Grid usage

[MaterialBarracuda48]

I don't think so with the wild swings of import/export, the app showed grid export was going from 500W to -500W the whole time, it seemed the battery just couldn't alter it's output response fast enough, where as when it was forced to discharge it didn't have to.

I think the offender is a brand new air fryer oven, and I think it was designed that way to be super efficient with power usage, but the effect it had on the inverter/battery wasn't.

Yup the Inverter cannot respond quick enough to the air fryer, so you will see wild swings. I see the same with heavy instant loads from our electric hob/air fryer.

As you probably know now, you might have to put it in force discharge. The only other would be if you had an off-grid setup, and had to flip over to fully offgrid during this period. Not sure I would be doing that each day manually.

[evilbunny]

The only other would be if you had an off-grid setup, and had to flip over to fully offgrid during this period. Not sure I would be doing that each day manually.

I already had that thought, and I switched the power point and light circuits to EPS mode, but if you do that the other circuits not on the EPS circuit will suddenly import from the grid, so that isn't practical either.

So yes, the solution is to force discharge, the only question which I attempted to test tonight, is if it's needed for the whole 6pm to 8pm period or just while "efficient" appliances are in use.

It doesn't matter at present as we're getting 20kWhrs+ of solar a day + free power between 11am to 2pm @ 5kW which is another 15kWhrs.

In winter we're lucky to get 5kWhrs some days when there is a string of rainy, or just cloudy, days.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

I already had that thought, and I switched the power point and light circuits to EPS mode, but if you do that the other circuits not on the EPS circuit will suddenly import from the grid, so that isn't practical either.

I was referring to one of these bad boys, so you have all your house circuits fed off one of these.
https://fox-ess.uk/eps-box-sp-backup-gateway/

You are correct though that an EPS would only do so much.
Anyhow, I think we have derailed OPs post quite a bit for now

[evilbunny]

I was referring to one of these bad boys, so you have all your house circuits fed off one of these.
https://fox-ess.uk/eps-box-sp-backup-gateway/

Is that an ATS?

In which case that won't work either as we have multiple things with induction motors, such as a fridge, 2 freezers, 2 air cons, 2 pressure pumps, 2 pedestal fans, and a ceiling fan.

The biggest problems would be the 2 air cons during the start up phase, but the pressure pumps are pretty bad too and the Fox ESS manual specifically says not to put induction loads on the EPS circuit as they can draw 3-5x their rated current on start-up.

You are correct though that an EPS would only do so much.

It's also limited to the inverter output, and if somehow all the above was started at the same time the EPS circuit would trip instantly.

[evilbunny]

Yup the Inverter cannot respond quick enough to the air fryer, so you will see wild swings. I see the same with heavy instant loads from our electric hob/air fryer.

Looks like I owe Fox ESS an apology and I've emailed support through the app asking for a grid compensation of 50W since they don't let end users do that themselves.

Turns out the power company's website billing/usage doesn't match the 5 minute raw meter data, yet their own app does show the correct usage.

Last night between 6pm and 8pm actual usage based on the meter data was 80.9Wh, which was only a shade over the 60Wh limit, but the website says 238.9Wh.

A few days before that usage was 109.6Wh, but when the air fryer was making the imports/exports go a bit haywire the actual usage was only 80.4Wh, not 319.2Wh.

There may be a complication due to having a second inverter, but I hope having a 50W compensation will also take care of that as well.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

Yup the Inverter cannot respond quick enough to the air fryer, so you will see wild swings. I see the same with heavy instant loads from our electric hob/air fryer.

Looks like I owe Fox ESS an apology and I've emailed support through the app asking for a grid compensation of 50W since they don't let end users do that themselves.

Turns out the power company's website billing/usage doesn't match the 5 minute raw meter data, yet their own app does show the correct usage.

Last night between 6pm and 8pm actual usage based on the meter data was 80.9Wh, which was only a shade over the 60Wh limit, a few days before that it was 109.6Wh, but when the air fryer was making the imports/exports go a bit haywire the actual usage was only 80.4Wh, not 319.2Wh.

