’ve just realised that the inverters need grid connection to work so presumably we need a battery plus inverter to keep the inverters going?

Yes you need a battery, and you need an inverter that is designed to work off-grid in the event of an outage.

[Ken]

No expert but i think you need a "off grid inverter" such as https://www.vevor.co.uk/off-grid-solar- ... 1RoCk54QAv

You also need batts to regulate the voltage more steady particularly with the wind turbine i believe. I dont think you need a lot of capacity but then if you were going to go to the trouble you might as well go the whole hog and fit batteries for storage as well. By then you would be nearly totally off grid anyway. Then again could just buy a Tesla batt.

[rogeriko]

You need a Hybrid Inverter. These are a grid tied inverter and a battery inverter all in one.

https://www.alternergy.co.uk/products/s ... -inverters

https://www.deyeinverter.com/product/hy ... 8IQAvD_BwE

Everyone should remove their GTI and install one of these. Just run your lighting circuit through it and the lights will never go out!!!!

[Marcus]

A changeover switch to isolate from the grid (doesn't have to be automatic). As stated by others earthing arrangements have to be done right.

A hybrid inverter (& battery) that can replace you solar inverter is a possibility, but i don't know if any of the hybrid inverters can handle direct input from a windturbine, so you could either make do with pv&battery only during a grid outage, or you need an inverter that can be backfed by your existing WT grid tie inverter. I'm not sure which of the currently available inverters will accept backfeeding so you may have to research that.

[Djs63]

Thank you, I am getting slowly to a state where I appear a tiny bit knowledgeable.

We will go for a battery system and an appropriate inverter with a PV bank , size yet to be determined, negotiations continue in the home and then with the external powers that be.

[Stinsy]

A changeover switch to isolate from the grid (doesn't have to be automatic). As stated by others earthing arrangements have to be done right.

A hybrid inverter (& battery) that can replace you solar inverter is a possibility, but i don't know if any of the hybrid inverters can handle direct input from a windturbine, so you could either make do with pv&battery only during a grid outage, or you need an inverter that can be backfed by your existing WT grid tie inverter. I'm not sure which of the currently available inverters will accept backfeeding so you may have to research that.

If you get FiT payments you cannot just swap your GTI for a Hybrid, you’ll need AC coupled. However lots of battery inverters (hybrid or AC coupled) have UPS or EPS output so you can wire your lights and a few essential sockets to be on all the time even in the event of an outage. However you’re balancing the reliability of the grid with the reliability of your inverter.

In either situation a WT can be connected to the batteries via a suitable charger.

[Djs63]

Thank you again. We are thinking of having a ground mounted PV array separate from the 1.8 kWh PV and 6 kWh turbine for which we do receive FITs . We have plenty of land though the planners might still have something to say and. We would try to keep the new system separate from the grid connection but still supply various things in the house every day and especially during power cuts. We are all electric though we do have a wood burning stove and lots of wood and an oil fired Rayburn as back up. The GSHP requires about 4kWh .....by itself plus the oven, job, washer etc....