Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re not sure what a 1C rating is or how it compares to the competition

The capacity of energy the battery can safely discharge. A battery that has a higher C rating delivers more energy, and that means higher performance. Puredrive has the highest C rating (1C) in comparison to its competitors.

Confused on the difference between AC and DC? What purpose do either of them serve?

AC is Alternating Current. This is the electricity flowing first in one direction and then the other. This is the type of electrical current used on the grid and in most of your household devices and appliances.

DC is Direct Current. This means the flow is in one direction only. This is the type of electrical current generated by the solar panels on your roof and stored by your home battery.

How does LifePO4 relate to my battery specification? what does it mean?

This is a lithium iron phosphate battery. LifePO4 batteries are best known for their safety profile, the result of an extremely stable chemistry. They are incombustible, in the event a mishandling during the charging and discharging period. They can also withstand very harsh conditions from freezing cold to scorching heat.

What does kWh stand for?

A kilowatt-hour is the standard unit of electricity supplied to the consumer. This is equal to 1 kilowatt acting for 1 hour.

What is an inverters purpose? How does it work?

An inverter is needed to convert the direct current electricity generated by your solar panels into alternating current electricity for your home’s appliances. If you install a solar panel system with a traditional inverter and decide to add a battery system later on, you’ll need a separate battery-specific inverter to convert the electricity back and forth from AC to DC current for your battery to store and discharge.

A hybrid inverter, brings together two separate components (a solar inverter and a battery inverter) into a single piece of equipment.

Explaining the term of ‘10,000 cycles’

This is the process of your battery being fully charged, to the point of complete discharge and then back up to a full charge. Our warranty ensures you’re protected for 10,000 cycles.

Explaining DOD

A depth of discharge means how much energy is processed in and out of a battery in a single cycle. Its shown as a percentage which is the total capacity of the battery. For example, if you have a 10kWh battery, and you discharge 9Kwh, then the DOD is 90%.

Explaining the definition of IP65

An IP rating is a term used to define sealing effectiveness provided by an electrical enclosure against foreign bodies such as water, dirt, objects, etc.

IP65 specifically, means that its able to protect against water jets. Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against the enclosure in any direction will have no harmful effects.

What is a VPP or Virtual Power Plant

Puredrive’s VPP is a digital control system that connects households and businesses together, enabling their battery storage systems to charge and discharge simultaneously.

The VPP will put the consumer in control of their energy procurement and consumption, enabling them to make decisions as to where their energy comes from, and when and how their energy is consumed.

When the VPP is combined with the Puredrive battery storage system, an unrivalled combination of energy savings and revenue generation opportunities are achieved.

What is a BMS in a battery system

BMS stands for Battery Management System. Lithium-ion batteries can be used only in specific conditions, therefore a BMS is needed in order to monitor battery state and ensure safety of operations. This also ensures that other battery modules within the same system are also being monitored by the BMS, So that they are all balanced in terms of charge whilst helping preserve their longevity.

No, you cannot extend the CT clamps.

If you need to extend the CT clamps then you will need a Puredrive Energy Remote Energy Meter. You will then need to terminate the CT clamps in the Remote Energy Meter rather than the system.

No, please check the datasheet for your system to see the maximum output during grid loss.

The maximum output is restricted by the inverter, not the battery. You will need to check the datasheet to see what the maximum output during a powercut is.

To integrate your system with your tariff, you will need to make contact with Puredrive.

Please give us a call or email to discuss integrating your system with your tariff. It is a very quick and easy process!

Your system connects to the internet via a LAN cable.

Your system will be connected to the internet via a LAN cable from your router directly into your system.

Yes, as long as you have critical circuits installed and connected to the system, your battery will be able to provide you with power when the grid is down.

Please get in touch with your installer to discuss critical circuit installation.

Features of the Puredrive App

The Puredrive app has a variety of different features. These include: Live usage monitoring, energy consumption, green report, system overview, battery test and more.

Know how green you’re being through our Puredrive app

Our Green Report on the app highlights your green energy usage. This is done by showing your energy consumption in comparison to the usual carbon footprint left behind. For example, the app highlights the amount of coal saved, greenhouse gas equivalent saved and number of tree’s that would need to be planted to achieve the same carbon offset.

Different modes of use for our battery systems on our app

You can change the way your system functions and consumes energy via the different modes we are and will be providing on the App. These are Self, Variable, Grid and Power.  ‘Self” is currently the function available on the app, however in the future we hope to provide everyone with access to the 3 other modes. They are as follows: 

Self: Self consumption

Variable: Operating variable tariff

Grid: Providing grid services 

Power: Power cut mode 

Explaining if the app can provide savings information

The app has the capability to provide such information, however it is in the hands of your energy supplier to deliver your savings information to be displayed on our app. Puredrive does not have the ability to retrieve such information but only display it.

How our ‘energy usage’ works

Within our energy usage feature, you’re able to see exactly how much energy you’ve used whether that’s coming from your solar, battery or grid. You have the ability to view your past history, going back in days, weeks, months or years. This is a very important feature for you if you wish to keep track of your energy usage over time.

Is there a live energy usage feature on the app?

The Puredrive app does have a live energy usage feature. Within this feature, you can track how much energy you’re using from your solar, battery and grid along with how much your home is consuming. This can come in very handy when you need to know how much energy you’re using at any given time, leading to further action which in turn can contribute to more savings.

Explaining variable rate tariffs

A variable rate tariff means that our PureStorage systems will make sure that it charges when its cheapest to do so and discharges when energy prices are high. This is done automatically through our Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Should you wish to change energy supplier, Puredrive will do this free of charge.

Using Agile octopus means:

• With Agile Octopus, you get access to half-hourly energy prices, tied to wholesale prices, and updated daily.
• Top up your battery when wholesale prices are cheap, and discharge when expensive.
• Agile Octopus also takes advantage of Plunge Pricing – get paid for the electricity you use!

You can find the Puredrive Energy 3-phase installation guide on our website in the partner portal.

Please follow our link here – https://linktr.ee/PuredriveEnergy

To find the wiring diagram for our PureStorage II 3-Phase 11.5-23kWh HV system you will need to head over to our link tree.

Please click through this link to our linktree: https://linktr.ee/PuredriveEnergy

The ferrite loops/coils are to reduce noise and therefore prevent any interference.

The ferrite loops are installed around the communication cable to reduce noise on the CANbus. These are predominantly only required on Solis RAI installations.

Yes, is the short answer but please contact Puredrive Energy to ensure that you are doing it correctly.

If you extend power cables then you will need to use the same cable – please contact Puredrive Energy to confirm this.

If you extend the comms cables then you will need to ensure that you are using the correct pinouts – please contact Puredrive Energy to confirm this.

Yes, the battery is rated at IP65 which is suitable for outdoor installation.

You can install your battery outside – this is not a problem as the battery is rated at IP65.

You will need to contact your installer to organise adding more batteries to your existing system.

The process of installing additional batteries to your existing system is very easy. Everything you need comes in the packaging. Please refer to our installation guide to see how to daisy chain the batteries in parallel – https://linktr.ee/PuredriveEnergy

Please check the maximum power output from the inverter on the datasheet to work this out.

This will differ from system to system and completely depends on the maximum power output of the inverter. A maximum power output of 100A will charge a 5kWh in 1 hour.

If the batteries are full and there is still excess energy being generated then the remaining energy will be exported back to the grid.

If the batteries are full and there is still more energy being generated than is required from the house then the excess will be exported back to the grid.