SolarEdge battery profile switching by owner (privileges)

[darkskies]

I was thinking that the web interface would have more capabilities. Good to know.

Do you know if there is a way to get real time alerts, when there are problems with the site?

I’ve been working on an app that uses the API to text/email me when there is a problem. It also collects daily energy readings, so that I can do reporting monthly, to calculate cost without solar, savings, and ROI. I have the status checking and collection done. Been working on ROI reporting.

[chronos432]

So it's been a while... I'm still sitting on two LGRESU10 but only one works for the last year or so. Both are primary/masters (installer mistake) thus one is useless and have had a secondary/slave version on order for over a year. Ridiculous that this tiny difference isn't a dip switch or software setting. Makes a good 200lb paperweight though. Anyways...

On the generator side; I just read the updated documents on the BUI generator support and was very disappointed to see that it does not support the generator charging the batteries in any way. All it does is provide an output to an auto/manual backup transfer panel! Nothing whole-house about it. Basically you still need to split/dedicate those backed up loads AGAIN - since if you have the BUI you have already done this splitting. Their idea is once you deplete the batteries the generator kicks in. In summer I can generate 48kWh a day so not a big deal but in stormy winter days it's more like 1.5kWh.

On the software updating for end-user profiles; funny to hear it's still "alpha". I was told it was almost ready when I bought the BUI over a year ago - one of the reasons I abandoned my place on the Powerwall wait list and paid twice as much for this system along with the promise of full generator integration (charging the batteries).

At this point I really wish I'd just gone DIY. SE seems to be marketeers not engineers. My generator is still connected to my (RV) Sprinter Van Victron 3000VA inverter charger and 5kWh lithium. I just purchased a SE autotransformer (SE-AUTO5000) so I can convert parallel 120VAC generators to split-phase 240VAC thinking I could finally plug these into the BUI with the firmware update.

Perhaps, since I grew up in the UK and still have the accent, I could call the UK SE support folks instead of the never responding US team.

warx can you elaborate on the master-slave LG RESUs? Do you have both batteries attached to the same inverter? I am planning a SE - LG RESU with 2 or 3 batteries but each battery has its own inverter. In that case does one battery still have to be designed master and others slaves? Or if they each have their own inverter they can all be masters?

[darkskies]

Just an update on my situation...

The installer's electrician came out on 1/27 and updated the firmware for the inverter (w.r.t having the BUI/generator integration). I didn't get to talk to him much, as I had meetings, but he mentioned that it "shows" a generator interface, but he didn't think it was integrated yet. The release note that came with the update clearly shows the BUI connected to a third party ATS and generator, and makes no mention of integration.


I've been communicating with the installer over the past month (the business owner had a power outage and pipe frozen - would have thought he would have been eating his own dog food and had generator and/or battery backed home; electrician was in the hospital last week), and reiterated the following:

• If SolarEdge is still working on getting the integration done, I'm OK with waiting longer, PROVIDED they connect a whole house ATS in the interim (there is just a 100A panel with ATS in there currently as a temp measure) AND the system will run off battery, until low and then switch to generator - it should do that, and that appears to be what the app note shows.
• If SolarEdge has given up on the BUI, then I need to know how the installer is going to make things right, given I was sold a system that doesn't do what was promised. I'm wondering about what/how to address this with SolarEdge as well, if this turns out to be the case.The whole plan was to have battery backup, then generator, with the generator recharging the batteries, so we don't use so much propane.

I was (amazingly) able to get a hold of SolarEdge on chat via the tech support page. I had contacted them for two reasons.

First, I was hoping to find out about the generator integration. They tech just posted the app note, which I already knew about and said it doesn't show the BUI with generator integration. I mentioned that the install doc, data sheet, and best practices docs all describe the BUI connected to a generator (with the firmware upgrade caveat).

What was interesting, however, was that the tech said it sounded like a design concern and that I should contact the installer as SolarEdge has a "designer line" that only installers can call. I'm trying to get a hold of my installer to see if they have done that, or if not, if they can do that to get an answer about the status of the "integration".

From some of my conversations with the installer, he did not seem confident at all, about SolarEdge getting this worked out.