There may be a complication due to having a second inverter, but I hope having a 50W compensation will also take care of that as well.

Fingers crossed that this helps you get under the threshold going forward.

[evilbunny]

Fingers crossed that this helps you get under the threshold going forward.

Not sure exactly when over night the previous days import/export data appears on the power companies website but yea, here's hoping.

[evilbunny]

Not sure exactly when over night the previous days import/export data appears on the power companies website but yea, here's hoping.

I have no idea why this isn't owner settable since it can greatly effect the owner's power bill.

Not sure what happened but yesterday usage went up to 100Wh/h and I rang up again to get it changed to -50 instead.

In the portal/app I now only see small grid exports, not imports any more, so here's hoping it's third time lucky.

This page, which summaries posts in a different forum, actually points out to do this while the installer is on site: gist.github.com/nicois/0ae126155ae6e651cb7a6597e1654258

[MaterialBarracuda48]

I have no idea why this isn't owner settable since it can greatly effect the owner's power bill.

Not sure what happened but yesterday usage went up to 100Wh/h and I rang up again to get it changed to -50 instead.

In the portal/app I now only see small grid exports, not imports any more, so here's hoping it's third time lucky.

This would be nice to have, but then if we get too many buttons... people will find a way to break and moan

I am surprised we have access to the Export amount, as I am limited to 3900 Watts, but could put whatever I wish and potentially break the local infrastructure.

I wonder if in your case, Fox previously put a +50 offset and now have set it to -50. At least this time you are pushing back to the grid.

[evilbunny]

This would be nice to have, but then if we get too many buttons... people will find a way to break and moan

Not all owners are complete tech newbies and it would limit calls to their tech support lines.

I am surprised we have access to the Export amount, as I am limited to 3900 Watts, but could put whatever I wish and potentially break the local infrastructure.

Our distributor currently has a 5kW limit and they might jump up and down if they notice it at the wrong time of day, but in July they're going to start doing dynamic export limits for internet connected inverters if there is network capacity.

They've also introduced a 7.5kWh/day limit between 10am and 3pm, at this stage for new or upgraded solar and/or battery systems. After that the energy retailer will be charged 0.7c/kWh. On the flip side they now offer a rebate of 11.1c/kWh for exports between 5pm and 8pm.

However the real catch is yet to come, because in July 2028 all other customers will be shifted to the new system, so those with solar systems but not batteries will start losing money in summer rather than saving money.

I wonder if in your case, Fox previously put a +50 offset and now have set it to -50. At least this time you are pushing back to the grid.

I don't think so, or it wouldn't have jumped from ~40Wh/h to ~90Wh/hr, but I have to wait until tomorrow to find out for sure.

[evilbunny]

Forgot to mention, the app and web portal seem a little confused at times since I got a -50 setting, it'll show energy coming into the house picture, but state it's exporting, even 50W exporting.

[evilbunny]

I don't think so, or it wouldn't have jumped from ~40Wh/h to ~90Wh/hr, but I have to wait until tomorrow to find out for sure.

Well the results are in, after 9:40am yesterday the 5 minute draw went from 0.0052kWh to 0.0006kWh or in other words ~62Wh/h to ~7.2Wh/h, so finally things are where they should be without sending more to the grid than absolutely necessary.

So we should be sweet now with the 30Wh/h limit between 6pm and 8pm without needing to force discharge when we don't have spare power in winter.

[jonmjones]

Now my schedule stopped working, so guess I also have same prob as the rest of you!

[evilbunny]

Now my schedule stopped working, so guess I also have same prob as the rest of you!

Tried shutting down the battery/inverter and restarting it? Some claim that fixed their issue, others had to email support to get it fixed.

[jonmjones]

Not yet, will try later. Support have not answered my enquiry from Monday yet...

[evilbunny]

Not yet, will try later. Support have not answered my enquiry from Monday yet...

It seems if you don't get a reply by next day, you probably won't.

[jonmjones]

<chases message>