{"id":33867,"date":"2026-09-04T10:14:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=33867"},"modified":"2026-09-04T10:14:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:14:25","slug":"top-of-coom-gets-to-the-bottom-of-power-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/04\/top-of-coom-gets-to-the-bottom-of-power-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Top of Coom gets to the bottom of power problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just as the finishing touches were being made to a backup power installation at the famous Irish pub known as Top of Coom<\/em>, a lightening strike on the other side of the valley caused a power outage on the electricity grid. The lights went out and the kitchen came to a standstill.<\/p>\n

Slightly sooner than the installers had been expecting, their new power installation was urgently needed. A flick of the switch and it became operational – probably the fastest proof-of-need for a back-up power system!<\/p>\n

Top of Coom is Ireland’s highest pub and restaurant at over 1000ft above sea level. It’s been home to six generations of the same family – the Creedons – since the 1800’s. Their hospitality attracts visitors from all over the world and musicians from the local community. Flute and fiddle music drifts down the Glanlee valley several nights a week, and in the summer they host the National Sheep Shearing competition; and local Sheepdog trials. At times like those the pub is crammed with visitors and the kitchen is flat-out in to meet high demand. A power cut at times like those are disastrous for the operation, and damaging for the reputation of the business.

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To remedy the recurrent power outages, servicing electrician, Shane Casey (SCES<\/a>), suggested they install battery stored energy in preference to rushing out to start the generator every time there was blackout.<\/p>\n

Victron installer EnergyFreedom Systems<\/a> designed a fully automated system which chooses between four power sources – solar energy, battery storage, cheap rate electricity from the grid and – fail all else – generator backup which can be started automatically.<\/p>\n

With some PV panels and AC inverters already in place, the existing infrastructure has been integrated alongside the new. \u00a0By day, AC inverters provide power directly from the solar panels. By night, two Quattro<\/a> 15kVA inverter chargers provide AC power from the 64kWh PowerLab lithium batteries. The Quattro inverter\/chargers have two AC inputs which can recharge the batteries – when required – from the grid or from the generator, automatically switching to the live source.

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EnergyFreedom Systems are able to monitor the remote site and make changes to the program using Victron Remote Management (VRM<\/a>) – which saves driving into the mountains if ever there’s a problem. VRM provides push notifications whenever pre-programmed thresholds have been reached, so EnergyFreedom will know of any developing situation before staff and customers are even aware of it. As a result, the business keeps running regardless of what is happening on the local energy grid.<\/p>\n

The power supply is also used on the family’s own sheep farming operation and at their home.<\/p>\n

Not only does the installation bring energy security, but their businesses benefit from reduced energy costs – notably as a result of recharging the batteries overnight, if needed, using economy-rate electricity grid prices. Stored energy can then be used the following day during peak hours. The main focus of the system, however, is on maximising self-consumption of solar energy.<\/p>\n

An expansion of the PV array which is planned in future will improve those economics further.

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The new installation is built around:<\/p>\n