Yes, libbi can be installed on the same site as a third-party battery system. However, there are important technical limitations and behavioural conflicts that installers and customers need to understand before doing so.
Key Limitation
When multiple battery systems are installed at the same property, they can compete for the same solar generation. This means both systems may attempt to charge from excess solar at the same time, causing one or both to behave inefficiently or unpredictably.
AC-Coupled Third-Party Batteries
If the existing battery system is AC coupled, there are options to improve coexistence with libbi:
- You can fit a current transformer (CT) to the AC output of the third-party battery system.
- This allows the libbi to detect when the other system is charging and adjust its own behaviour accordingly.
- You can configure libbi to take priority on any excess solar by charging first, before the other battery kicks in.
This setup is not perfect, but it allows some level of coordination using CT data as a trigger mechanism.
DC-Coupled Third-Party Batteries
If the existing system is DC coupled, there is no way to monitor its behaviour using a CT. This is because CT clamps only measure current flow on AC lines.
- In this case, the third-party battery will typically absorb all excess solar first.
- libbi may not be able to charge effectively or could end up being underused.
Installer Guidance
To avoid unexpected energy behaviour, myenergi recommends that libbi is installed as the sole battery system on the property where possible.