Power outages can be stressful and disruptive—especially when you're unsure which appliances will stay on and whether your home battery will operate as expected. A battery overload can occur at a home when the total home power consumption exceeds the ability of the battery system to provide power. But with the latest innovation from SPAN backup overload protection, homeowners can rest assured that their home battery, or Energy Storage System, will operate reliably during a grid outage. 

SPAN will respond to potential overload situations by temporarily reducing the power to certain, pre-determined appliances in order to keep consumption below the output of the battery. Power will be restored to these loads when SPAN sees the home consumption drop to a level that is compatible with the battery output. SPAN backup overload protection ensures a comfortable and predictable experience for the homeowner during a grid outage.

What is backup overload protection?

During the commissioning of SPAN Panel, the installer will enable this feature by inputting the power rating of the battery.  In the example below, the installer has inputted 11.5 kW, which is the rating of a single battery that is common in the market.  This peak power value becomes the setpoint by which backup overload protection manages the home load, mitigating the risk of brown outs and overloads.

Backup overload protection continuously monitors the total load being drawn from the battery, ensuring that energy consumption remains within operational limits. When the home's peak power use approaches the battery's continuous power rating, SPAN Panel activates its smart load management capabilities. SPAN proactively disconnects circuits to prevent the system from exceeding its power capacity, safeguarding the energy storage system during outages. Additionally, backup overload protection will allow home loads to momentarily exceed the backup power limit into the surge capacity range of the battery before turning off circuits. 

SPAN Panel - backup circuit priorities

In addition to backup overload protection, SPAN Panel features backup circuit priorities, allowing homeowners to choose which circuits are essential during an outage to optimize battery energy capacity. Circuits are categorized into three groups: Must Have, Nice to Have, and Non-Essential.

• Must Have circuits remain powered at all times while the home is operating in backup mode, typically covering critical needs like refrigeration and lighting.
• Nice to Have circuits are powered only if the battery's state of energy (SOE) is at 50% or higher. If the battery drops below this threshold, these circuits are automatically shed to extend battery life.
• Non-Essential circuits are never powered during a backup event, which may include appliances like secondary refrigerators or outdoor lighting.

By categorizing circuits in this manner, homeowners can extend their battery runtime by up to 40%, ensuring that they have power for their most important devices for as long as possible.

NEC Compliance

Ensuring compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) is crucial for any Energy Storage System installation. Article 702 outlines the requirements for Optional Standby Systems, including guidelines for connecting loads that are automatically managed during backup operations. SPAN Panel simplifies compliance with these regulations by incorporating a listed Energy Management System (EMS) that automatically manages home load to prevent overload. 

By managing power loads effectively, SPAN Panel eliminates the need for dedicated backup panels, which often limit flexibility. Instead, it provides a customizable approach to energy management, allowing homeowners to prioritize loads according to their unique needs while ensuring compliance with NEC requirements. This integration enhances overall system performance and efficiency.

Summary

SPAN Panel's backup overload protection is a game changer for power management during grid outages. Its smart load management prevents battery overload, mitigating the risk of a homeowner unintentionally overloading a battery. Additionally, the SPAN Home App empowers homeowners to dynamically prioritize energy use, extending battery runtime and enhancing comfort. By simplifying power management and ensuring compliance with NEC Article 702, SPAN Panel makes home resilience easy and dependable.

With SPAN Panel, homeowners have the confidence to navigate power outages. Discover how this intelligent energy management system can transform your home’s resilience. 

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