Lux Power LXP 3600 Squirrel Pod Controller

The Squirrel Pod is an enhanced version of the typical AC units. What sets it apart is its added hardware, enabling it to connect with up to nine other Squirrel Pod controllers, either now or in the future. Every Squirrel Pod requires its own batteries and can be connected either individually or through a collective connection to the customer’s fuse board.

They operate in tandem. Only the Primary controller is equipped with CT clamps, while the rest function in a Subordinate mode. This setup allows the Primary controller to manage the entire system, instructing other units when to charge or discharge their batteries.

Both the standard AC units and the Squirrel Pod variants have been registered on the ENA Register with G100 certification.

The Cost of the system all depends on what size battery and which battery brand you choose.

You can find all our price which include installation and VAT on our website:

  • Lux AC with Uhome 2.4kWh Lithium Batteries: Click Here 
  • Lux AC with Hanchu 3.2kWh Lithium Batteries: Click Here
  • Lux AC with Hanchu 9.4kWh Lithium Batteries: Click Here 

The Lux Power Squirrel Pod Battery Storage Controller works with 3 different types of batteries, Uhome 2400, Hanchu 3.2kWh & Hanchu 9.4kWh.

You can find all the information regarding these different batteries by clicking the links below.

  • Uhome 2400 Lithium Battery – CLICK HERE
  • Hanchu 3.2kWh HPD Lithium Battery – CLICK HERE
  • Hanchu 9.4kWh Blade Lithium Battery – CLICK HERE

Capacity is the amount of energy in kWh (units) that a battery can store.  Batteries should never be drained completely.  However, some are misleadingly sold quoting ‘total’ capacity. Check what’s being stated.  ‘Useable capacity’ is the figure you need to know.  Though the Hanchu 3.2kWh HPD is 100% usable due to is impressive High Power Density lithium cells,  It will never damage to the battery cells.

Most systems are designed just for storage. However, some offer backup capability to provide power when there’s a powercut. Two things to consider.

  1.  To prevent damage to your battery or appliances some of your circuits may need to be removed from the backed up circuits.
  2. You may want to consider a larger storage capacity to keep some power in reserve.

If backup is essential, let us know and we’ll design some bespoke solutions for you to choose from.

Solar battery storage systems allow you to store the electricity generated by your solar panels for use at a later time when your panels aren’t producing electricity, such as at night or during a power outage. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how solar battery storage works:

  1. Solar Panel Installation:
    • Solar panels are installed on the roof or ground of a property. These panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
  2. Inverter Conversion:
    • The DC electricity generated by the solar panels is sent to an inverter. The inverter converts this DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the standard form of electricity used in homes and businesses.
  3. Electricity Use:
    • The AC electricity can then be used to power the electrical devices in your home or business. If your solar panels are producing more electricity than you are using, the excess electricity can be stored in a solar battery.
  4. Battery Storage:
    • A solar battery is connected to the solar panel system. It is designed to store excess electricity produced by the solar panels. The inverter may have a function (or there may be a separate component) that converts the AC electricity back into DC, so it can be stored in the battery.
  5. Battery Management System (BMS):
    • Solar batteries are equipped with a BMS that controls the charging and discharging of the battery. It ensures that the battery operates within safe parameters to maximize its lifespan. It also monitors the state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), and other key metrics of the battery.
  6. Discharging Stored Energy:
    • When your solar panels are not producing enough electricity to meet your needs (like at night or on cloudy days), the stored DC electricity in the battery can be converted back to AC by the inverter and used to power your home or business.
  7. Grid Connection (Optional):
    • In grid-connected solar systems (also known as grid-tied systems), excess electricity can be sent back to the grid when your battery is full and your energy needs are met. This can often lead to a credit on your electricity bill through a process called net metering. Conversely, when your battery is depleted and your solar panels aren’t producing enough electricity, you can draw power from the grid.
  8. Backup Power (Optional):
    • In some cases, solar battery systems are designed to provide backup power during electrical outages. When the grid goes down, a special type of inverter, known as a hybrid or battery-based inverter, can isolate your solar system from the grid (this is known as “islanding”) and continue to supply power from your solar panels and/or battery to your home.
  9. Monitoring and Control:
    • Many solar battery systems come with monitoring software that allows you to track the performance of your solar panels and battery. This can be accessed via a computer or a mobile app. This software lets you see how much electricity you are generating, using, and storing, and can provide insights into your energy habits.
  10. Maintenance and Upkeep:
    • Like all electrical systems, solar battery storage systems require some maintenance. This might include checking connections, monitoring system performance, and, in some cases, replacing components like the inverter or the battery after they reach the end of their useful life.

