Fault guide · GivEnergy EPS / backup

GivEnergy EPS Not Working During a Power Cut

You have a GivEnergy battery but the house went dark during a grid outage. EPS (Emergency Power Supply) is disabled by default on all GivEnergy inverters and requires both a software setting and a dedicated wired circuit. This guide covers every reason EPS may have failed — and how to set it up correctly. For the general technical background, see how backup power works.

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EPS disabled by default — must be enabled in portal
Requires dedicated wired circuit — not whole house
SoC, overload, and wiring causes covered

EPS configuration is model-specific

EPS setup on GivEnergy varies between Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, and All-in-One models. Whether your system has a wired EPS circuit, what the SoC minimum should be set to, and which portal settings apply — we can review and configure this remotely.

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13 Trustpilot reviews

Trustpilot Google

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

All problems Battery not charging Portal offline CAN comm fault Red light flashing EPS not working Export limit Firmware WiFi setup CT clamp Fault codes →

Understanding EPS

What GivEnergy EPS actually does — and what it doesn't

EPS (Emergency Power Supply) is GivEnergy's battery backup function. Understanding exactly how it works is essential before diagnosing why it failed.

WHAT EPS DOES

Powers a dedicated backup circuit

When the grid fails, GivEnergy's EPS mode switches the dedicated EPS output terminals from grid power to battery power within approximately 20ms. Only circuits wired to those specific terminals receive backup power.

WHAT EPS DOESN'T DO

Does not back up the whole house

The main consumer unit and all sockets and lights not wired to the EPS circuit remain off during a grid outage. EPS is for essential circuits only — typically a few key sockets, boiler, or lights selected at installation.

WHAT EPS NEEDS

Both wiring and settings

EPS requires: (1) a dedicated EPS output circuit physically wired by the installer to the inverter's backup terminals, AND (2) EPS mode enabled in the GivEnergy portal. Missing either one means no backup power.

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Not all GivEnergy installations include EPS wiring. Many UK installers do not wire the EPS output circuit as standard — it is an optional additional cost. If you were not told at installation that EPS backup was included, your system may not have a wired EPS circuit at all. This is the most important thing to establish before adjusting any settings.

Cause 1 — most common

Most common

EPS mode is not enabled in the portal

EPS is disabled by default on every GivEnergy inverter. It must be explicitly enabled in the GivEnergy portal. This is the most common reason backup power doesn't work — the physical wiring is correct but the inverter has never been told to use it.

How to check if EPS is enabled

Log into the GivEnergy portal

Go to givenergy.cloud → My Inverter → System Mode Settings.

Look for the EPS / backup power setting

EPS settings are typically found in the System Mode Settings or Advanced Settings section depending on your portal version. Look for a toggle or option labelled EPS, Emergency Power Supply, or Backup. If it is set to Off or Disabled, this is your problem.

Note: The exact location of the EPS setting varies between portal versions and inverter generations. On some models it is under Battery Options rather than System Mode Settings. If you cannot find it, see the how to enable EPS section below, or book a remote session for model-specific guidance.

Check if EPS was reset by a firmware update

GivEnergy firmware updates can reset settings including EPS mode back to defaults. If EPS was working and then stopped after an update, check whether the setting has reverted to disabled.

Cause 2 — very common

Wiring — requires engineer

No dedicated EPS output circuit was installed

Even if EPS mode is enabled in the portal, backup power only reaches circuits that are physically wired to the inverter's EPS output terminals. Many UK GivEnergy installations do not include this wiring — it is an optional additional cost that many installers don't include as standard.

How to tell if you have an EPS circuit

→Check your original installation quote or contract — does it mention EPS wiring, backup circuit, or emergency supply as a line item?

→Look at your consumer unit — is there a separate MCB or circuit labelled EPS, Backup, or Emergency?

→Check the inverter itself — are there cables connected to the backup/EPS output terminals? (Visual check of the terminal block labels only — do not open the inverter)

→Ask your original installer whether EPS output wiring was included in the installation

Adding an EPS circuit — what's involved

Adding an EPS circuit is an electrical installation job. A qualified electrician or GivEnergy-experienced engineer runs a dedicated circuit from the inverter's EPS output terminals to a sub-board or specific sockets and circuits that you want backed up.

