New: 2 x APEX 300 + B300k, HUB A1 for stacking
Selected APEX 300 for charging from EV V2L at 120V/1.6A while generating split-phase output for portable partial home backup. Option: BLUETTI supported 48V LiFePO4 battery interface via Charger 2.
IONIQ 5 + EV9, same EV platform, same V2L adapter, 178 kW total, and close to 120kWh of useable power for backup at 90% max SOC and 20% min/ cut-off SOC. Plenty of backup energy.
Tests:
- a single APEX 300 works fine with 120V V2L as the only AC source.
- a dual stacked A1 HUB 2 x APEX 300 works fine too, but app display and APEX display for power do not match. Noticeable time delay for refreshing, used manual refresh as a work-around.
- no difference in Turbo mode versus Automatic mode for power drawn from EV, had to modify/increase power limits on EV import.
*AC Coupling with existing PV, Microinverters
-despite earlier forum comments, AC coupling is not supported by BLUETTI as per direct feedback from BLUETTI support
- APEX 300 was designed as an off-grid portable backup inverter without AC coupling frequency-watt power curtailment (unlike Anker F3800+ and ES 10, but Anker has other short comings)
- AC coupling does work if solar PV is manually switched on/off, tested with 3kW + 4kW Enphase solar PV sub-arrays
- if SOC is close to 97%, APEX 300 may fault because App feedback on battery SOC is lagging.
- when solar PV up to 8 kW is switched on below 95% and switched off above 95%, dual APEX 300’s will work fine, each APEX 300 charging it’s batteries, B300k’s included
PRO’s:
APEX 300 works fine with EV V2L at 120V while generating spilt-phase output.
Not perfect and not as good as a completely separate battery charging subsystem with an V2L AC to DC rectifier.
L1 on a dirty generator will be dirty, while L2 will be always clean.
Weight: the APEX 300 and the B300k are not too heavy to be moved around and physically stacked.
CON’s
The app display for A1 Hub and the displays on each APEX 300 are not in sync and power/energy do not add up.
AC coupling with external solar PV is not reported accurately, it is reported as an addition consumption, but battery charging fro the addition PV AC energy is displayed correctly
Generator on/off switch/contacts would be great, they could be used not only for generator start/stop but also for solar PV hard switch on/off
The APEX DC Hub is a waste of money and bloat ware! You can buy two direct 120V USB 65W charger blocks for about $18 and plug them into the 120V outlets.
SUMMARY:
If you look for an EV V2L 120V to 120/240V split phase inverter at a reasonable price, the APEX 300 is a decent choice. There are add-on opportunities for BLUETTI to add external support systems - like the recently released Charger 2 - to extend the competitiveness of the APEX 300 product line in reference to an Anker E10 system or other semi- competitive backup systems.