What devices can I run from my Gateway during a power cut?
When your Gateway is installed, your electrician will need to separate the backup and non-backup circuits in your home.
Your installer can help you decide which devices are essential to you during a power cut. We suggest lighting, sockets, and fridge/freezers should be prioritized for backup.
A total load of up to 100A can be connected to the backup distribution board, but please bear in mind that your battery will support up to 22A/5kW in the event of a grid loss.
If the backup load exceeds 22A/5kW, you will need to turn devices off to prevent overloading the EPS.
Please note that no inverters should be connected to the backup distribution board.
Further information on low or high energy consuming devices is available via the Gateway Settings area in the Customer Portal and via the Energy Savings Trust.
How much power load can the Gateway take?
A total load of up to 100A can be connected to the backup distribution board, but please bear in mind that your battery will support up to 22A/5kW in the event of a grid loss.
How long will my battery last in a power cut?
There are no hard and fast rules as this depends on the devices you have chosen to connect to your back up circuit.
Approximately, you can take your installed kWh capacity, and divide by your anticipated kW backup load. e.g. 20kWh / 1kW = 20 hours. Remember that the P5 cannot output more than 5kW via the EPS.
Will my battery continue to charge from my solar panels in a power cut?
If your solar panels are directly connected to the P5, then you will continue to benefit from solar generation during a power cut. This is known as DC coupled solar.
For safety reasons, if you have a separate solar inverter, we specify that this must not be connected to the backup circuit, therefore, no solar will be generated during a power cut.
Is the Gateway certified to provide emergency power for medical devices?
No, the Powervault Gateway is not certified to provide an Uninterrupted Power Supply to medical devices.
What triggers my battery to Force Charge and how long before the event does it happen?
In the event of a Met Office severe weather alert being issued in your area, you will receive a text alert from Powervault. You will have the option to enable your battery to Force Charge in preparation of the weather event. Your battery will be fully charged just before the expected weather event.
You need to opt in to this service on the Customer Portal > Gateway Settings
The Powervault Gateway will automatically provide backup power in the event of a power cut.
Which Met Office severe weather alerts trigger the system?
The system is triggered by Amber and Red rated warnings that also contain a warning of a possible power cut.
How does the system know my location?
Please ensure that you entered the correct postcode during registration.
How can I ensure safe isolation when performing electrical works in my home?
Please follow the Isolation Procedure fully as detailed in the Gateway User Guide.
How can I prepare my battery for a possible power cut following a severe weather forecast?
The Powervault Gateway has a feature that pre-charges your battery in preparation for a possible power cut.
Can I opt-out of a Force Charge event?
Yes, please follow the cancel link within the SMS.
You can also opt out on the Customer Portal > Gateway Settings.
Can I set a minimum reserve battery level at all times?
Yes, go to Customer Portal > EPS Settings to set a minimum reserve % capacity. Note that during normal operation your battery will not discharge below this reserve % capacity.
Will my battery only charge at off peak rates?
The Force Charge starts as soon as needed ahead of the event so that your battery is fully charged when the severe weather event starts. It does not wait for off-peak rates.
How will I know a Force Charge is about to start?
You will receive an SMS alert and can opt out of the event by clicking the link in the SMS.
How do I prevent the battery being drained between a Force Charge and a potential power cut?
Your unit will be set to Force-Charge until the severe weather event has ended or the Gateway is activated.
Can the Powervault Gateway be retrofitted to my existing Powervault battery?
The Powervault Gateway is only compatible with the Powervault P5 battery. All P5s ordered after January 2025 are compatible, but if your P5 is older, please contact us to check compatibility.
Do I need to install the Gateway right next to my P5 battery ?
No, but we suggest that the Gateway must be mounted no further than 2m from the grid supply.
Can the Gateway be installed outside?
Yes the interior case is IP65 rated so it can go outside.
How can I manually control the Gateway if it fails to switch back on when power is restored after a power cut?
Please refer to the troubleshooting section in the Gateway User Guide.
Do I need any tools to access the Gateway?
Though we do not recommend you open the Gateway, please keep the provided 8mm hex key safe.
