hnymann, thank you, but a true home backup solution will not allow itself to become damaged during an extended discharge, during an extended power outage……which appears to be the case with some BlueTTI users. It will indeed safely shut itself down, but will most definitely allow itself to be automatically recharged when the source becomes available (typical pass-through setup)……such as the grid going live again. (Advanced ‘fail safe’ measures of both a BMS & EMS)
A true home backup solution does not need to be babysat. I’m still waiting to hear from BlueTTI tech support to see if this is such the case with their products.
And I continue to wait (with great frustration) to hear from them as to why I have a ‘no load’, idle draw on my batteries of 36 watts per hour, when they posted a chart stating 22 is their acceptable level.
I think your bigger issue, unless you have solar , is that once the power is out and the BLUETTI shuts down. It will NOT turn the AC outlets back on when power is returned. Leaving your sump pump off until you return home and turn on the AC outlets or possibly connect to the BLUETTI remotely and turn on the AC outlets.(assuming you have it connected to WIFi and the BLUETTI charges
For what I have read, the solar will trigger the BLUETTI to start charging
Since I was going to use mine as a backup for WiFi and network and without WiFi, I just purchased a APC ups
Your quote tjohnma – “It will NOT turn the AC outlets back on when power is returned.”
Well, so much for a reliable backup solution. Why does BlueTTI call this AC200MAX Power Station a Home Backup System? For $4,000, I fully expected a simple EMS (Energy Management System) that most BESS’ have these days! I don’t feel it is my job to somehow set up a secondary Wifi switching system for continued backup service once the grid comes back on.
@BlueTTI – can you please address these worrisome concerns. Here is a summary….
Setup notes – I do not use solar. Nor DC output. Bought for the sole purpose of home energy backup during a power outage. There is a B230 connected to this AC200MAX. System is always maintained at room temperature. Set up as a “pass through”.
Issue #1 – testing has proven that my batteries drain at the rate of 36 watts per hour in AC output ON mode, with no load….while simulating a grid outage and no charger connected. For further details, please refer to all my notes above.
Issue #2 – there is far too much user feedback on the possibility that the Power Station will not automatically recharge…should the batteries drain to 0% during a power outage…once the grid comes back online. There appears to be some risk that the unit/batteries will be permanently damaged. This is not acceptable for a backup solution, for the purpose of maintaining a working sump pump, freezer, fridge, etc….while on holidays, or away from the home for periods of time.
I don’t recall reading any of this in your list of “Features” or “Warnings” when I purchased the system.
Please push firmware update when available, but I will not be back home for two months before I can install it and perform a new test….energy flow and capacity.
@Murray
The positioning of AC200MAX is as an off-grid power station without UPS function. Some forum members have done this, and I have seen relevant cases, but BLUETTI has not promoted it as a home backup system. In addition, energy storage products on the market do not automatically turn on the AC output of the device. There may be hidden dangers if the AC output is automatically turned on. For example, if a user is connecting the machine’s output wiring, and the machine automatically turns on the AC, there is a risk of electric shock.
The current price of AC200MAX is $1499. If you are unsatisfied with its performance, I suggest you consider BLUETTI power stations with UPS and WIFI functions.
@BlueTTI - I’m starting to resent being put in this constant defensive position. Much of your commentary is flawed!
With respect to whether BlueTTI markets their AC200MAX as a home battery backup? You do! I am Canadian and use your Canadian .ca site. And if you go to your website menu at the bottom of the page, you will find a Products link to your “Home Power Backup” options…
The very first image you see is an AC200MAX. But nonetheless, when you click on Portable Power Stations, the very first description you see is “BlueTTI AC200MAX Home Backup”.
I am most definitely not expecting a “Whole” home backup system. But I fully expect your labelled “Home Power Backup” products to power home appliances, such as a fridge, freezer and sump pump after the power outage with recharging capabilities.
With respect to my stating $4,000 for my BlueTTI backup system…it absolutely cost me $4,000. I paid $2,099 to BlueTTI for my AC200MAX, and I paid $1,399 to BlueTTI for my B230. And you charged me 13% tax (as you should). That total comes to $3,952.74.
I think we finally got to the root of the problem. You were expecting a whole house UPS system with auto changeover to the AC200 max. The AC200 max is a portable power station that be configured for a variety of uses but being a UPS it is not.
Scott – Me expecting a ‘whole home’ backup system?
Absolutely not!
I have extensively researched…and in talks with…numerous whole home BES Systems, including the Tesla Powerwall, Enphase’s IQ, FranklinWH’s aGate and aPower, Canadian Solar’s EP Cube for my home, along with solar and a Ford F150 Lighting, and the list goes on.