Second, my system reports status every 5 minutes to SolarEdge, which, besides being visible from the website dashboard, one can query SolarEdge monitoring site using an API. I have written an application that I use to poll the status of my site every 10 minutes, so that, if there is an issue, I can proactively work towards getting my installer or SolarEdge to address any issue (I've experienced cases in the past, where I didn't notice a problem for days and neither the installer or SolarEdge monitor the system).

Well, ever since the firmware update, I see that my site experiences status issues 1-3 times a day. Each time, it shows a status change and then reverts immediately back to normal. I either see FAULT or THROTTLING status reports. They appear to be spurious, as the system is working fine and some don't make sense (like getting a THROTTLING status at 3am in the morning, when running on grid, yesterday). When I look at "alarms" from the dashboard, I don't see anything.

The tech said the monitoring team would take a look at it and email em, when they find out what is going on.

[Srrndhound]

What was interesting, however, was that the tech said it sounded like a design concern and that I should contact the installer as SolarEdge has a "designer line" that only installers can call. I'm trying to get a hold of my installer to see if they have done that, or if not, if they can do that to get an answer about the status of the "integration".

Thanks for your ongoing pioneering efforts to get answers about generator integration. The App Note that warx referenced (post #21) states:

When the PV power and the batteries have been depleted, the inverter will go to sleep, and the generator will provide backup power. The generator will be able to charge the batteries if “AC Grid Charge” has been enabled. Once there is sufficient energy to power the home loads, the inverter will resume production. The generator's auto transfer switch will isolate the generator and the backup system once the grid has been restored.

Emphasis added. Yet none of the 10 diagrams shows any means for the generator to touch the inverter. Anyway, will await your further findings.

The whole plan was to have battery backup, then generator, with the generator recharging the batteries, so we don't use so much propane.

I'm a little confused. If you want to minimize propane use, why use the generator to charge the battery instead of letting the sun do that? Using the generator to charge the battery and using the battery to run house loads is less efficient than using the generator to run the house loads directly. No?

[warx]

warx can you elaborate on the master-slave LG RESUs? Do you have both batteries attached to the same inverter? I am planning a SE - LG RESU with 2 or 3 batteries but each battery has its own inverter. In that case does one battery still have to be designed master and others slaves? Or if they each have their own inverter they can all be masters?

I have two RESU10 (both Master) connected to same inverter. I actually have tried them both as a single and they work. When two are connected there is communication errors reported. My installer told me they have changed some hardware and firmware since then (these are only a year old!) and the master/slave as hardware/wired goes might not be an issue - it is all very unclear though. Anyways, hoping a slave becomes available soon.

[darkskies]

Thanks for your ongoing pioneering efforts to get answers about generator integration. The App Note that warx referenced (post #21) states:
Emphasis added. Yet none of the 10 diagrams shows any means for the generator to touch the inverter. Anyway, will await your further findings.

I saw that, but it doesn't make sense to me either. I don't know what they mean by "AC Grid Charge" as well.

Conjecture: it seems like they are talking about an integrated situation, but they reference figure 8, which is one for the case where the generator is connected to the panel with a manual interlock switch. Diagrams 9 and 10 show the third party ATS mode. The "operational instructions" don't mention this variant at all.

I'm a little confused. If you want to minimize propane use, why use the generator to charge the battery instead of letting the sun do that? Using the generator to charge the battery and using the battery to run house loads is less efficient than using the generator to run the house loads directly. No?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The intent is that, when the grid fails, to run off battery. When the battery depletes, switch to generator. Have the generator charge the batteries so that the amount of generator use is minimized.

If there is sun during the outage (and the panels aren't snow covered), then sure, the inverter would charge the battery. For most cases here though, when we have a large snow storm and the power goes out for more than one night, there is a good chance the weather is bad on subsequent days with no sun.

[darkskies]

Oh, I guess it means allowing the battery to be charged from the grid, which normally, I don't want that to happen, given the price of electricity here.

[Srrndhound]

I saw that, but it doesn't make sense to me either. I don't know what they mean by "AC Grid Charge" as well.
Oh, I guess it means allowing the battery to be charged from the grid, which normally, I don't want that to happen, given the price of electricity here.

