EG4 12000XP: Not able to find working mode for ToU charging

[JTDE]

To take advantage of the free nights electricity plan in Texas, I was finally able to buy and install the EG4 12000XP inverter with 4 Docan 14.5 KWH battery packs.

I not able to find a working mode/ combination of modes for the time of use functionality( ToU) which could meet the following requirement,

Requirement: Using the grid , power the home load and charge the battery packs between 8 PM to 6 AM till 85% charge is reached, once the battery reach 85%, stop charging, but keep home load powered by grid.

‘AC First’ mode does not charge the battery but uses Grid power to power the home load. If I use the ‘AC Charge mode from 8PM, it charges the battery and powers the home load using grid power , but as soon as the battery reaches 85% it shuts of grid power and start using battery to power the home load. It would do so till ‘Start AC Charge SOC’ is reached, then it starts charging the battery and powering the home load by grid. This cycle continues like a pendulum till 6 AM, which is very frustrating.

Is there a mode/combination of modes which can meet requirement #1.Calling all EG4 experts and users for help and guidance. @EG4TechSolutionsTeam @EG4SoftwareTeam

To get rid of this situation , I am currently adjusting the charging speed on a daily basis so that the battery would be around 85% charged at 6 AM and the system will not get a chance to discharge the battery till 6 AM. After 6 Am the self-consumption mode kicks in.

 

[wildbillpdx]

I think part of the problem is the inverter. The 12000xp (like my 6000xp) is an off-grid inverter so it doesn't have all the settings you need for ToU/ToD charging. I'm going to test HomeAssistant to set the start/end charge voltages to do the same thing, based upon time of day.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

I think part of the problem is the inverter. The 12000xp (like my 6000xp) is an off-grid inverter so it doesn't have all the settings you need for ToU/ToD charging. I'm going to test HomeAssistant to set the start/end charge voltages to do the same thing, based upon time of day.

Careful. The memory in the 6000xp is not infinite. It will stop working after some number of writes.

 

[wildbillpdx]

Careful. The memory in the 6000xp is not infinite. It will stop working after some number of writes.

Well, damn. Is that documented anywhere? Really sucks because I need different charge levels based upon time of day, which the 6000xp doesn't give you. Does that limit of writes apply to the web interface as well?

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

Well, damn. Is that documented anywhere? Really sucks because I need different charge levels based upon time of day, which the 6000xp doesn't give you.

No, it's just fundamental to the memory module. It's like 20,000 based on temp
So it's not insignificant,

 

[wildbillpdx]

No, it's just fundamental to the memory module. It's like 20,000 based on temp
So it's not insignificant,

Cleared by reboot?

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

To take advantage of the free nights electricity plan in Texas, I was finally able to buy and install the EG4 12000XP inverter with 4 Docan 14.5 KWH battery packs.

I not able to find a working mode/ combination of modes for the time of use functionality( ToU) which could meet the following requirement,

Requirement: Using the grid , power the home load and charge the battery packs between 8 PM to 6 AM till 85% charge is reached, once the battery reach 85%, stop charging, but keep home load powered by grid.

‘AC First’ mode does not charge the battery but uses Grid power to power the home load. If I use the ‘AC Charge mode from 8PM, it charges the battery and powers the home load using grid power , but as soon as the battery reaches 85% it shuts of grid power and start using battery to power the home load. It would do so till ‘Start AC Charge SOC’ is reached, then it starts charging the battery and powering the home load by grid. This cycle continues like a pendulum till 6 AM, which is very frustrating.

Is there a mode/combination of modes which can meet requirement #1.Calling all EG4 experts and users for help and guidance. @EG4TechSolutionsTeam @EG4SoftwareTeam

To get rid of this situation , I am currently adjusting the charging speed on a daily basis so that the battery would be around 85% charged at 6 AM and the system will not get a chance to discharge the battery till 6 AM. After 6 Am the self-consumption mode kicks in.

Have you tried using AC first and AC charge together?

You can configure AC First to power your loads from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Then, set AC Charge based on battery SOC and time, also from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM and adjusting the SOC start and stop values to your desired levels. This setup allows the inverter to use the grid to charge the batteries during the specified time, stopping when the batteries reach the set SOC. Even after the batteries are fully charged, the grid will continue to power the loads because AC First is enabled.