You need to decide which loads to back up — common choices are a key socket, the boiler, fridge, and critical lighting. The total load must not exceed the inverter's EPS output rating (typically 3kW on Gen 2, 6kW on Gen 3 and AIO).

This is a notifiable electrical installation and should be done by a Part P registered electrician or a qualified solar engineer.

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Do not attempt EPS wiring yourself. The inverter's EPS output terminals are live electrical connections. This wiring must be done by a qualified engineer. Incorrect wiring could backfeed mains voltage onto a circuit assumed to be dead during an outage — a serious safety risk for engineers working on the grid.

Cause 3

Battery SoC

Battery was below the minimum SoC reserve at the time of the outage

GivEnergy EPS will not activate if the battery state of charge is at or below the EPS reserve threshold. If the outage happened at night after a long discharge period, or the battery has been undercharging due to a separate fault, EPS may have had nothing to draw from.

Check battery SoC at time of outage

In the GivEnergy portal, navigate to the battery SoC graph and look at what the SoC reading was at the time the outage occurred. If the battery was at or near the reserve minimum (or at 0%), EPS had insufficient charge to operate.

The EPS reserve setting is typically in Battery Options under the minimum SoC or reserve percentage. Check what this is set to — if the battery was above this at the time of the outage but EPS still didn't work, the SoC is not the cause.

Configuring the EPS reserve correctly

The EPS reserve (minimum SoC) determines how much battery charge is held back specifically for backup power. Setting it too low means EPS may be unavailable when you need it. Setting it too high means less battery capacity for daily use.

→A 20% reserve provides approximately 1–2 hours of moderate EPS load on a 5kWh battery

→Set the reserve based on how long you want backup capability — not so high it impacts daily operation

→Consider keeping Timed Charge active overnight so the battery enters each night with a full charge ahead of potential outages

Cause 4

Overload

EPS tripped immediately — load exceeded inverter backup rating

EPS activated but then cut out within seconds. The total power draw on the EPS circuit exceeded the inverter's backup power rating, triggering the overload protection. This produces the fault code STORAGE_ERROR_BACKUP_OVERLOAD_FAULT.

GivEnergy EPS power ratings

Approximate EPS output ratings

Gen 1 hybrid (3.6/5.0 kW)2.6kW

Gen 2 hybrid~3kW

Gen 3 hybrid (3.6/5.0 kW)6kW

Gen 3 hybrid (8.0/10.0 kW)8–10kW

All-in-One6kW

Ratings vary by inverter model. Always verify against your specific model's datasheet before sizing an EPS circuit.

What to do about an overload

STORAGE_ERROR_BACKUP_OVERLOAD_FAULTCheck the portal event log for this code — if present, the load on the EPS circuit exceeded the inverter's backup power rating.

Review what loads are wired to the EPS circuit — add up their total wattage at startup (startup draw is often higher than running draw).

Remove high-draw appliances from the EPS circuit — electric showers, kettles, and electric ovens are not suitable EPS loads.

Any EPS circuit wiring changes require a qualified engineer.

Suitable and unsuitable EPS loads

Suitable EPS loads

✓Gas boiler (control board only, typically 100–200W)

✓Fridge / freezer (100–200W running, brief higher startup)

✓LED lighting (10–20W per circuit)

✓Phone/device chargers (20–100W)

✓Router and broadband equipment (10–30W)

✓Low-draw medical equipment (always check with manufacturer)

Unsuitable EPS loads

✗Electric shower (7–10kW — far exceeds any EPS rating)

✗Electric cooker or hob (3–12kW)

✗Kettle (2–3kW — brief but trips overload)

✗Tumble dryer (2–3kW)

✗Immersion heater (2–3kW)

✗Air conditioning units (1–5kW with high startup draw)

Total load on the EPS circuit must not exceed the inverter backup rating. Account for startup surges — motor-driven loads like fridges draw 2–3× their running wattage for 1–2 seconds on startup.

Configuration

How to enable EPS

Enabling and configuring GivEnergy EPS correctly

Before enabling EPS in the portal, confirm that a dedicated EPS output circuit was physically wired at installation. Enabling EPS without the correct wiring has no effect — it will not provide backup power and may cause unexpected behaviour.

