In the Quick Settings of the Fox App 2.2.0 there are import/ export settings, see screenshot.
How do I know if these figures are correct?
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Last edited by Northspoon on Tue Feb 10, 2026 3:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
For Export Limit, what inverter size do you have ?, the default is to set it to 60,000 which simply means output as much as the inverter can.
For Import Limit, this is a bit more complicated as it depends if the inverter can see all of your load or whether you have EV chargers, heat pumps that are wired in front of it or can be seen by the inverter. As a rule it should not be set any higher than your main house fuse (multiply * 230V to get the power). 9200 watts seems ok if not a bit low, if it is too low you will see your battery charge fall when you have other larger appliances on.
For Import Limit, this is a bit more complicated as it depends if the inverter can see all of your load or whether you have EV chargers, heat pumps that are wired in front of it or can be seen by the inverter. As a rule it should not be set any higher than your main house fuse (multiply * 230V to get the power). 9200 watts seems ok if not a bit low, if it is too low you will see your battery charge fall when you have other larger appliances on.
Hi Dave,
As you might have seen from my previous posts, my technical knowledge as the homeowner is limited.
The Fox Hybrid Inverter is H1-5-0-EG2 rated at 5kW import and export.
The 12 solar panels are rated at 445W each with optimisers.
I have 3 Fox batteries 2x ECS 4800 and 1 x EQ4800
We don't have EV chargers or heat pumps. The main house fuse is 100A and the breaker to the garage (where the inverter and batteries are) is rated at 63A.
The house is on an Economy 7 setting, with the batteries charged from the grid during the night. The solar panels and batteries are in use during the peak period. We have an export tariff with Octopus Energy.
As you might have seen from my previous posts, my technical knowledge as the homeowner is limited.
The Fox Hybrid Inverter is H1-5-0-EG2 rated at 5kW import and export.
The 12 solar panels are rated at 445W each with optimisers.
I have 3 Fox batteries 2x ECS 4800 and 1 x EQ4800
We don't have EV chargers or heat pumps. The main house fuse is 100A and the breaker to the garage (where the inverter and batteries are) is rated at 63A.
The house is on an Economy 7 setting, with the batteries charged from the grid during the night. The solar panels and batteries are in use during the peak period. We have an export tariff with Octopus Energy.
You need to check your handover pack from your installer for your correct Import/Export limits.
Here is a G99 for my installation, and comes from network suppliers, for example National Grid.
So you may have to check your documents for the correct values (certainly for export!)
Here is a G99 for my installation, and comes from network suppliers, for example National Grid.
So you may have to check your documents for the correct values (certainly for export!)
In the hand over pack there is this from UK Power Networks. Is this the information I need?
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For compliance, yes you should set your export to 5kW (5000W in your App settings)
Given you have 12 panels of 445W, you will barely breach the 5kW limit (happens fairly rarely in Summer due to heat) so you are fairly ok.
Import has no limit from what I see for you, apart from the main supply fuse, so either 100A x 230V = 23000W, or 63A x 230V = 14490W
Given you have 12 panels of 445W, you will barely breach the 5kW limit (happens fairly rarely in Summer due to heat) so you are fairly ok.
Import has no limit from what I see for you, apart from the main supply fuse, so either 100A x 230V = 23000W, or 63A x 230V = 14490W
Thank you. So from what Dave Foster said earlier, I should increase the import setting. Does it matter which of the two ratings I should use, the 100A or 63A local fuse?
I have 80Amp supply fuse, with EV charger that is wired up.Northspoon wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 4:16 pm Thank you. So from what Dave Foster said earlier, I should increase the import setting. Does it matter which of the two ratings I should use, the 100A or 63A local fuse?
I set my import limit to the full 80A x 230V for 18,400 Watts, and my own export limit as 3900 Watts.
And of course set your export limit as 5000 Watts to be compliant.
The CT clamp is placed on the icoming power after the meter, so for you it really should be import limit 23,000 Watts.
Thank you and to Dave for the help. This forum is so great, especially for folk like me who don't really understand the technical stuff.
You are welcome.
A final note for you:
I do have my System Min SoC at 10% compared to your 15% set.
I want to use the full 90% "on the table" so to speak for the battery, you are leaving a little bit reserved, but I recognise this might be personal choice.
A final note for you:
I do have my System Min SoC at 10% compared to your 15% set.
I want to use the full 90% "on the table" so to speak for the battery, you are leaving a little bit reserved, but I recognise this might be personal choice.
If it doesn't harm the battery with a lower SOC, then I could alter that.
The way we use the system at the moment, the batteries (and solar, when we get sun!!) keep the house supplied during the peak power period (0730-0030) and very rarely use the grid. The batteries seem to stay above 20%.
Any surplus from the panels go to export at 15p/kWh.
