Your knowledge on the matter is just incomplete. Most Bluetti units (including AC200Max) automatically power on and recharge when AC grid or PV power is available again.
For what regards the AC output not turning on automatically after the unit got back online after it got discharged, that is a security measure since you don’t want a power station that is primarily made to be portable to turn on AC automatically for security reasons.
If the unit got Wi-Fi you can remotely connect to it after it get back online and turn the AC output on by yourself, and by taking responsibility yourself if the environment where you are providing AC current is completely unmanned.
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Every Bluetti unit have one or more 32 bit microprocessor inside, they can easily calculate prime numbers if Bluetti wants, so every feature is not limited by the hardware but specifically chosen for reasons that were explained many times here by Bluetti, and to you directly also, so you should understand them.
@ndwr - you have obviously not read BLUETTI‘s comments above that contradicts your statement….
“Most Bluetti units (including AC200Max) automatically power on and recharge when AC grid”
The reason why I am so frustrated on this channel is, because there is so much community and moderator misinformation. But this is the site where I get BLUETTI’s attention, and hopefully some resolution.
I think “obviously” is very arrogant to say and I don’t know which comment you’re talking about, please use the “quote” function of the forum when you’re referring to something previously written.
The fundamental problem with all of this… is that the subject is really complex. Everyone is right. The user and consumer want a plug and play solution. The manufacturer explains that he has developed different equipment adapted to different uses and consumers should not make a mistake in the choice of equipment. The geeks, the DIYers, the techies will say it’s written in the manual and, even if it’s not written in the manual, there is a reason why the equipment works that way. We all make mistakes at one time or another (and I’ve made plenty of them) because the subject is really complicated… and we try to solve the problems with patches and tinkering. But what is certain is that we end up becoming an “expert” in the subject and that we improve our experience curve! And our next project will be a success!
Snips1 . . . I would be interested in learning more about using WiFi to access the Bluetti Android App for the purpose of monitoring and controlling the device remotely. I have an AC180 and only have Bluetooth connectivity.
Thank you
None of that is misinformation. They do turn on and charge. It does NOT say they then go and power up the outputs, that was your assumption. You need to question why you made the assumptions when nothing stated anywhere says these devices do that. Bluetti says these are power backup solutions. Like a generator is a power backup solution. When a generator runs out of fuel you need to refuel it. Nowhere does it say that these power stations are a UPS, which is what you assumed you were getting, and that assumption is on you, not Bluetti.
Having said that, you do not need to go to an AC300/B300 solution to get WIFI. You can use the AC200L instead. It has WIFI, and battery expansion very similar to the AC200Max , but the AC200L is more capable.
Murray, have you seen this video?
I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for, but it may or may not solve your issue of not being able to turn on and monitor your AC 200 when your away. It would only be available when the grid power comes back on but it’s worth looking into. I think everyone here is on the same page and understands your issues so there’s no point in taking this conversation any further. At this point you’re starting to sound like you just want to gripe, complain and argue.
Hello Wdogwood
Doecliff gave the link to the video, which allows you to take remote control of an (old) Android phone connected to your Wi-Fi, via the phone you have with you using the application teamviewer which is free. You can remotely launch the Bluetti app on the old phone (which will connect via Bluetooth to your Bluetti) and see everything that is happening on the Bluetti app and turn AC or DC on/off.
Snips1 . . . thank you.
Regards
This topic may be long forgotten, but since I have a very similar situation and have received very similar levels of ignorance of the issue, I made an account here to respond and hopefully offer what should be the very obvious reason the OP’s concerns were valid.
First of all, I recently got an AC-300 specifically because it has multiple UPS modes, user configurable for levels of SOC cut in and cut out for charging and discharging to various levels specifically for 24/7 continuous use as a UPS specifically. The unit is very clearly marketed as a backup power product and the aforementioned UPS functionality is also marketed.
However, precisely as the OP stated, the units will not drive the AC output upon the reinstatement of grid power after a power outage that lasts beyond the lower SOC cutout point. The cheapest UPS at walmart or a gas station if they sold one would consider powering the AC output anytime grid power was available to be a given. The Bluetti units discussed in this thread would appear to lack this 101 level UPS function no matter how you set them up. They simply will not repower your devices in this typical use case without outside input from someone who continues monitoring the situation and manually resets everything after grid power is restored… again and again… for as many times as grid power may be lost any time the battery SOC cuts the unit off.
