I was looking at this product last week. I remember seeing a photo with a current transformer (CT) in it. Maybe they have the user install a CT on the upstream breaker to ensure the total load for the branch circuit isn’t exceeded. Without that they run into an issue where it could overload the branch circuit wiring.
Therefore you can forget completely supplying electricity for an oven, kettle or microwave in most cases.
*Due to local regulations: 800W UK, 600W in some parts of Europe - I believe it's 800W in the US but please DYOR.
Having said all that, their existing PowerStream inverter + battery Power Stations work really well and are literally plug & play. I've been running a setup in the UK and it's drastically reduced our electricity consumption from the grid whilst still being a simple plug & play self-install.
ethagnawl•9mo ago
cake-rusk•9mo ago
Arnt•9mo ago
This kind of PV is popular in the city where I live. I feel queasy about there being sources of power that don't pass the main fuse. I'm sure there are ways to make it safe, but I like the simplicity of having one fuse between power supply and power users.
ethagnawl•9mo ago
Right. This is my concern, too and it's why you shouldn't _just pipe your generator into the dryer's outlet_ when the power goes out. The electricity will continue to feed back out into the grid and can hurt/kill line workers who aren't expecting power.
Reading between the lines here, though. Maybe the device has a buffer and some mechanism to detect when the grid goes down and will only send it back into the outlet if things are operating normally? This is very clever if it somehow works and is safe but, yeah, it also makes me queasy and is the reason it's only available for sale in Utah.
futevolei•9mo ago
ethagnawl•9mo ago
Thanks. I didn't know these existed and worked out of the box. Now I'm very curious to know _how_ they work.