Blackout Instructions

 

 

Engaging your battery backup during a blackout. 

When the grid goes down, blackout protection helps keep your home powered by using stored energy from your solar battery. It gives your household an extra layer of energy security, helping essential appliances, lights, internet and everyday comforts keep running during an outage.

At Plico, blackout protection is available across all our trusted battery ranges, with different options depending on the system you choose. Depending on your system and setup, you may have to manually engage your battery backup when the grid goes down. 

Do I need to manually switch on my battery backup?

If your battery backup doesn't switch on automatically, you may have to switch it on during a blackout. Doing this is easy as flicking a switch in most cases. For AlphaESS and FoxESS systems, the changeover switch to engage your battery backup is located in your main switchboard. If you have a Redback Technologies system, you can operate this at your inverter. 

Choose your system below and follow the instructions to keep your lights on during a blackout. 

 

Why Blackout Protection matters

Blackouts can happen for many reasons, from storms and network faults to planned maintenance and grid instability. While some outages are short, others can last for hours; sometimes even days (such as during extreme weather events or bushfires). Blackout protection helps reduce disruption by keeping the things that matter most powered up and available when you need them. 

  • Keep your fridge and freezer running and avoid food spoiling. 

  • Keep lights on, internet running and devices charged.

  • Keep your home comfortable by running fans and other appliances. 

Did you know?

Having a solar battery, especially one that is connected to a Virtual Power Plant, actually helps to avoid blackouts on the grid by sending excess energy to the grid when it’s under pressure.

AlphaESS and FoxESS Blackout Protection: Essential backup

With Plico’s AlphaESS and FoxESS range, blackout protection is designed around essential backup circuits. This means selected circuits in your home are connected to your battery backup supply, so the most important appliances and services can continue running when the grid goes down.

Essential backup circuits are typically used for everyday must-haves such as the fridge, freezer, key lights, modem, garage door, phone charging or other low-to-moderate loads. The exact circuits are confirmed during system design and installation, based on your home, switchboard and energy priorities.

This setup is a practical, cost-effective way to add outage protection without backing up every circuit in the home. It is ideal for households that want reliable backup for the essentials while keeping their solar + battery system simple and great value. And best of all, it's included with every FoxESS and AlphaESS installation. 
AlphaESS Blackout Protection

Sigenergy Blackout Protection: Optional whole-house backup

Plico’s Sigenergy range offers complete blackout protection. When configured with the optional Sigen Gateway, a Sigenergy system can support whole-house backup or selected backup loads, depending on the design of the system and the needs of the property.

The Sigen Gateway automatically detects outages and manages the transition to backup power, helping supply household loads from the battery and solar system when grid power is unavailable. This makes Sigenergy a strong option for homes that want premium backup capability, greater flexibility and a more future-ready energy setup.

Whole-house backup may be suitable for homes with higher energy needs, three-phase power, home offices, personal equipment, larger appliances or customers who want more of their home to remain powered during an outage. The final backup design depends on your inverter size, battery capacity, household loads and switchboard requirements. Whole-house backup and the Sigen Gateway incur additional costs, which will be discussed when your system is designed.

Stay Powered

And be the envy of your neighbours!

Our members often tell us that the best thing about having blackout protection is being able to help their neighbours during outages. They can offer support for phone charging, internet or even cooking. They also love the bragging rights and being the only house in the street with the lights on!

The bottom line is— blackouts are disruptive and inconvenient for everyone. Stay powered up with Plico and make blackouts a thing of the past.  

Sigenergy Battery Selection Installers

Plico Virtual Power Plant

Plico’s Virtual Power Plant helps prevent blackouts by sending excess solar energy to the grid when it's needed most. Participants earn VPP Rewards for their excess energy, without having to lift a finger. Plico's VPP is just another way you get more value from your battery investment. 
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