How can I configure the inverter that the EVCS is using the grid instead of the battery?
Hello Island.
Yes, currently, EVCS can’t control that.
There are a couple of things that can help you:
- Manual mode. In manual mode, EVCS will provide power to the EV in any case. For ‘OFF-GRID’ mode, you additionally can set 'Stop charging at backup battery SoC, if Off Grid '(Settings->General->GX device). It will stop charging if the backup battery is lower than the configured level.
- Auto mode. In auto-mode, EVCS will provide power to the EV only if there is excess solar power in your system. Excess means all that is left after AC consumption. Additionally, you can adjust ‘Allow battery/grid power for auto mode’, ‘Allow low excess solar power for auto mode’, and ‘Battery/grid power timeout’ (Settings->General->GX device) to improve charging behaviour. For example, using some power from battery\grid if clouds and PV production are dropped. Or using solar power together with battery\grid if there is not enough excess solar power for the minimum charging current(6A). Also, you can set the highest priority for charging the backup battery by 'Start charging at backup battery SoC '. EV will start charging only if the SoC is more than the configured level.
- Scheduled mode. Same as the manual, but you can configure time intervals when the EV should be charging.
Hi
Is this not yet implemented? During winter it only makes sense to charge EV directly from grid and let the battery take the load from the house, since it is often expensive in the evening. Could be by just adding another tab beside the manual, automatic etc switch.
It should be easy and a very useful benefit for having in Victron an integrated charger. Else it is way cheaper to go for a simple charger, since it must be controlled anyway.
BR
Lars
We have our EVCS connected on the AC in side of our MP2, with all house circuits connected to the Critical loads connection.
In VRM under Settings - ESS - Self consumption from battery, we have this set to “only critical loads"
We experienced the issue of the EVCS pulling power out of the house battery, but making the setting change shown above, the EVCS now only charges from the grid and power from the batteries only supply the house circuits.
Hopefully this will resolve your problem.
My setup is only 2pcs MPII 48/5000 and house is 3-phase. So I have everything on AC-in. So I cannot use this option. I might need to use nodered to shift to “charge only” when charging ev and switch back to “on” after ev charge is finished. This is of course only during winter with low solar.
Hi, the way I avoid my EV discharging my ESS batteries is by manually increasing the SOC to the current state of charge. This way your car will only charge from the grid, but you will have to remember to get the SOC back to your usual setting after disconnecting the car. Anyway this is a hassle, there should be a way to tell the ESS system to force EV charging from the grid only.
if the EVCS is connected to AC-in, is it able to use solar power for charging?