 

[wildbillpdx]

Have you tried using AC first and AC charge together?

You can configure AC First to power your loads from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Then, set AC Charge based on battery SOC and time, also from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM and adjusting the SOC start and stop values to your desired levels. This setup allows the inverter to use the grid to charge the batteries during the specified time, stopping when the batteries reach the set SOC. Even after the batteries are fully charged, the grid will continue to power the loads because AC First is enabled.

I don't want to hi-jack this post, but I have some questions. If this should be a new post, let me know.

I'm going to switch to Time-of-Use/Time-of-Day pricing soon. Peak time is 5-9pm; Off-peak 9pm-7am; mid-peak 7am-5pm. I don't want the system to charge during peak time unless the batteries are really low...47v. I'd prefer to charge during off-peak if the batteries are below 51v and mid-peak if they are below 50v. You can't do that in the 6000xp settings. Any suggestions on how to make it work? I can use home assistant to change those setting, but, as noted by @ScrodusGargleRotten above, it may cause problems with the system memory.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

I don't want to hi-jack this post, but I have some questions. If this should be a new post, let me know.

I'm going to switch to Time-of-Use/Time-of-Day pricing soon. Peak time is 5-9pm; Off-peak 9pm-7am; mid-peak 7am-5pm. I don't want the system to charge during peak time unless the batteries are really low...47v. I'd prefer to charge during off-peak if the batteries are below 51v and mid-peak if they are below 50v. You can't do that in the 6000xp settings. Any suggestions on how to make it work? I can use home assistant to change those setting, but, as noted by @ScrodusGargleRotten above, it may cause problems with the system memory.

The safest thing to do is get a battery charger like the EG4 chargeverter, wire it to a 120v coil 240v contactor and use a smart plug supported by home assistant.

Home assistant will monitor time and SOC. Automations will turn on or off a smart plug wired to the 120v side of the contactor that would start the charger.

I would set the chargverter to charge up to a soc (using HA automation) that leaves enough space in the batt for next days solar taking weather into account.

Your inverter would just hum along and not even switch to grid.

The limitation to the idea is how much battery you need to charge over night and your loads during the charging timeframe.

One chargverter could net 60kW in 12 hours split between loads and battery
I think you can manage that. If not get 2 chargers

 

[wildbillpdx]

The safes thing to do is get a battery charger like the EG4 chargeverter, wire it to a 120v coil 240v contactor and use a smart plug supported by home assistant.

I thought about this. I already have a 240v smart switch that I'm using for an EV charger but don't have access to another 240v circuit. I also have an original chargeverter for my manual generator. Just looking for a better way.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

Just looking for a better way.

Good luck. If EG4 actually got around to doing this instead of patching firmware on their new shiny thingamajig....

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

Cleared by reboot?

It will just be forever stuck on the last change.


Just for the record on this subject. Some memory chips die at the 20,000 write mark.
If you changed settings 3 times a day, it COULD still be fine in 15 years.

It depends on the chip they used
It depends if the software just writes the update or the complete block
It depends on the temperature of the chip.

 

[Aak]

To take advantage of the free nights electricity plan in Texas, I was finally able to buy and install the EG4 12000XP inverter with 4 Docan 14.5 KWH battery packs.

I not able to find a working mode/ combination of modes for the time of use functionality( ToU) which could meet the following requirement,

Requirement: Using the grid , power the home load and charge the battery packs between 8 PM to 6 AM till 85% charge is reached, once the battery reach 85%, stop charging, but keep home load powered by grid.

‘AC First’ mode does not charge the battery but uses Grid power to power the home load. If I use the ‘AC Charge mode from 8PM, it charges the battery and powers the home load using grid power , but as soon as the battery reaches 85% it shuts of grid power and start using battery to power the home load. It would do so till ‘Start AC Charge SOC’ is reached, then it starts charging the battery and powering the home load by grid. This cycle continues like a pendulum till 6 AM, which is very frustrating.

Is there a mode/combination of modes which can meet requirement #1.Calling all EG4 experts and users for help and guidance. @EG4TechSolutionsTeam @EG4SoftwareTeam

To get rid of this situation , I am currently adjusting the charging speed on a daily basis so that the battery would be around 85% charged at 6 AM and the system will not get a chance to discharge the battery till 6 AM. After 6 Am the self-consumption mode kicks in.

