Bluetti AC500 w/B300K battery for our home backup/supplement system install and review

I did my homework and looked at several solar power stations to give us some backup power and to help supplement our over 1000KW electric bill. We aimed at reducing it by a third to start due to cash availability. Put a $2000.00 limit on the power.

The main thing is I wanted a simple system that did all the thinking for us similar to the Hybrid inverters which has what "they" call an "SBU" setting in the UPS mode. Solar first, Battery second and lastly Utility(grid power). But still allows some battery for the backup needs(this setting is adjustable). AFAIK Bluetti is the only power station that has what they call PV priority UPS feature. Very similar to the Hybrid inverters. I honestly was hoping that either Ecoflow or Anker in my price range that had something similar in their firmware or mobile app. But I could not get straight answers to that feature!

More to be posted on the AC500 once I get this setup and working. Edit: The main unit arrived, But the cable that connects the main to the battery is MIA. So I'm on hold waiting for support to contact me on what gives!

Preping for the power station I added a sub panel with an interlock that I can switch from the main panel(grid) or the power station. It has a generator plug that the power station can connect too. Also has the ability to expand to 240V if we need to down the road. The sub panel is rated for up to 100 amps. I have a 30 amp main breaker and a 30 amp breaker for the interlock. I used a NEMA L14-30 generator plug made by Reliance with a 30 amp rating.



I currently have the small Pecron E1500LFP connected so I could test out the circuits and check how much load I was putting on this. But the Pecron is limited when it came to PV priority. It would switch to grid power and did not leave any room for the battery's to except solar. I was manually switching and it was too easy to forget. Let the battery run down to far left no room for backup and it never really would except full solar when plugged into the grid.