In summary, solar battery storage works by storing excess electricity produced by solar panels, which can then be used when the solar panels are not producing enough electricity. This allows for greater energy independence and can provide backup power during outages.

The entire Luxpower collection features sophisticated automatic charging and discharging programming, enabling customers to take advantage of charging during low-cost electricity periods. Specialized programs have been designed to facilitate effortless charging with Octopus Agile and various other Octopus Energy plans.

The AC units are available in two distinct versions. The standard ACS model allows for maximum charge and discharge rates of up to 3500W (16 amps), representing a leading-edge power capacity for battery interactions in the market. Recognizing the desire for future system expansion among customers, Luxpower introduced an innovative variant of the standard AC unit. This updated model, dubbed the Squirrel Pod (reflecting its storage-focused nature like a squirrel), was developed to offer customers the option to extend their system as needed in the future.

The Lux Power Squirrel Pod represents an advanced evolution of standard Lux Power AC units. This advanced design incorporates additional hardware, allowing for the potential to link a second, third, or up to ten Squirrel Pod controllers together, either now or in the future. Each Squirrel Pod requires its own set of batteries and can be connected either individually or through a shared connection to the customer’s fuse board.

These units operate in parallel, meaning that only the Primary controller is equipped with CT clamps. The remaining units are configured in a Subordinate working mode, wherein they follow the directives of the Primary unit, which controls all operations and instructs the other units when to charge or discharge their batteries.

Both the standard AC units and the Squirrel Pod units are registered on the ENA Register and hold G100 certification.

To find out more about our Lux Power Squirrel Pod systems please CLICK HERE.

Product Information:

  • Battery Types Li-Ion or Lead-acid
  • Nominal Battery Voltage (V) 48
  • Max. Charging Voltage (V) SSO (Configurable)
  • Max. Charging Current (A) 70
  • Max. Discharging Current (A) 70
  • Battery Capacity (kWh) >3
  • Charging Mode for Li-Ion Battery Self-adaption to BMS
  • Charging Mode for Lead-acid Battery 3-stage
  • Max.Apparent Power Output to Utility Grid (VA) 3600
  • Max.Apparent Power from Utility Grid (VA) 6000
  • Nominal Output Voltage (V) 230
  • Nominal Ouput Frequency (Hz) 50/60
  • Max.AC Current Output to Utility Grid (A} 16
  • Max.AC Current From Utilily Grid(A} 26
  • Output Power Factor -1 (Adjustable from 0.8 leading to 0.8 lagging)
  • Output THDI <3%
  • Grid Connection Single phase
  • Inrush Current 10A/10us
  • Max. Output Fault Current 50A/20us
  • Max. Output Apparent Power (VA) 3600
  • Peak Output Apparent Power (VA) 4700,30sec
  • Automatic Switch Time <0.01s
  • Nominal Output Voltage (V) 230 (±2%)
  • Nominal Output Frequency (Hz} 50/60 (±0.2%)
  • Max. Output Current (A) 16
  • Back-up Over Current Protection(A} 40
  • Output THDV (linear load} <3%
  • Anti-islanding Protection lntegrated (AFD)
  • Output Over Current Protection Integrated
  • Output Short Protection Integrated
  • Output Over Voltage Protection Integrated
  • Operation Temperature Range (‘C) -25-60
  • Storage Temperature (“C) -40-65
  • Relative Humidity 0-95%
  • Operation Altitude (m) 4000
  • Cooling Natural Convection
  • Noise (dB) <25
  • User Interface LCD &APP
  • Interface With BMS RS 485 /CAN
  • Communication With Cloud Wi-Fi
  • Weight (kg) 15.6
  • Size (Width•Height•Depth mm) 550•320·110
  • Mounting Wall Bracket
  • Protection Degree IP 65
  • Environment Category Outdoor & indoor
  • Standby Self Consumption (W) <10
  • Topology High Frequency Isolation
  • Safety Regulation & EMC G83,
  • CE, EN61000-6-1/3,
  • EN62109-6-1/2,
  • AS4777,
  • IEC62040-1

Understanding the Squirrel Pod System

Squirrel Pod units serve as charge controllers for battery storage setups. They automatically capture any leftover solar energy from your property and charge the batteries, respecting the system’s maximum charging capacity.

