Technical
Powervault 3 is very simple to use, install and understand; you can find out why here.
Below is a selection of frequently asked questions about Powervault. If you do not find an answer to a question you have then please get in contact with us directly.
Powervault 3 is designed to charge and discharge once every 24 hours. However, if there is no demand from appliances in your home during the day, Powervault 3 will continue to store the energy until it is required.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 and Powervault 3eco use Lithium-ion battery technology to store energy in the home.
Powervault 3 uses high-performance Lithium-polymer (Li-MNC) cells, which offer a long-life and come with a 10-year warranty.
Powervault 3eco uses recycled Lithium-manganese-oxide (LMO) cells from electric vehicles, which are low-cost and come with a 3-year warranty.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 is compatible with time-of-use tariffs such as ‘Economy 7’. Powervault 3 can be programmed to charge from the grid during off-peak times to store low-cost electricity from the grid. This functionality is provided via Powervault’s online customer portal.
Updated: 2 October 2018
No, Powervault 3 will not have any effect on your Feed-in tariff, which you will continue to receive in full. You will benefit from a reduced electricity bill.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Customers with solar PV panels save around 50% through self-consumption. Powervault can increase this saving to 70%. For home owners with solar panels and Economy 7 tariffs, this saving can be increased further to 80%. However, properties with high consumption during the day or during off-peak times, or customers with small solar systems, may save less than this.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 can be either AC- or DC-coupled. Connecting your Powervault 3 system on the AC-side is very simple; Powervault 3 is compatible with all solar inverters and PV systems and is very easy to retro-fit to your existing solar supply. You can also connect your PV system directly to your Powervault 3 system, which enables you to take advantage of Powervault 3’s hybrid inverter.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 automatically shuts down in the event of a power cut. This is because the system must comply with G83/2 regulation, which ensures all power inverter systems do not export to the grid during black outs (to prevent their electrocuting any engineers working on the damaged power lines). Powervault 3 will automatically reboot itself when grid power has been restored.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 has an intuitive LED display across its chassis, which indicates how much energy is stored in the system and whether the system is charging or discharging. Powervault 3 owners are also able to log-in to the customer portal to monitor their Powervault 3’s performance. The online portal tracks the home’s electricity consumption and records home electricity demand, storage, discharge and export over time.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 usually takes around 2 hours to install in the home. All Powervault 3 systems should be installed by one of Approved Powervault Installers. It will be necessary to turn off the power to the house for a few minutes during installation.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 must be installed on the ground floor within 25 metres (wiring distance) of the property’s consumer unit (fuse box). Powervault 3 also needs to connect to the internet, either via Ethernet cable or WiFi. Powervault 3 must be installed in a ventilated area and nothing must restrict air flow around the unit. Typically, Powervault 3 systems are installed in the utility room, hallway or garage.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Once Powervault 3 has been installed, we recommend keeping it in its original location. If you do need to move Powervault 3 to another location, we can arrange for the system to be moved for an additional charge.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 is designed to charge and discharge once every 24 hours. However, if there is no demand from appliances in your home during the day, Powervault 3 will continue to store the energy until it is required.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 automatically shuts down in the event of a power cut. This is because the system must comply with G83/2 regulation, which ensures all power inverter systems do not export to the grid during black outs (to prevent their electrocuting any engineers working on the damaged power lines). Powervault 3 will automatically reboot itself when grid power has been restored.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 has a 5.5kW inverter built into the system. Powervault therefore has a maximum continuous power output of 5.5kW. Powervault 3 is designed to supply power to your base load of electrical demand over the course of the day. It can, however, also power specific high-energy appliances, (e.g. kettle, tumble-dryer), individually, over short periods of time.
Updated: 2 October 2018
Powervault 3 has an intuitive LED display across its chassis, which indicates how much energy is stored in the system and whether the system is charging or discharging. Powervault 3 owners are also able to log-in to the customer portal to monitor their Powervault 3’s performance. The online portal tracks the home’s electricity consumption and records home electricity demand, storage, discharge and export over time.
Updated: 2 October 2018