Yes. In my understanding, the Weather Guard option is the only way I would normally be able to charge the batteries from the grid, and then only if the right sort of dire weather were forecast.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The intent is that, when the grid fails, to run off battery. When the battery depletes, switch to generator. Have the generator charge the batteries so that the amount of generator use is minimized.

I think you're saying that using the generator to charge the battery is preferable because it is a constant load for the generator, thus maximizing the transfer of energy, as compared with the sporadic load of the household, which may draw very little even though the generator is running all the time. Delivering the same amount of energy to the house would require running the generator a longer period of time.

I wonder how much the propane intake varies with generator load. Does the manufacturer provide any data about that? I'm sure it is not constant regardless of load (output).

[darkskies]

I'd rather have the generator run for a shorter time, to charge the batteries, so that they can be used again, rather than just running off generator. With the ATS they show in the release notes, it pretty much looks like it will run purely on generator, until the batteries can charge from the sun, or grid is restored. It would be nice to reduce the duty cycle of the generator. Propane is pretty expensive, so anything to limit that would be great.


I've seen the numbers for the generator, but it is measured under full load.

[Srrndhound]

I'd rather have the generator run for a shorter time, to charge the batteries, so that they can be used again, rather than just running off generator.

I think that's a perfectly valid choice, especially if noise is factored in.

I've seen the numbers for the generator, but it is measured under full load.

Took a look at some Generac data, and like others, their consumption is essentially modeled as directly proportional to output power. If that's true, then there's no significant penalty for running the generator straight into the variable house load vs. buffering the energy through the battery. OTOH, the indirect benefits of not only reduced noise but also reduced run time on all the mechanicals of the generator still could give the nod to the "battery as buffer" mode.

And if it so happens you need power while the batteries are not charged, you retain the option to throw that switch as needed.

[darkskies]

That’s a good point!

[chronos432]

Hi all!

As I mentioned above I am getting closer to a 3x 7600H with 3x LG RESU 16H install.

One thing that I'd like feedback on from one of you who has batteries, is whether or not I could easily switch to only battery consumption at certain times of the night. I have a high end stereo system that will probably benefit from running off batteries instead of the noisy grid, and part of the promise of the system is to be able to switch manually to battery consumption.

My installer is very permissive (a friend) and there should be no problem getting whatever access I need. Is it as simple has switching to the "Maximize Self-Consumption" profile on the app?

Thanks all!

[Srrndhound]

One thing that I'd like feedback on from one of you who has batteries, is whether or not I could easily switch to only battery consumption at certain times of the night.

Is it as simple has switching to the "Maximize Self-Consumption" profile on the app?

Yes, the system will attempt to satisfy all house loads until it can't (either the loads exceed the inverter capability, or the battery has reached the depletion limit).

The additional condition of doing so at "certain times" may not be readily supported.

I have a high end stereo system that will probably benefit from running off batteries instead of the noisy grid

The grid is never out of the picture, even if the inverter is supplying all the power.

[chronos432]

Yes, the system will attempt to satisfy all house loads until it can't (either the loads exceed the inverter capability, or the battery has reached the depletion limit).

The additional condition of doing so at "certain times" may not be readily supported.

The grid is never out of the picture, even if the inverter is supplying all the power.

agreed, unless I go and flip the breaker near the meter I guess!

So it's just a matter of switching it on the app manually, if the profiles are properly configured?

Thanks Srrndhound !

[darkskies]

Mine is set to maximize self consumption. It runs off Solar until about 4:30 pm, and then transitions to battery. I have a 16kwh LG, with reserve set to 20% (so it’ll use around 12.8 kWh, if fully charged) and at this time of year, with the load that I have, it’ll run off battery until around anywhere from midnight (if using my home theater ) to early in the morning.

For example, Monday was a good day and this is the production (green), consumption (red), and self-consumption (purple):

688791FF-64C6-43FA-B9EA-1CACA3857EBC.png
Almost a full 24 hours coverage.

I don’t have installer access, so I can’t create any profiles or complex setups (I saw some video where a guy in Europe has profiles for different seasons and events - not sure if that is available here in the US).

Also, there is Weather Guard, which, when enabled and there is an upcoming storm forecasted, it will not use the battery, when solar production stops. Essentially disabling the self consumption.