Grid feed back with ESS: yes or no?

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mikemynis asked Apr 8, '24

Grid feed back with ESS: yes or no?

Hi, I have a Victron system just setup (2 x Multiplus II, parallel) and I am confused about if this system is feeding into the grid or not?

I do NOT want to feed energy back into the grid, but I am not sure if it's configured correctly.

This is what I see. The Grid 'block' is alternating between positive values and negative values:
Then it's 127W (meaning taking from the grid. )
The next moment it's -151W, (meaning feeding into the grid.)

Is this correct for a system that's supposed to never feed into the grid?

It has ESS installed.

I'm also confused about why it is taking power from the grid when the sun is up and solar is generating more than enough to power the loads (and the battery is at 100% SoC).

It's my idea (and wish) to ONLY take from the grid when there is no sun and battery drops to 20% SoC. Only then take from the grid.

Please advise,
Mike

Multiplus-II feed-in

1712579898395.png (742.1 KiB)

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anacrhy2007 commented · Apr 08 at 04:12 PM

The system will never be able to TAKE FROM or FEED BACK exactly 0W. There will always be a bit of an offset. You can match this as closesly as possible in the Cerbo setup

SETTINGS > ESS > GRID SETPOINT (If set to 50W the system will try and keep the usage from grid as close to 50W at all times)

SETTINGS > ESS > GRID FEED-IN (Turn off all feed in tabs) You can also turn on LIMIT GRID FEED IN and set it to 0 but it will still deviate a little bit to and from.

Roundabout 50W to -50W is best I've ever seen the systems fluctuate at.

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mikemynis anacrhy2007 commented · Apr 08 at 04:18 PM

Thank you for answering. the thing is that to feed back to the grid you need another contract with the electricity company, which we don't have (and don't want).

It also means that when people from the electricity company start working on the cables outside (which happens occasionally here in Spain), and they switch off the mains, my system could put dangerous voltage on the grid. That could be very dangerous for those people.

So even a little bit of feed in is absolutely unwanted.

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sharpener mikemynis commented · Apr 08 at 06:52 PM

In this situation ESS will detect Loss of Mains and open the AC-in isolator in the Multiplus, hence isolating it completely from the grid so it will not feed in and cannot electrocute anyone.

When the grid supply is restored this will be detected and various checks are carried out. The Multiplus inverter will be synchronised to the grid frequency and phase before the isolator is closed again and the neutral-earth relay is opened, this is what the clicking noises are.

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mikemynis sharpener commented · Apr 08 at 07:10 PM

Ah, I didn't know that and it's good to know. Thanks for this update!!

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Answer 1 · 2024-04-08T14:53:15Z

Alexandra answered · Apr 08 at 02:53 PM

@MikeMynis

https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Energy_Storage_System/en/faq.html#UUID-169dbd85-4b6f-814b-33c2-9fa77a6973d2_section-idm4583774675304032885894261306

If you want to be really serious you can work an AC ignore system during the day.

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Answer 2 · 2024-04-08T16:12:47Z

mikemynis answered · Apr 08 at 04:12 PM

Hi @Alexandra,

Thank you for explaining. So the readings are not that accurate. That makes sense.
However I am curious about your suggestion about an AC ignore system during the day.

What's that and how does that work? Do you have any info about that?

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Alexandra ♦ commented · Apr 08 at 04:16 PM

Bits and pieces from around the forum. And from what I have also done for fun yes.

Depending on what GX you have there is a way to use the relay in it )set up for a generator timer or connect on SOC), wired to the aux relay (programmed to get a signal from the GX relay to do this) to disconnect the primary/grid relays.

There was another way to use the streetlight function on some mppts if you have one available so that it uses actual light conditions to decide when to connect.

Other ways are node red.

Or an old fashioned daylight sensor with a contactor (if you are old school).

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mikemynis Alexandra ♦ commented · Apr 08 at 04:35 PM

Interesting. I have a Cerbo GX.

So if I understand correctly: configure the Cerbo so that is toggles a relay when SoC drops for example below 20%. That will switch on an external relay/contactor to connect the grid.

And when SoC raises above for example 21%, disconnect the grid. Right?

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mikemynis mikemynis commented · Apr 08 at 07:14 PM

I found this video. Interesting. It's basically what you described. The Cerbo Relay will activate/deactivate an external contactor, which connects/disconnects the grid.

The Cerbo GX can be programmed when to do that based on the battery SoC and Quiet Hours, which you can all define. Awesome ;-)

(Just replace "Remote Generator" with "Grid")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J9_3-yZke4

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