I have a 4 x Multiplus 24/3000/70 System configured in Split Phase / Parallel primarily used to power my whole home 3T Air Conditioner during peak hours in the SW USA. The system includes a 39kW-hr battery bank and about 3000W of solar panels.
The new (to me) Solar and Wind functionality in the Advanced Tab has really helped maximize the use of solar, however I can not find an assistant I can program to disconnect from the grid during the peak power cost hours (4-7pm local).
I currently disconnect using a smart switch and a contactor. This works ok, but it would be much cleaner to be able to do this directly in the Victron configuration. Is a timer based assistant available or in the works?
System Components:
4 x Multiplus 24/3000/70
1 x Phoenix 24/1200 (critical small loads - Internet, pool controller, other constant small loads)
5 x DIY 300A-hr LiFEPO4 battery bank
3 x Victron Lynx Power-In
Victron Lynx Shunt
Victron Smart Solar MPPT 250/100 VE.Can v2
Victron Cerbo GX
Solar Array 3000W @ 160Vmpp
You can use nodered to switch the system to invert only at specified times.
Takes some basic nodered knowledge which you can find in the dedicated nodered section on the forum (under modifications).
The assistants are a bit too basic for this.
Thanks Nick, Iāll look it up. The goal is to use all available solar, but to absolutely not charge during the peak hours.
Thatās easier to do with some minor work.
I leave some systems disconnected, and have nodered reconnect it if the battery is insufficiently charged.
If you have fixed times that is even easier to do.
You trigger the inverterās soft-switch (also accessible via the GX and VRM) and change it between āONā and āInverter onlyā.
Seems that would be an easy virtual switch or assistant to configure, surprised time based switches are not available in VE Configureā¦ Thanks for the nodered lead.
That is what ESS will do for you.
I am not saying you cant do it with Node-Red or a relay assistant, just that the ESS assistant is specifically designed to do just that, schedules and allā¦
Look up āSelf Consumptionā which is what Victron calls the functionality you are looking for I believe.
ESS is an assistant and can do quite a lot running locally, managed from the GX console or Node-Red.
DESS takes ESS and connects it with VRM, to Dynamically modify the behaviour of your Energy Storage System, optimising it for various energy related goals, generally on a cost controlled basis.
The latter allows solar forecasts, for example, to be incorporated when deciding how much energy to by during off peak periods.
I am no expert on this subject but I think if you read the documentation you will find it can do what you want. I have played a little with ESS and peek lopping and found it pretty effective and easy to use.
If you do down the Node-Red route and DIY ESS you will need to enable DVCC to give you control of charge current as the AC input limit cant be 0 for any Victron inverters as far as I know.
You can of course, as others have said, disconnect the AC In, several ways, but unless you a sure you will not need the grid at short notice you are potentially hobbling your system/loads and risk tripping before the grid reconnects if a large load is applied.
Hope that helps,
Al
ESS wonāt disconnect you from the grid. There is always some power usage.
OKā¦
I grant you, exactly 0 isnāt likely, but it can be set to minimal import, or export, literally tens of watts in either directionā¦
This is my buddies solar coming up this morningā¦
Import was between 20W and 40W prior to that and could easily have been set lower, including negative, so exporting.
You are correct, ESS alone will not be exactly 0, using Node-Red to trim it could make it a little better and, as I said, disconnecting entirely is easy, in several ways, node-Red being the easiest IMHO
Disconnecting coms with caveatsā and I would argue is less flexible than accepting a few watts either way to maintain the comfort and ease of remaining connected.
Of course the use case āmayā make disconnecting the better option, I was just trying to offer rounded perspective, the thrust of which was, go read the documentation.
Apologiesā If I mislead anyone or wasnāt clear enough.
Do you have Home Assistant ?
The more complex the system and loads, the greater the grid usage.1 or more kWh per day adds up over a month, and many, myself included, donāt want that.
I live in the US, and in order to use ESS it appears I must select a Grid code. I have a separate permitted and utility approved grid-tie system installed.
I built this system originally to run my pool, but found I was much better financially (and the house is way more comfortable a few degrees cooler) to use it to run my Air Conditioner during peak hours. My net use during peak is now virtually ā0ā, I shut the charger function off by disconnecting Grid In with a contactor (using a smart switch with timer function).
I donāt see good info how to set up the āotherā grid type so I can use the ESS functionality in the US.
I am not familiar with Node-Red, but I am researching and will likely pursue that route to switch the inverter from āonā to āinvert onlyā during the peaks.
Any recommendations on best resource to educate myself in Node-Red?
Hi John.
If you use veconfigure on your system, via the grid tab, it will either allow you, or not, to select other as the grid code. If it does, the password to do so will be required. Not available here but available online.
That will allow ESS to work.
The forum has a dedicated modifications and node-red category Node-RED - Victron Community
If you dig around there, and on the Victron yootoob page, you will find some beginner and getting started topics.
It is as simple as setting the vebus switch setting to either ON or inverter only.
Thanks Nick
Took a little to work through the videos and examples but it looks like this is working. Have several other tweaks this tools will let me do.
Canāt believe Iāve been working other work-arounds for a couple years when this was available all along.
Thatās great. Simple and elegant.
Wait till you start digging through what it is really capable of, you will be automating and dashboarding in no time 