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A home battery often raises practical questions. How is the system installed? What storage capacity suits your home? What exactly does the P1-dongle do? In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the ZinVolt Core.
The ZinVolt Core is a compact all-in-one home battery that combines energy storage, a built-in inverter, and smart energy management in one system. The Core is preferably installed professionally via a disconnect switch. The system is then configured and delivered fully operational.
1. Who or what is ZinVolt?
ZinVolt is a Dutch brand for smart home batteries. We want to make energy storage understandable and practical for households who want to gain more control over their energy.
That is why we combine the ZinVolt Core with a clear app, professional installation, and Dutch support. Our installers take care of the placement and setup. After installation, you can conveniently track your energy generation, consumption, and storage in the ZinVolt app.
2. What is the ZinVolt Core?
The ZinVolt Core is an all-in-one home battery. The compact main module contains an inverter, 4 kWh battery storage, and smart energy management. This means fewer separate components are needed, and the Core immediately forms a complete energy storage system.
The main features of the ZinVolt Core are:
- 4 kWh integrated battery storage
- Expandable to 8, 12, or 16 kWh
- A built-in inverter
- Maximum 3,680 W charge and discharge power
- Smart control via the ZinVolt app
- A free P1-dongle PRO included
- A separate emergency power socket
- 10-year warranty according to applicable warranty conditions
View all versions and technical data on the ZinVolt Core product page.
3. How does the ZinVolt Core work?
The ZinVolt Core saves available energy for a later time. When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home directly uses, the surplus can be stored in the battery.
When your home later needs more electricity than your solar panels provide, the stored energy can be made available again. This way, you use more of your own generated electricity and take less energy from the grid at suitable times.
The included P1-dongle PRO measures how much electricity your home consumes or feeds back. The Core uses this information to match charging and discharging to the actual energy usage in the house.
4. How is the ZinVolt Core installed?
For maximum performance, we recommend professional installation by our installers. We check the connection, meter box, and desired location of the battery in advance.
A standard installation consists of four steps:
- Technical check: we check the connection, meter box, and installation location.
- Placement: the Core is placed stably, accessibly, and with sufficient free space.
- Connection: the battery is professionally connected via a disconnect switch.
- Setup: we link the P1-dongle PRO and ZinVolt app, test the system, and clearly explain its operation.
After installation, you will have a fully functional system tailored to your home.
5. Why do you recommend installation via a disconnect switch?
A fixed connection via a disconnect switch makes it possible to better utilize the available power of the ZinVolt Core. The Core can charge and discharge up to 3,680 W with a suitable connection.
The installer checks in advance whether the meter box, electrical connection, and chosen location are suitable. This means the user does not have to perform any technical adjustments themselves. The battery is set up correctly and delivered safely immediately.
6. Can the ZinVolt Core also be connected plug & play?
Yes. The ZinVolt Core can also be connected via a normal earthed socket. The available power is more limited with this method of connection.
When the Core is connected to a circuit with multiple electrical consumers, the discharge power is limited to a maximum of 800 W. This prevents the circuit from being overloaded.
For households that want to use the maximum charge and discharge power, we recommend professional installation via a separate circuit and disconnect switch.
7. How much storage capacity does the ZinVolt Core have?
The main module comes standard with 4 kWh of battery storage. Each ZinVolt Link adds an additional 4 kWh of storage capacity. This allows you to choose from four configurations:
- 4 kWh: one ZinVolt Core
- 8 kWh: one Core with one ZinVolt Link
- 12 kWh: one Core with two ZinVolt Links
- 16 kWh: one Core with three ZinVolt Links
You can start with the storage capacity that suits your home now. You can expand the system later when your energy consumption changes. For example, with the arrival of a heat pump, electric car, or additional solar panels.
In situations where more storage is needed, a maximum of three complete systems can be technically combined. The total storage capacity can thus reach up to 48 kWh. A technical assessment is always required for this.
8. What capacity suits my home?
The right capacity depends on the amount of electricity you generate, feed back, and use at other times. A larger home battery is not automatically the best choice. The system must be able to charge and discharge regularly to be optimally utilized.
When determining an appropriate capacity, we consider:
- Your annual electricity consumption
- The output of your solar panels
- The amount of electricity you feed back
- The times when you use electricity
- Any electric car
- A heat pump or electric heating
- Expected changes in your household
With the ZinVolt Net Metering Check, you enter your annual data and consumption pattern. You then receive an immediate indication of the Core configuration that might suit your situation.
