I’m using the Ignore AC Input to charge the batteries and feed the home when the PV is off. Probably the ESS system is more flexible but I have some grid limitation due to the local laws: I can’t set my country in VEConfigure (so I must set None to the grid) because i’s mandatory to have the SPI device (€1k) in case of grid selection. Since I have no interest in feed the grid but only to use the grid like a “generator”, is there a helper or something built in the Victron firmware to start the main ESS function but without to set the grid? Or I must use Node Red?
Hi,
Instead of using the “ignore AC” function try to use the “Solar/Wind priority” system described in this manual: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Solar_&_Wind_Priority/156386-Solar___Wind_Priority-pdf-en.pdf?_ga=2.49897509.2009304924.1719813676-1687838910.1698938008
I live in the USA where Victron doesn’t provide grid codes or have any certifications that would allow us to connect to the public grid. Our electric utilities won’t allow it. That said, I might be aware of a few installations that are running with ESS and feed-in of excess energy disabled. Notice that I said feed-in of excess energy. In an ESS system configured as such, there will still be occasional feed in as loads start and stop, especially when using the built-in energy meters vs a much faster external grid meter. I would recommend setting a grid set point of 10-20W so that on average you are always pulling a little from the grid so you don’t run the risk of having a negative energy consumption on your electric bill. Your utility will notice that pretty quickly.
If you would rather not take the chance, then NodeRed or HomeAssistant would be your next best options as they can help automate this for you in ways that aren’t as crude as Ignore AC. VenusOS 3.70 is in beta and adds support for creating “virtual switches” directly in the Victron GUI to trigger flows that run in NodeRed in the background. We’ve been writing and testing NodeRed flows to make changing thresholds for Ignore AC a lot easier than programming changes in the inverters. It’s a shame that Victron doesn’t provide more simple functionality for doing this natively for customers who don’t want to deal with NodeRed, but also can’t or don’t want to enable ESS. But, they are giving us better tools for doing it ourselves. See below for how it looks so far. It’s not beautiful, but it works.
@OGPS Thanks for sharing. One tangential question, based on your screenshot. What config item are you using to disable / enable “Power Assist”? I have an ESS system and wanted to disable Peak Shaving permanently, and was wondering if disabling Power Assist may potentially accomplish that (given there’s no setting to do so currently in Venus).
When scheduling a SOC above the ESS min SOC, I’ve noticed there’s a pretty meaningful draw from the DC side, because the system keeps the the FETs active. Our system would never need to Peak Shave nor Power Assist (4x 10k Quattros in a 2x2 split-phase config, on a standard 200A residential utility feed).
NodeRed:
- Power Assist Status
- Disable Power Assist
- Enable Power Assist
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Ah, well that is a bit more obvious than I was expecting. Thanks
Other things to note:
- According to the ESS manual, a valid grid code is required for battery discharge, possibly even to use ESS at all. But “other” grid code (not “none”) may work for ESS.
- You don’t have to use virtual switch or Node Red to ignore AC. Built-in assistants might accomplish the job.
- Solar/Wind priority is similar to ESS in some situations. But it is not recommended for fixed (domestic as opposed to mobile) installations.
Disclaimer: I have never used or tested all these. Just some ideas of approaches to consider.
I’t seems not possible for me to write via modbus the current limit for the AC IN in Node Red. I tried some registers/attribute but the Multiplus II only allow to set the AC IN general limit, not the instant current limit.