8 ms·

Our first product is focused on 120V, but we'll be iterating on a 240V option. Out of curiosity which 240V loads are you most interested to connect?

Kon-Peki 2y ago
I have well water and the pump is 1.5 HP on 230 volts. In a power outage situation I doubt it would run for more than a minute at a time, maybe 4 or 5 times a day.
- coleashman 2y ago
  Often well pumps and sump pumps can be wired for either 230 or 120V, so Pila could be an option with some added effort and a conversation with an electrician. But in any case, looking forward to building the 230/240V version!
  - tzs 2y ago
    What are the environmental requirements for Pila? My well pump is 120V, but I don't keep it in my house. It's in a shed out back built over the well and tank. The shed is not insulated, but does have a 400W space heater plugged into one of these [1] that tries to keep it above freezing in there. I think most of the time it succeeds but it is possible that for a few days a year it might get below freezing for a while. I have no idea what the humidity is like, or how hot it can get in the summer. Would the current Pila be OK in that kind of environment? [1] https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically-Controlled/dp/B0006U2HD2/37f0e20d4 https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically...
altairprime 2y ago
I’d like to be able to use a 240V hot water kettle to boil water for tea (or for sanitization during an outage). I live in the US and 120V is slow and inefficient, especially at family-scale.
- Symbiote 2y ago
  Do you have frequent enough power outages that waiting an extra minute for tea is a concern?
  - altairprime 2y ago
    > Do you have frequent enough power outages that waiting an extra minute for tea is a concern? I’ve had ten power outages in the past six months, one mile from an international airport. I’ve lived through hundreds hours of power outages due to PG&E’s fucking incompetence in the past ten years. You’ll have to judge for yourself whether that justifies my comment - but, if you were a startup considering a 240V outlet on your home battery solution, I’m pointing out an entire category of uses that they may not have considered: US kitchen countertop equipment that runs at higher power draw when a 240 outlet is available. As an apartment renter, I have no reasonable solution today for a battery that can cope with my kitchen at all, prior to this one — and if they go 240V, I can upgrade my kitchen appliances, take them with me when I move, and be more resilient to power outages. And if that puts more weight behind the 240V purpose so they eventually offer a model for people’s furnaces, cool beans. I may not be able to convince my landlord to install a Charlie range, but I already have battery backups in every room except my kitchen, so there’s an unmet need that this startup’s a very close fit for already. Being dismissive about someone’s questions will cause you to overlook potential market niches that have no viable solutions today. Your competitors thank you for your service :)
    - chadconway 2y ago
      I love 240V appliances. I have a 240V induction hob from Italy(Fabita Ordine). Would love to have a 120V in and 240V out for this use case.
    - Symbiote 2y ago
      I've never been in an American datacentre, and power provision looks more complicated than in Europe, but I guess there is 240V power available. That should mean there are UPSs already available, although possibly they don't come in small sizes.
__d 2y ago
I’m in Australia and everything is 240V (well, I think technically it’s 230V now) here. Any timeline yet for international distribution?
- coleashman 2y ago
  On a personal note, I'll also be really stoked when we're shipping to Australia. Lots of friends down there, and have been lucky to work on some past home energy products for the Australian market. Parts of Pila's power electronics are already 230~240V capable. We've just launched in the US, and are doing our best to stay focused on excellent support for our home market before expanding. That said, I could see 2026 being the right time for expansion... stay tuned mate!
  - __d 2y ago
    Best of luck -- hope to see it available here soon!

Kon-Peki 2y ago

I have well water and the pump is 1.5 HP on 230 volts. In a power outage situation I doubt it would run for more than a minute at a time, maybe 4 or 5 times a day.

coleashman 2y ago
Often well pumps and sump pumps can be wired for either 230 or 120V, so Pila could be an option with some added effort and a conversation with an electrician. But in any case, looking forward to building the 230/240V version!
- tzs 2y ago
  What are the environmental requirements for Pila? My well pump is 120V, but I don't keep it in my house. It's in a shed out back built over the well and tank. The shed is not insulated, but does have a 400W space heater plugged into one of these [1] that tries to keep it above freezing in there. I think most of the time it succeeds but it is possible that for a few days a year it might get below freezing for a while. I have no idea what the humidity is like, or how hot it can get in the summer. Would the current Pila be OK in that kind of environment? [1] https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically-Controlled/dp/B0006U2HD2/37f0e20d4 https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically...

altairprime 2y ago

I’d like to be able to use a 240V hot water kettle to boil water for tea (or for sanitization during an outage). I live in the US and 120V is slow and inefficient, especially at family-scale.

Symbiote 2y ago
Do you have frequent enough power outages that waiting an extra minute for tea is a concern?
- altairprime 2y ago
  > Do you have frequent enough power outages that waiting an extra minute for tea is a concern? I’ve had ten power outages in the past six months, one mile from an international airport. I’ve lived through hundreds hours of power outages due to PG&E’s fucking incompetence in the past ten years. You’ll have to judge for yourself whether that justifies my comment - but, if you were a startup considering a 240V outlet on your home battery solution, I’m pointing out an entire category of uses that they may not have considered: US kitchen countertop equipment that runs at higher power draw when a 240 outlet is available. As an apartment renter, I have no reasonable solution today for a battery that can cope with my kitchen at all, prior to this one — and if they go 240V, I can upgrade my kitchen appliances, take them with me when I move, and be more resilient to power outages. And if that puts more weight behind the 240V purpose so they eventually offer a model for people’s furnaces, cool beans. I may not be able to convince my landlord to install a Charlie range, but I already have battery backups in every room except my kitchen, so there’s an unmet need that this startup’s a very close fit for already. Being dismissive about someone’s questions will cause you to overlook potential market niches that have no viable solutions today. Your competitors thank you for your service :)
  - chadconway 2y ago
    I love 240V appliances. I have a 240V induction hob from Italy(Fabita Ordine). Would love to have a 120V in and 240V out for this use case.
  - Symbiote 2y ago
    I've never been in an American datacentre, and power provision looks more complicated than in Europe, but I guess there is 240V power available. That should mean there are UPSs already available, although possibly they don't come in small sizes.

__d 2y ago

I’m in Australia and everything is 240V (well, I think technically it’s 230V now) here. Any timeline yet for international distribution?

coleashman 2y ago
On a personal note, I'll also be really stoked when we're shipping to Australia. Lots of friends down there, and have been lucky to work on some past home energy products for the Australian market. Parts of Pila's power electronics are already 230~240V capable. We've just launched in the US, and are doing our best to stay focused on excellent support for our home market before expanding. That said, I could see 2026 being the right time for expansion... stay tuned mate!
- __d 2y ago
  Best of luck -- hope to see it available here soon!