If you intend to leverage the grid for economical electricity rates, the Squirrel Pod will ensure your batteries are charged, considering both the quantity of batteries and the system’s charge rate.

A single Squirrel Pod unit boasts a charging capacity of 70A (3.5kw). Linking another Squirrel Pod controller effectively adds an extra 3.5kw of charge/discharge capability.

You have the flexibility to install Squirrel Pod units individually, allowing for the easy addition of a second unit in the future. Alternatively, they can be established in dual or triple configurations right from the start.

Switching to a Squirrel Pod from a conventional Lux AC unit offers the advantage of scalability, giving you the option to expand your system as needed.

Lux Power Squirrel Pod Key Features

Up To 20 Years Warranty

All our Lux Power Controllers come with 12 Years manufacturers warranty, However at a small extra charge you can upgrade your warranty to 20 years giving you a piece of mind when it come to your investment

70Amps Charge & Discharge Rates

Most controllers on the market only allow you a maximum of 60 amps charge & Discharge rate. You will also need to use a minimum of 3 Lithium batteries to achieve the maximum charge and discharge rate of 3Kw. Our Lux Power Squirrel Pod Controller allows you to use 72 amps and with just 2 of our Hanchu 3.2kWh lithium batteries we can achieve up to 3.5kW of Charge Discharge rates with a single controller.

Advanced Monitoring

Our Lux Power Squirrel Pod comes we Free Advanced Monitoring that gives you a full insight to your system showing more information then you can handle. This information can be viewed via a web portal or Mobile App

Advanced EPS

The Lux Power Squirrel Pod Controller has an impressive enhanced EPS feature will switch over in 0.01s in the event of a power cut, meaning these systems can also be used with Grid Share incentive programmes.

Grid Charge & Agile Compatible

New Energy providers will now provide extremely cheap off peak renewable electricity. The Lux Power Squirrel Pod can be programmed to take advantage of these cheap off peak tariffs to charge the batteries to use the energy when the tariffs are high.

Power When You Need It

Our Lux Power LXP 3600 AC has three time settings to allow you to choose when you want your batteries to discharge. All other systems on the market only allow their systems to charge & discharge to set default parameters which is no good if all your battery power is gone before you get back home from work!

Which Lithium batteries can I use with my Lux Power Squirrel Pod controller?

Hanchu 9.4kWh Systems

Hanchu 9.4kWh Systems

Lux Power Squirrel Pod With

Hanchu 9.4kWh Blade Lithium

Battery Systems

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hanchu 3.2kWh Systems

Hanchu 3.2kWh Systems

Lux Power Squirrel Pod With

Hanchu 3.2kWh HPD Lithium

Battery Systems

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Uhome 2400 Systems

Uhome 2400 Systems

Lux Power Squirrel Pod With

Uhome 2.4kWh LFP Lithium

Battery Systems

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Lux Power Monitoring

The Lux monitoring can be accessed through a downloadable app on your phone or via a web portal. The app is excellent, providing you with an overview of your system’s status while you are on the move. For more detailed information and data analysis, however, the web portal is the optimal tool. To view a live demo of the Lux Power Web Portal, click here: Lux Power Web Portal.

To learn more about the Lux Power online & App Monitoring CLICK HERE

Lux Power Squirrel Pod Coupled Inverter Application

AC Coupling Variable Working Modes

Retrofitting an existing on-grid solar system to a solar energy storage hybrid system is made simple by installing an Lux Power Squirrel Pod series inverter, which is coupled on the AC side with a battery pack.

In the Self-Use mode, the AC-coupled inverter monitors the power generated by the on-grid inverter. This power is prioritized for use by local loads. Any remaining power is directed to be stored in the battery through the AC-coupled inverter. If there is still excess power beyond that, it is fed back into the electrical grid. This mode is set as the default, as it promotes higher self-consumption of generated electricity and substantially reduces energy bills.