EPS setup checklist

Confirm EPS wiring exists

Verify with your installer documentation or by visually checking the consumer unit for a dedicated EPS/backup circuit. If not installed, contact a qualified engineer to add one before proceeding.

Enable EPS in the GivEnergy portal

Go to givenergy.cloud → My Inverter → System Mode Settings. Find the EPS or backup power setting and enable it. Press Submit to apply. The exact label and location varies between portal versions — it may be under Battery Options or Advanced Settings on some models.

Remote configuration: EPS settings can be updated remotely via the portal. No site visit is needed just to enable or reconfigure the EPS setting — only if wiring changes are required.

Set the EPS reserve (minimum SoC)

Under Battery Options, set the minimum SoC reserve to the level that gives you your desired backup duration. A 20–30% reserve is a reasonable starting point for most households. This is the charge held back exclusively for EPS use.

Test EPS — safely

To test EPS without a real power cut, you can turn off the main AC isolator below the inverter while the battery is charged and EPS is enabled. The EPS circuit should remain powered from the battery. Only do this if you understand what you are doing — turning off the AC isolator isolates the inverter from the grid. Restore it promptly. Do not turn off the consumer unit main switch as this may disconnect EPS loads.

Safety: EPS testing involves working near live electrical equipment. If you are not comfortable doing this, a qualified engineer can test EPS as part of a site visit or we can assist with remote configuration verification.

Also check

Appliance compatibility with EPS

Some appliances are sensitive to the ~20ms switching time when EPS activates. Computers, NAS devices, and some boiler controls may restart during the brief switchover even when EPS is working correctly. This is not an EPS fault — it's a limitation of the technology. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) on sensitive equipment can bridge this gap.

Also check

EPS and the inverter status light

During EPS operation, the inverter status light behaviour changes — the inverter is no longer connected to the grid and operates in island mode. This is normal. If the battery depletes fully during EPS and the grid is still down, all power will be cut. The inverter will restart automatically when grid power returns.

Related GivEnergy pages

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Battery not charging

Battery not charging overnight — low SoC means less EPS reserve too.

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Red light / battery alarm

Battery fault codes including EPS overload and protection events.

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Firmware issues

Firmware updates that reset EPS mode or other system settings.

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All GivEnergy problems

Browse all GivEnergy fault guides — battery, portal, CAN, firmware and more.

This is a brand-specific version of our general no backup during power cut guide, which covers all brands.

FAQ

GivEnergy EPS questions

Will GivEnergy EPS power my whole house during a blackout?

No. GivEnergy EPS only powers circuits physically wired to the inverter's dedicated EPS output terminals. Your main consumer unit and all sockets and lights not on the EPS circuit will remain off. EPS is designed for essential loads only — a few key circuits selected at installation time. If you want whole-house backup, that requires a different system architecture.

How long will GivEnergy EPS last during a power cut?

Duration depends on the battery capacity, the SoC at the start of the outage, the EPS reserve setting, and the load on the backup circuit. As a rough guide: a 5kWh battery at 80% charge running a 200W load would last approximately 20 hours. Running a 1kW load (fridge + a few lights + boiler) would last around 4 hours from that starting point. Reduce load to extend duration.

Can I add EPS wiring if my installation didn't include it?

Yes, in most cases. A GivEnergy-experienced electrician can add the EPS output circuit retrospectively. The inverter already has the backup terminals — it's a matter of wiring the correct circuits to them and enabling EPS in the portal. This is a notifiable electrical installation and must be done by a qualified Part P registered electrician.

My boiler won't work on EPS — why?

Two possible causes: the boiler isn't wired to the EPS circuit (it's on a standard circuit that goes off during an outage), or the boiler control system is sensitive to the ~20ms EPS switching delay and resets. Some boiler controls need to complete a power-on sequence and won't do so correctly after a brief interruption. A small UPS on the boiler can bridge this gap if the ~20ms delay is the issue.

Does EPS work without solar panels?

Yes. EPS draws from the battery regardless of whether solar panels are generating. During a night-time power cut, EPS will run entirely from stored battery charge. If the grid outage extends into daylight and your system has panels, solar will also charge the battery and extend EPS duration — but only if the panels can generate (clear skies, inverter running in island mode).

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