I’m also strongly considering becoming a Distributer, Partner and Installer with one of the above. But the Canadian market is not ready yet for large scale employment. And thus, I bide my time for a few more years with a temporary solution…for a single appliance (a sump pump). Perhaps two, with a freezer. But BlueTTI is coming up short.
I’ll be continuing this train of thought directly with @BlueTTI shortly.
Tell me Scott, how is the BlueTTI ‘UPS’ AC300/B300 going to kick in when a power outage drains the B300 battery, and shuts off the AC output?
I now know the answer is it won’t!
There is not difference between my non-UPS AC200MAX and the pro-UPS AC 300…to keep a freezer running at the power comes back on, after drawing the battery during the outage!
If you now say Wifi is the answer, then I would agree…knowing what I know now. In that is, there is NO auto recharging after power comes back on for a drained battery (excluding the BMS reserve energy of course. That goes without saying). But “pass through” charging is an Uninterruptible Power solution also. I’m not looking for millisecond transfer speeds here. I’m not powering a computer while I am away.
But now I am stuck with a $4,000 non Wifi dud! Nothing in @BlueTTI’s marketing, features, tech specs and user manual prepares you for this knowledge revelation. Why? Why is it not in there?
If @BlueTTI takes back and credits my new replacement (for a different frustrating issue) AC200MAX, and my new B230…I would be more than happy to pay the difference for the Wifi AC300/B300.
@BlueTTI - with respect to your suggesting me to consider a BlueTTI with UPS and Wifi…
I now know the Wifi will be helpful, for I must manually turn the AC output back on myself when power returns to the grid. If I am away, Wifi or a house sitter is the only solution.
But how does the AC300’s UPS help me in my need, where the AC200MAX fails? With respect to the risk of electrical shock to a user with output wiring/cabling, how does the AC300 UPS turn on the AC output, where the AC200MAX will not? Why would the AC300 risk the user shock also?
The safety feature is in the output cable connectors, and is not required in the BMS. Allow the BMS to turn on the charging flow after a blackout, for there are no exposed conductors on the cable connectors to accidentally shock a user.
A remaining question still lingers though…does your BMS just turn off the “AC output” when a battery is depleted? Or does it also shut down the entire (power) unit?
With your obvious high-level knowledge and understanding of electrical backup devices I am still confused how you were not able to discern that the Bluetti AC 200 max is not a UPS unit. That is what you were wanting the item for and are disappointed because it is not what you wanted it to be rather than what it is.
@Murray I read your entire thread and I still can’t get your point. What are you trying to accomplish?
On one side you blame and whine about your Bluetti unit, on the other side you make self remarks about your knowledge.
.
How is that you didn’t research a little about the unit before buying it?
.
From a person like me that was like a spectator until now it looks like you choose a unit only on your expectations and not on its specifications that are widely available on the Internet, or this forum for instance.
.
If you continue like this by talking without listening you will only end up alone with nobody else replying anymore to you.
.
The fact that more people read your posts and replied to you is the special fact that somebody is listening to you and trying to help your cause, for free, so at the same time you should give respect, listen, and try to get a second important fact: this is the reality and you cannot change it with that tone, whining and complaining. Thank you.
ndwr - let’s say you’re getting ready to leave for a 3 week holiday, so you plug your fridge and freezer into your charging AC200MAX for safe keeping. The uninterrupted pass through backup brings you great comfort and away you go.
A couple of days later, you hear there is power outage back home. Not a problem for you were prudent enough to set yourself up properly. The power outage has now lasted 2 days and you’re thinking your battery has now depleted to SOC 0% (excluding the 10% BMS energy reserve of course), but you’re still hopeful the power will be back on soon.
And sure enough, you read online the grid is live again back home and you’re proud of yourself for taking the initiative to protect yourself from a large food loss and a very unpleasant cleanup. But unbeknownst to you, your AC200MAX is not capable of recharging and re-powering your appliances with this type of event. You arrive home absolutely shocked!
Nowhere, does BlueTTI bring this warning to your attention during your pre-purchase research and due diligence. Nor afterwards in the enclosed User Manual! And it’s absolutely amazing that you and @BlueTTI takes this issue so lightly.
Let’s say if I’m leaving for 3 weeks I will not leave my fridge attached to an AC200Max because I know it’s not an automatic unmanned UPS but a portable power station.
@ndwr - let’s say you answer my earlier question first, and tell me what the “UPS” features of a BlueTTI backup unit would do differently in the same event I just described?
You will be shocked when you finally realize…nothing! It too is not capable of recharging and re-powering your appliances with this type of event.
I find your defence of BlueTTI’s lack of proper disclosure disturbing.
