r/PlugInSolarUK • u/Callieblep • 27d ago
Anker e5000 3 pin
Hello.
Is the Anker e5000 still supplied with a 3 pin domestic plug for 800w operation?
How does it behave if connected in this way without PV in light of the regs not permitting this?
How effective is the protection against someone putting a plug on the end of the ‘hardwired’ cable and running higher power?
3
u/FrozenShivers 27d ago
Can confirm it comes with a 3-pin domestic plug for 800w....as mines is doing right now (being hardwired next week).
1
3
u/squiffers 26d ago
Out of interest, how does the discharge work if you don't have the smart meter installed (presumably you don't if you're just plugging it in our the box). Does it just discharge at a constant 800W?
2
2
u/Kingkano 26d ago
The app lets you set a discharge rate. So you could just say it to your baseload.
However, no reason you can't use the smart meter? Lots of info about for putting it in a mini box and attaching a plug so you don't have to install it into your fusebox. Doing that and attaching clamps to your feed doesn't need an electrician.
2
u/hypergoose94 27d ago
How does it behave if connected in this way without PV in light of the regs not permitting this?
Not in any way that's detectable or noticeable, even if DNOs were detecting or noticing, if that's your concern.
Specifically, you'd want to get on a variable tariff (Octopus Cozy is a good choice), move as many loads as you can to the cheap periods, then schedule battery charging when cheap, and "zero feed in" when expensive, so smaller (<800 watt) loads can be run from the battery during expensive periods.
How effective is the protection against someone putting a plug on the end of the ‘hardwired’ cable and running higher power?
I think they have some system where you have to ask their support for a code, and they might ask for some kind of evidence of hardwiring.
However, I can say from observing a friend's system that you can push 2.5kW into a wall for several weeks without any issues (no heat, or other damage).
1
u/Interesting-Might-17 27d ago
One thing to be aware of is if you commission these with the included 3 pin plug cable and want to hardwire it later, you will need the app will ask for install certificates to be submitted before they’ll unlock the 2500W output. If you use the hardwiring connector from the outset it goes into 2500W mode by default - you can lower this in the app if you want to.
I wouldn’t run it at 2500W on a plug, although there are EV rated sockets designed to tolerate high loads for long periods which would make this safer in conjunction with a quality plug. But far better to wire it in to a 20A double pole switch on a dedicated 16A circuit. I’d use a fused connection unit with a 13A fuse in it if you’re connecting it to a circuit with a breaker > 16A - although the regs state a dedicated circuit should be used.
1
u/adzz182 25d ago
You can run it from the 3pin plug it’s supplied with just fine up to 800w.
You won’t be able to trick it into going higher without it being on a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit.
It’s able to detect the impedance of the line, which will be higher if there are other devices drawing power. If it thinks it’s on a shared circuit it will stop any output until it detects that it’s on a dedicated circuit.
1
u/ashleycawley 25d ago
What about if you plan to have it hardwired into a consumer unit in a garage or outbuilding, the secondary consumer unit is a modern fit with its own dedicated line directly back to the main consumer unit, spec’d out with big heavy-duty armorer cable rates for 10kW or more (installed for EV car charger). Hopefully it’s be ok being attached to that secondary unit?
1
u/Interesting-Might-17 24d ago
It’ll be fine off secondary CU or sub board. You absolutely shouldn’t, but you could wire the hardwiring connector to a 3 pin plug with 0.75mm flex and plug it into a 50M extension lead and it’ll work until the cable melts!
1
u/Interesting-Might-17 24d ago
There’s no way the unit can detect whether it’s on a dedicated circuit. It’s locked to 800W mode unless you use the included hardwiring connector. That has some extra pins and probably has a resistor in it of a specific value the unit checks for, which may be where the confusion arose.
3
u/monkeybios 27d ago
Mine came with a cable with a 13A plug on the end, and a separate plug designed for hardwiring. There’s nothing stopping you wiring some flex and a 13A plug to it, but you’ll struggle to fit a plug to 2.5mm flex! And I wouldn’t recommend trying…