KOSTAL BackUp Switch and PLENTICORE inverter
The PLENTICORE inverter from KOSTAL automatically recognises a mains power failure from the lack of AC voltage.
After the KOSTAL BackUp Switch has been switched from line current to backup mode, the KOSTAL PLENTICORE switches on again and supplies the local house grid on all 3 phases with energy from the connected PV modules and battery storage system.
Backup power mode: the KOSTAL solution
The advantage of the manual changeover switch is that should the public grid fail, with the BackUp Switch you can supply individually selected circuits or the entire house grid with energy. This means that every socket, every lighting circuit and even electric shutters or door drives can be used again.
The BackUp Switch is compatible with all third-generation PLENTICORE inverters and is suitable for all domestic connections designed for up to 63 amps of current.
One distinctive feature is that the BackUp Switch has integrated cable break detection for the switch position’s evaluation signal – for even more safety.
Backup power mode: installation and commissioning
The KOSTAL BackUp Switch is compact and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Only eight modular spacings in the control cabinet are required, meaning that the switch can be mounted on a top-hat rail right next to the KOSTAL (Smart) Energy Meter.
Wiring is completed in a few simple steps. Two separate outgoing circuits can be used to split the existing circuits into those that remain switched off should the power fail and those that continue to be supplied by the inverter.
What makes this product so special is the PLENTICORE inverter uses the same AC connection cable for grid and backup mode, so only one AC cable has to be laid. Existing residual current protection equipment and circuit breakers can continue to be used, saving time and money.
KOSTAL BackUp Switch with PLENTICORE
Simply clever: with the cost-effective solution of the KOSTAL BackUp Switch in combination with the PLENTICORE for backup power mode, it is possible to divide loads into backup-capable and non-backup-capable loads.
The optimum solution is obvious. In the unlikely event of a mains power failure, you can maintain a secure and easy-to use supply to domestic consumers for a minimal investment. The PLENTICORE supplies a range of domestic consumers with solar power from the operator's own roof and an optional battery storage system up to its system configuration.
It therefore makes sense to prioritise backup mode for the most important appliances, which are ideally already pre-organised in a separate circuit. Large loads do not have to be supplied as a priority in the event of a mains power cut. These would use up the storage capacity too quickly.
In addition, the connected battery should always have sufficient residual energy to restart the inverter. The depth of discharge can be set via the menu navigation in the inverter. And if the battery does run out overnight, it is recharged the next day and the inverter starts to build up the grid again. This behaviour is also known colloquially as "black start capability".
Tip: Check the power consumption of the loads you plan to connect beforehand and ensure that the PV system, inverter output and battery capacity are sufficient to ensure that you have enough power in an emergency.
KOSTAL makes it possible: the KOSTAL PLENTICORE inverter, in conjunction with the KOSTAL BackUp Switch, provides PV system operators with a clever solution for backup power in an emergency. Inexpensive to purchase, simple to install and easy to use, this configuration is a key component of every modern PV system with the PLENTICORE G3.