9. Do I need solar panels for the ZinVolt Core?
No. The ZinVolt Core can also be used without solar panels. With a dynamic energy contract, you can, for example, have the battery charge during set inexpensive hours. You then use the stored energy later when the electricity rate is higher.
With solar panels, the battery gains another important function. A surplus of solar power can then be stored for the morning, evening, or other times when solar generation is lower.
Which setting works best depends on your energy contract, consumption, and personal goal. You set the desired operation via the ZinVolt app.
10. What does the cessation of the net metering scheme mean?
The net metering scheme will cease on January 1, 2027. From that moment on, you can no longer offset fed-back solar power against electricity you draw from the grid at another time.
You will continue to receive remuneration for fed-back electricity. However, the value of feeding back may be lower than the price you pay when you later draw electricity again. It therefore becomes more important to use more solar power directly or store it temporarily.
A home battery can reduce the difference between solar generation during the day and electricity consumption later in the day. The battery does not make your home completely independent of the grid. However, you do gain more control over when you use your self-generated energy.
Read more about the official change on the website of the Dutch government.
11. What does the P1-dongle PRO do?
The ZinVolt P1-dongle PRO reads out the smart meter. This shows the system how much electricity the home draws from the grid and how much electricity is fed back.
When your solar panels produce a surplus, the P1-dongle transmits this information to the ZinVolt Core. The battery can then start charging when there is available capacity.
The P1-dongle also helps prevent the battery from unnecessarily exchanging energy with the electricity grid. The dongle is included free of charge with the ZinVolt Core.
12. What can I see and set in the ZinVolt app?
In the ZinVolt app, you can see what is happening in the house at that moment. You can view the following data, among others:
- The battery's charge percentage
- The current charge or discharge power
- The energy generation of your solar panels
- The electricity consumption of the home
- The electricity exchange with the grid
- Historical data and energy graphs
You can also choose from various smart settings. In Self-consumption mode, the Core focuses on storing and using as much of its own solar power as possible. With a dynamic energy contract, you can set charge times or price limits.
13. Does the ZinVolt Core work with a three-phase connection?
Yes. The ZinVolt Core is a system that works on one phase. In a home with a three-phase connection, the battery is connected to the phase that best suits the energy consumption and technical situation of the home.
Our installer assesses in advance how the load is distributed across the phases. Based on this, it is determined which connection is most suitable.
14. What happens during a power outage?
The ZinVolt Core has a separate emergency power socket. In the event of a power outage, this socket switches to the battery within approximately 10 milliseconds.
Suitable appliances can be directly connected to this emergency power outlet. Think of a router, refrigerator, lighting, or other important appliance within the available power.
15. Where can the ZinVolt Core be placed?
The Core is placed in a stable, accessible, and well-ventilated location. Suitable places include a garage, storage room, utility room, or spacious attic.
The system has an IP65 protection rating. Outdoor placement under a canopy may therefore be technically possible. For optimal operation, we recommend a dry location with as stable a temperature as possible.
The final location is always technically assessed. We consider ventilation, temperature, subfloor, accessibility, and the distance to the electrical connection.
16. What about warranty and lifespan?
The ZinVolt Core and ZinVolt Link modules come with a 10-year warranty according to the applicable warranty conditions. The system uses lithium iron phosphate technology and the product specifications state 10,000 cycles.
The actual lifespan is influenced by various factors. These include intensity of use, ambient temperature, settings, and the depth to which the battery is charged and discharged daily.
After installation, software support and Dutch service remain available. The precise coverage, conditions, and exceptions can always be found in the current warranty conditions.
17. Is the ZinVolt Core interesting for my home?
That depends on your energy consumption, solar panels, feed-in, and energy contract. The Core can be interesting if you regularly have surplus solar power and want to use this energy later in the day.
A home battery can also be suitable if you work with dynamic tariffs, expect to use more electricity later, or want more insight into the energy flows within your home.
We deliberately do not provide a fixed payback period that would apply to every household. The financial outcome depends on future energy prices, feed-in tariffs, feed-in costs, installation costs, and the daily use of the battery.
Discover which ZinVolt Core suits your home
The ZinVolt Core forms a compact 4 kWh base and can later grow to 8, 12, or 16 kWh. With professional installation via a disconnect switch, smart control, and personal advice, you get a system tailored to your home.
Would you like to view all versions, specifications, and possibilities? Then go to the ZinVolt Core product page.
Do you have a question about installation or placement? Please contact ZinVolt. We will personally assist you.