Off topic and too late. Have you thought of 2 Schneider xw pros with no charge controller added no danger of feed the grid and on sale with ten-year warranty

 

[JTDE]

Have you tried using AC first and AC charge together?

You can configure AC First to power your loads from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Then, set AC Charge based on battery SOC and time, also from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM and adjusting the SOC start and stop values to your desired levels. This setup allows the inverter to use the grid to charge the batteries during the specified time, stopping when the batteries reach the set SOC. Even after the batteries are fully charged, the grid will continue to power the loads because AC First is enabled.

Thanks @EG4TechSolutionsTeam , I will try it out and let you know.

 

[JTDE]

Thanks @EG4TechSolutionsTeam , I will try it out and let you know.

It worked ! Thanks a lot @EG4TechSolutionsTeam , appreciate your help in getting this issue resolved !

 

[drewc]

No, it's just fundamental to the memory module. It's like 20,000 based on temp
So it's not insignificant,

Sorry to dig up this oldish thread with a slightly non-topical question: Do we know what type of flash drive/SSD is used by the 12000XP - I'm trying to figure out the same for the 18kPV which is what I have? 20,000 maximum written state changes as a maximum is pretty crazy cheap investment by EG4 in flash memory.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

Sorry to dig up this oldish thread with a slightly non-topical question: Do we know what type of flash drive/SSD is used by the 12000XP - I'm trying to figure out the same for the 18kPV which is what I have? 20,000 maximum written state changes as a maximum is pretty crazy cheap investment by EG4 in flash memory.

No, but eg4s silence on the matter isnt comforting.

 

[On_The_Road]

Is this limited to soc only? Can you use voltage?

I'm surprised to learn the 12000XP doesn't have easy to use time of use settings.
I understand that it's an off grid inverter but eg4 certainly markets the grid charging abilities pretty heavily.

Have you tried using AC first and AC charge together?

You can configure AC First to power your loads from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Then, set AC Charge based on battery SOC and time, also from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM and adjusting the SOC start and stop values to your desired levels. This setup allows the inverter to use the grid to charge the batteries during the specified time, stopping when the batteries reach the set SOC. Even after the batteries are fully charged, the grid will continue to power the loads because AC First is enabled.

 

[zanydroid]

Sorry to dig up this oldish thread with a slightly non-topical question: Do we know what type of flash drive/SSD is used by the 12000XP - I'm trying to figure out the same for the 18kPV which is what I have? 20,000 maximum written state changes as a maximum is pretty crazy cheap investment by EG4 in flash memory.

20,000 sounds crazy low if it is a regular flash device with block remapping

 

[ZePrez]

Is this limited to soc only? Can you use voltage?

Old thread for sure, but useful to me for certain. I just installed a pir of those. I like them and planning to install mote of these. the PV input is insane (24 Kwp on the Luxpower SNA-12K equivalent). THis is mos t concerning. Is there any ways to alleviate this?

I think part of the problem is the inverter. The 12000xp (like my 6000xp) is an off-grid inverter so it doesn't have all the settings you need for ToU/ToD charging. I'm going to test HomeAssistant to set the start/end charge voltages to do the same thing, based upon time of day.

Looking forward to your findings. I am yearning for a , low-cost , with the electrical capabilities of the SNA-12K, but allow full control over modbus or if CAN, can do the same... Once you get into those fine-grained needs or control you fall into serious EMS (Energy Management System) I have no doubt that Home Assistant can do it. I would like to see what EMS manufacturers, of which there are quite a good number come up with for those inverters or similar... keeping my finger crossed and looking for updates on Home Assistant controlling: Luxpower, SRNE, or any brands that transparently supports modbus or CAN for inverter control...

In the meantime, how can I implement this scenario/operating mode with parallèle SNA-US-12K (EG-4-12000 XP equiv. ). what should be the settings on the inverter to accomplish the following:
TOU
During the day (say 8:00 AM to 16:00) , Solar charges the batteries and power the loads (System is over-paneled, of course) and based on SOC. IF SOC at a given time too low, say SOC is 40% at midday, then switch to grid and Solar for charging and powering the load.
At night, no sun. Battery powers the load up to a given SOC. Low SOC, then DG or Utility goes on and charges Batteries and power loads..

Having some issues with that... on the Luxpower SNA-US12K...
Help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. People