Load readings from Inverter don't match Smart Meter
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:19 pm
I have had this issue from install, but haven't been able to figure it out. Here's some background info, followed by some questions.
I have three sources to tell me the Load my house is pulling - the Fox inverter (via home assistant, modbus), my smart meter display and a shelly EM. The Shelly and the smart meter generally agree, but the inverter reading is usually more - and the higher the number the more "out" it is. as an example:
Smart meter: 2.72kw export
Shelly - 2.74kw export
Fox: 3.28 kw export (grid feedin) ~20% higher
Being clear about what/how each source is measuring.
Smart meter: the power passing through.
Shelly EM: CT Clamp on the live feed cable, on the house side of the meter
Fox: CT Clamp on the live feed cable, on the grid side of the meter, for separation from the shelly clamp
I have tried my installer, but they are unhelpful and have argued that a CT clamp can't be wrong.
The CT clamp is connected to the inverter via a longish run of cat5 cable (using 2 TP strands for each leg of the CT clamp wire, so 4 strands in total). The CT clamp wires are connected to the cat5 via a wago connector. It's a mienergy ct clamp.
Questions:
Do different CT Clamps have different signal output curves? Is there a good way to measure this?
Should my fox inverter be able to use a mienergi clamp? Is it plug and play or are there settings that should've been set up?
I also have an odd issue where the Load reading goes to zero, or even negative. This may or may not be related.
E.g. right now my Load is reading at 0.07kw in home assistant, where it's likely to be 300W minimum, and more likely 400-500W. Interestingly, this also fits with the difference between Grid Feedin (2.96kW) and the shelly/smart meter readings (2.47kW).
I have three sources to tell me the Load my house is pulling - the Fox inverter (via home assistant, modbus), my smart meter display and a shelly EM. The Shelly and the smart meter generally agree, but the inverter reading is usually more - and the higher the number the more "out" it is. as an example:
Smart meter: 2.72kw export
Shelly - 2.74kw export
Fox: 3.28 kw export (grid feedin) ~20% higher
Being clear about what/how each source is measuring.
Smart meter: the power passing through.
Shelly EM: CT Clamp on the live feed cable, on the house side of the meter
Fox: CT Clamp on the live feed cable, on the grid side of the meter, for separation from the shelly clamp
I have tried my installer, but they are unhelpful and have argued that a CT clamp can't be wrong.
The CT clamp is connected to the inverter via a longish run of cat5 cable (using 2 TP strands for each leg of the CT clamp wire, so 4 strands in total). The CT clamp wires are connected to the cat5 via a wago connector. It's a mienergy ct clamp.
Questions:
Do different CT Clamps have different signal output curves? Is there a good way to measure this?
Should my fox inverter be able to use a mienergi clamp? Is it plug and play or are there settings that should've been set up?
I also have an odd issue where the Load reading goes to zero, or even negative. This may or may not be related.
E.g. right now my Load is reading at 0.07kw in home assistant, where it's likely to be 300W minimum, and more likely 400-500W. Interestingly, this also fits with the difference between Grid Feedin (2.96kW) and the shelly/smart meter readings (2.47kW).