The simple task of passing the available grid power to the AC outputs ANY time it is available seems to totally escape Bluetti and most in this thread. Everyone slow down and let that take hold. ANY time grid power is available, a UPS must pass that to the outputs.
That is the bare minimum that a UPS provides. AFTER that comes all the features that a UPS might or might not do when grid power is NOT available. Waveform, switching time, continuous conversion, so on and so forth. But the thought that a UPS would sit idle while the critical circuits run to it remained off with grid power fully available for an endless amount of time unless someone manually restarted it is asinine. Full stop. That is not a UPS.
If the units were marketed as a crappy little power station this thread wouldn’t exist. Real inverters and batteries would have been purchased by the OP and myself, units like those from Schneider or Victron for instance.
And, In the case of Bluetti’s products, if the firmware simply included the ability to select AC ALWAYS ON, again, the problem would instantly be corrected. It is only in the marketing of the unit(s) as backup and UPS uses that the problem arises when they do not behave as such. The marketing has to match the product, or the product has to match the marketing. These two things are most certainly not in agreement here. Hence this thread existing.
I have designed, permitted and overseen the work to build dozens of commercial buildings with sometimes basic and other times more complex electrical systems for large 3 phase motors, pumps, basic robotics, transformers, emergency systems, battery systems, fire pumps and all the rest. I drew the construction documents with all the electrical risers, panel schedules, power plans, lighting plans, motor starters, specified all equipment, including fans, VFDs and to include sometimes having to help program the VFD’s and other times fully programming them for tasks ranging from pumping equipment to cooling equipment and overhead cranes among many others.
Warehouses, Auditoriums, Schools, Manufacturing, Repair shops among other use categories. I have designed the complete electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems on new construction for all of those uses and more. I have done many phase conversions with VFD’s as well. This stuff has been out in the world for years and years working as designed with happy owners.
The only point of mentioning some of my background is to suggest to those who have responded so negatively to the OP in this thread, please consider the possibility that he may not be as dumb as some of the respondents treated him.
The products are unable to accomplish the task they are marketed for. They cannot reliably pass grid power. In fact, placing them into your system greatly increases the probability that your most critical branch circuits will sustain indefinite outages in the case of an extended loss of grid power and the “UPS” manufacturer seems unwilling to offer any software to allow their device marketed as such to accomplish the basic task of always passing grid power when available.
I have a vacation home on the gulf coast that is routinely hit with hurricanes and my primary residence is over 7 hours away by vehicle. These are the exact use cases where a backup system not reliant on a ground-mounted generator are so helpful. When the grid goes down in these situations cellular data and landline data normally go as well, so the idea of someone monitoring the unit and manually turning it back on, while still asinine for a UPS, is often not even available. The backup power unit needs to handle its business, offer backup battery power when able and ALWAYS pass AC grid power when available. If not, it should be labeled and marketed appropriately.
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In order to use the AC-300 and B300 batteries already purchased, I will be wiring an RV 30 amp dual power ATS between the Bluetti unit and the sub-panel it supports. In this way, should the unit stick it’s head in the sand and give up at any time when grid power is readily available, the ATS will bypass the grid around the Bluetti and get the job done.
After considering it farther it made more sense to use some EG4 products for the home backup use and the Bluetti units can just be used for things like camping and casual uses. It is simply not suited for UPS or home backup use. If you find yourself potentially driving a sub panel with a Bluetti device, you are making a mistake. The Bluetti product line is intended for use with extension cords only. All other marketing is misleading. Even the EP series has the same flaw where it will indefinitely block your devices from available grid power after it exhausts the backup battery bank. That appears to be baked into all Bluetti devices. Don’t ever come back online.
I would tend to agree with charliecdbuild that the current lineup of Bluetti products are meant to be for portable use. These are meant to be taken to the off grid cabin, (or wherever), turned on and used for the weekend with some solar panels for charging. To be fair Bluetti is making strides into the grid tied home systems with some of their products but the smaller units are meant to be portable, not wired into the home electrical system. I am somewhat surprised when I read the forum and see what some people hope to accomplish with their system. Trying to add to much complexity, trying to make the more basic models “set it and forget it”, and trying to add additional after-market components into the system to make it better. Bluetti makes great products but you have to see them for what they are and their intended use, not a final solution to replace the utility. Bluetti shares some of the blame in this mindset with making their products to “feature rich” and installing firm ware that’s not quite as robust and functional as it should be.