Our off peak 0030-0730 @ .13p/kWh is used for charging the batteries, dishwasher and washing machine etc.
The way we use the system at the moment, the batteries (and solar, when we get sun!!) keep the house supplied during the peak power period (0730-0030) and very rarely use the grid. The batteries seem to stay above 20%.
Any surplus from the panels go to export at 15p/kWh.
Our off peak 0030-0730 @ .13p/kWh is used for charging the batteries, dishwasher and washing machine etc.
It was made for a 90% DoD (Depth of Discharge) and even if you don't dip down below 20% often, it is recommended at least once a month (or some such) to force the last bit of power out of the battery, then charge back to 100%.
This allows the BMS (Battery Management Software/System) to calibrate the battery cells end points.
So it knows the low Voltage and high Voltage values, and works perfect.
After running my battery for nearly a whole year with 10% to 100% end points, it still reports 100% SoH (State of Health) typically most users will have lost a few % in that time.
This allows the BMS (Battery Management Software/System) to calibrate the battery cells end points.
So it knows the low Voltage and high Voltage values, and works perfect.
After running my battery for nearly a whole year with 10% to 100% end points, it still reports 100% SoH (State of Health) typically most users will have lost a few % in that time.
OK, I didn't know that.
So I will lower the SOC to 10%, but how do I force it down to that once a month, as you suggest?
So I will lower the SOC to 10%, but how do I force it down to that once a month, as you suggest?
Assuming your are using a manual scheduler currently...Northspoon wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 4:59 pm OK, I didn't know that.
So I will lower the SOC to 10%, but how do I force it down to that once a month, as you suggest?
You would just need to set a reminder on phone for once a month, pick a Sunday or some such.
Then you add to your manual schedule a Force Discharge, to run for an hour probably just before your battery is set to charge from grid again.
So if you normal charging is done 02:00 to 04:59, create a force discharge for 01:00 to 01:59 for example.
I will try that.
I have had the system since May 2024. The battery is reporting 431 battery cycles and SOH 94%
Sorry to be dim, but is the Force Discharge the same as just setting the charging period to start a bit later in the night?
I have had the system since May 2024. The battery is reporting 431 battery cycles and SOH 94%
Sorry to be dim, but is the Force Discharge the same as just setting the charging period to start a bit later in the night?
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I think your SoH at 94% is about right, it decreases with a few factors: Cycles/Temperature/Age combined.
From my understanding, the first year has the most change, and the SoH change slows down after first year.
It looks like you are using what I call the "dumb" charge mode, so yes you could just add 60-90mins to the start time to hopefully have your battery use up the remaining power.
So 01:00 start becomes 01:59 / 02:29.
From my understanding, the first year has the most change, and the SoH change slows down after first year.
It looks like you are using what I call the "dumb" charge mode, so yes you could just add 60-90mins to the start time to hopefully have your battery use up the remaining power.
So 01:00 start becomes 01:59 / 02:29.
That makes sense. I was a little concerned when you said your battery SOH was 100% and mine was 94%. So nothing to be too worried about then?
I had manually set the times to take advantage of the off peak hours, but really wanted the batteries to be 100% charged by the time the peak rate starts at 0730. Looking at the graphs, the batteries are fully charged by about 4am.
So if I set the starting time to charge the batteries to be, say 0300, then the battery should get down to more like 10% capacity. But only to do this once a month, not every night?
I had manually set the times to take advantage of the off peak hours, but really wanted the batteries to be 100% charged by the time the peak rate starts at 0730. Looking at the graphs, the batteries are fully charged by about 4am.
So if I set the starting time to charge the batteries to be, say 0300, then the battery should get down to more like 10% capacity. But only to do this once a month, not every night?
I am just an end user like yourself, Dave/Will would be more expert than me. I just like to read/learn/reply here to help with things. It seems the consensus is year 1 the SoH drops on average it seems 4-5% then steadies down to 1-2% for each year thereafter. This is what I have learned from forum, so maybe as I say, Dave/Will might reply and confirm that this is roughly on par.Northspoon wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 5:50 pm That makes sense. I was a little concerned when you said your battery SOH was 100% and mine was 94%. So nothing to be too worried about then?
This make sense to me to shift the starting point to whatever you think works (say 03:00 as you think) then just check graphs the morning after to check if you dropped to 10% before and made it to 100%. As for how often, I suspect keeping to once per month for the 10-100% cycle will be good. It won't hurt too much if it was nightly (in my eyes) but like you mine is often left with 20-50% before a charging period.Northspoon wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 5:50 pm I had manually set the times to take advantage of the off peak hours, but really wanted the batteries to be 100% charged by the time the peak rate starts at 0730. Looking at the graphs, the batteries are fully charged by about 4am.
