How can I set up a mode to charge from the grid instead of solar power?
I have tried mode "force charge" with the "charge from solar" slider turned off, but it just ignores it and charges from the solar.
On days when the wholesale price is negative to buy (I get paid to use electricity), it makes good sense to charge the battery and run the house only from the grid and get paid for it, rather than using free solar.
I would like a software option; I know I can physically turn the solar off at the inverter, but I may want to turn it on when I am not at home if conditions change.
I would have thought forced charge would work. Make sure you have latest firmware on your inverter etc. You may have to contact Fox ESS support to get them to do it for you.
In any case, I would think you may as well still use your solar to charge the battery as well. You are not paying extra for that either. And if you don't use the power generated, it may just be dissipated as heat, which is probably worse than using it for electricity.
In any case, I would think you may as well still use your solar to charge the battery as well. You are not paying extra for that either. And if you don't use the power generated, it may just be dissipated as heat, which is probably worse than using it for electricity.
AFAIK, although it exists in the App to turn off PV use whilst charging, it doesn't *yet* work.
I presume it must be something that is coming with a firmware upgrade in the future.
I presume it must be something that is coming with a firmware upgrade in the future.
CJAU
Every kWh used from the solar is one less I get paid for using the grid. Recharging the battery is the biggest consumer of power, so I don't want the solar filling it 1/2 way up for free when the grid will pay me to do it; the more power I use, the more money I make.
I am with Amber, and my 2-way tariff has low prices between 11 am and 4 pm. By 11 am, the battery is over 1/2 full from solar.
This is on those rare days when the price to buy goes negative.
On a normal day, the solar will fill the battery by about 12 or 12:30 pm, longer if there are some clouds, and then shuts down and only supplies what the house needs (zero export setting).
At 4 pm, the evening (inflated) prices start, and I sell about 70% of it back. The first hour is all from solar, and the next hour and a half is a mix of diminishing solar and battery export.
Now that the warmer weather is here, instead of 5 hours of exports, I can do 6.5 or 7 hours all in the evening.
The inflated prices drop at 9 pm, but it is generally still worthwhile selling, as the electricity was free, and if not used, it is a wasted opportunity.
The more money I make each day comes off the loan repayments for the system, meaning my bill for power (which is loan repayments now) is still cheaper than my power bills were before the battery and solar upgrade.
Who said big batteries are a waste!
Every kWh used from the solar is one less I get paid for using the grid. Recharging the battery is the biggest consumer of power, so I don't want the solar filling it 1/2 way up for free when the grid will pay me to do it; the more power I use, the more money I make.
I am with Amber, and my 2-way tariff has low prices between 11 am and 4 pm. By 11 am, the battery is over 1/2 full from solar.
This is on those rare days when the price to buy goes negative.
On a normal day, the solar will fill the battery by about 12 or 12:30 pm, longer if there are some clouds, and then shuts down and only supplies what the house needs (zero export setting).
At 4 pm, the evening (inflated) prices start, and I sell about 70% of it back. The first hour is all from solar, and the next hour and a half is a mix of diminishing solar and battery export.
Now that the warmer weather is here, instead of 5 hours of exports, I can do 6.5 or 7 hours all in the evening.
The inflated prices drop at 9 pm, but it is generally still worthwhile selling, as the electricity was free, and if not used, it is a wasted opportunity.
The more money I make each day comes off the loan repayments for the system, meaning my bill for power (which is loan repayments now) is still cheaper than my power bills were before the battery and solar upgrade.
Who said big batteries are a waste!