So if I set the starting time to charge the batteries to be, say 0300, then the battery should get down to more like 10% capacity. But only to do this once a month, not every night?
Again this is a forum, so others may suggest a different strategy to what I would set.
Mine charges to 100% each night, and holds until 05:30 with Intelligent Octopus Go, and around once a month I drop it to 10% (when I remember!)
Just to make sure I understand, if I want to allow my batteries to get to a min SOC 10% now and again, do I use a Forced Discharge time?
Ideally yes!Northspoon wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 3:59 pm Just to make sure I understand, if I want to allow my batteries to get to a min SOC 10% now and again, do I use a Forced Discharge time?
And probably best to program in a manual charge to the scheduler also.
I think from your ealier picture you posted, you are charging via the basic Grid Charge setting (which I refer to the dumb setting as it has no control on charge speed/max charge etc) If you do setup a manual Force Discharge, followed by a force charge, you should disable grid charge feature.
Just to expand the detail a bit more, you need to toggle off this green slider as seen in your "Force Time Charge" here
viewtopic.php?p=12989#p12989
Then if you follow Will's updated video here on setting of scheduler, you will make two entries at least.
One to Force Discharge say 1hr before your off peak rate starts
Second to Force Charge during your off peak period
Example, make sure the times do not overlap as shown
FD 00:00 to 00:59
FC 01:00 to 04:00
viewtopic.php?p=12989#p12989
Then if you follow Will's updated video here on setting of scheduler, you will make two entries at least.
One to Force Discharge say 1hr before your off peak rate starts
Second to Force Charge during your off peak period
Example, make sure the times do not overlap as shown
FD 00:00 to 00:59
FC 01:00 to 04:00
So, since the installation in 2024, have I being doing it wrong just using the Grid Charge during off peak hours?MaterialBarracuda48 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:13 pm Just to expand the detail a bit more, you need to toggle off this green slider as seen in your "Force Time Charge" here
viewtopic.php?p=12989#p12989
Then if you follow Will's updated video here on setting of scheduler, you will make two entries at least.
One to Force Discharge say 1hr before your off peak rate starts
Second to Force Charge during your off peak period
Example, make sure the times do not overlap as shown
FD 00:00 to 00:59
FC 01:00 to 04:00
I have done a Google search for the difference between Grid charge and Forced charge. I don't think that I want maximum power with a Forced charge because the garage cable also feeds another high power piece of equipment, so I don't want to risk overloading the circuit .
Last edited by Northspoon on Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Nope, not at all. It actually works fine if you needs are simple, so you wanted it to charge each night at the cheap rate and hold off any battery discharging until the end of the cheap rate.Northspoon wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:43 pm So, since the installation in 2024, have I being doing it wrong just using the Grid Charge during off peak hours?
How does Force Charge work compared to Grid Charge? I don't want the batteries to be used until the Peak rate starts, so I thought selecting Grid charge from 0030-0730 would block that happening.
It is just that you now wish to do a little more advanced stuff, to do a discharge cycle and you need to disable it.
Odds are I think that it might be ignored if you did set a manual charge cycle, but best to be belt and braces, so cancel it off.
You might actually end up with 3x manual schedules as you will go "through" midnight.
1. Force Discharge 23:30 to 23:59
2. Force Discharge 00:00 to 00:29
3. Force Charge 00:30 to 07:29
Like with any settings changes, set it and then check it!
So make your programming changes, and check your power graphs the next day to see if the battery dropped to 10% as expected, and your battery charged to 100% and held it until 07:30.
I had edited my last post, but you beat me to it with your answer.MaterialBarracuda48 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:51 pmNope, not at all. It actually works fine if you needs are simple, so you wanted it to charge each night at the cheap rate and hold off any battery discharging until the end of the cheap rate.Northspoon wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:43 pm So, since the installation in 2024, have I being doing it wrong just using the Grid Charge during off peak hours?
How does Force Charge work compared to Grid Charge? I don't want the batteries to be used until the Peak rate starts, so I thought selecting Grid charge from 0030-0730 would block that happening.
It is just that you now wish to do a little more advanced stuff, to do a discharge cycle and you need to disable it.
Odds are I think that it might be ignored if you did set a manual charge cycle, but best to be belt and braces, so cancel it off.
You might actually end up with 3x manual schedules as you will go "through" midnight.
1. Force Discharge 23:30 to 23:59
2. Force Discharge 00:00 to 00:29
3. Force Charge 00:30 to 07:29
Like with any settings changes, set it and then check it!
So make your programming changes, and check your power graphs the next day to see if the battery dropped to 10% as expected, and your battery charged to 100% and held it until 07:30.
Surely a Forced charge would use more power quickly? I don't want to risk overloading the circuit to the garage (where the batteries are), as there is another piece of equipment that uses off peak power as well.
As we have an export tariff, will the Forced discharge earn us money?