Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
Good work.
Battery cells are getting so cheap. CATL are about to launch their Sodium Ion cells and they should come in significantly cheaper than existing LFP cells.
The downside is they are not a dense but that’s irrelevant for static storage.
Battery cells are getting so cheap. CATL are about to launch their Sodium Ion cells and they should come in significantly cheaper than existing LFP cells.
The downside is they are not a dense but that’s irrelevant for static storage.
They won't be cheaper for a good while yet, it looks to be a couple of years before they hit parity with LFP.
I find the Mode Scheduler wording is quite confusing, whereas the Quick Settings do explain things a bit better in the FoxCloud app, but that’s not as adaptive as the Mode Scheduler.
I’m trying to charge the battery to 100% between 00:30 and 05:30 and then basically export as much of my excess solar generation as possible without leaving me short in the evening.
I’ve looked at Reef’s previous example from a couple of months ago, but not sure it’s exactly as my requirements.
If they made the Mode Scheduler as easy to understand as the Quick Settings I’d be golden
I’m trying to charge the battery to 100% between 00:30 and 05:30 and then basically export as much of my excess solar generation as possible without leaving me short in the evening.
I’ve looked at Reef’s previous example from a couple of months ago, but not sure it’s exactly as my requirements.
If they made the Mode Scheduler as easy to understand as the Quick Settings I’d be golden
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Yeah, sounds like a good plan. I’m just trying to get my head around the terminology tbh in the Mode Scheduler.
Try this in the mode scheduler:
Time: 00:30 - 05:29
Force Charge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 100%
FD Power: Inverter Max
Max SOC: 100%
Time: 05:30 - 07:29
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 50%
FD Power: Your export limit (eg 5000 for 5kW)
Max SOC: 50%
Time: 07:30 - 21:59
Feed-In First
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 50%
FD Power: 100
Max SOC: 100%
Time: 22:00 - 23:59
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 20%
FD Power: A rate that gradually depletes your battery over two hours (eg 3000 for 3kW)
Max SOC: 10%
Time: 00:00 - 00:29
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 20%
FD Power: A rate that gradually depletes your battery over two hours (eg 3000 for 3kW)
Max SOC: 10%
This will charge your battery from the grid and run directly off the grid during the off peak 00:30 to 05:30 time, discharge down to 50% by 07:30, leaving space for any clipping, export any solar during the day and top up the battery with any excess, then force export what's left in the battery in the 2.5 hours before 00:30 down to 20% leaving 10% margin so you don't run out. Tweak discharge rates and times to suit depending on usage and battery size.
Time: 00:30 - 05:29
Force Charge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 100%
FD Power: Inverter Max
Max SOC: 100%
Time: 05:30 - 07:29
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 50%
FD Power: Your export limit (eg 5000 for 5kW)
Max SOC: 50%
Time: 07:30 - 21:59
Feed-In First
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 50%
FD Power: 100
Max SOC: 100%
Time: 22:00 - 23:59
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 20%
FD Power: A rate that gradually depletes your battery over two hours (eg 3000 for 3kW)
Max SOC: 10%
Time: 00:00 - 00:29
Force Discharge
Min SOC - 10%
FD SOC - 20%
FD Power: A rate that gradually depletes your battery over two hours (eg 3000 for 3kW)
Max SOC: 10%
This will charge your battery from the grid and run directly off the grid during the off peak 00:30 to 05:30 time, discharge down to 50% by 07:30, leaving space for any clipping, export any solar during the day and top up the battery with any excess, then force export what's left in the battery in the 2.5 hours before 00:30 down to 20% leaving 10% margin so you don't run out. Tweak discharge rates and times to suit depending on usage and battery size.
I think that's correct as per Reef's suggestion. The only thing that is odd is that the Mode Scheduler shows "Enable", rather than "Disable" after I've set everything in the Mode Scheduler and hit Submit - hence the Operation Successful message.
Looks like "enable" might be a translation issue, as it should show Enable(d) - read a thread from last year on the FoxESS forums from a user with the same issue.
Out of interest is the Mode Scheduler only available via the App, or can it be done via FoxCloud/Web?
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Yes, enable is enabled. Just poor translation.
I think that's correct as per Reef's suggestion. The only thing that is odd is that the Mode Scheduler shows "Enable", rather than "Disable" after I've set everything in the Mode Scheduler and hit Submit - hence the Operation Successful message.
Looks like "enable" might be a translation issue, as it should show Enable(d) - read a thread from last year on the FoxESS forums from a user with the same issue.
Out of interest is the Mode Scheduler only available via the App, or can it be done via FoxCloud/Web?
The mode scheduler can be done via the web and is generally more reliable when done this way. I never use the app for this at all.
All seems to be working well on the Mode Scheduler with just one oddity.
Current load - 0.13kW
PV generating - 7.70kW
Grid exporting - 7.04kW
Battery charging - 0w (52%)
Feed-in Priority is: load>grid>battery
In the case of the external generator, the power generated will be used to supply the local loads firstly, then export to the public grid. The redundant power will charge the battery.
Shouldn't any generation above my 5kW export + house load go into the battery as it seems that it's going all to the grid, rather than being limited and or going into charging my battery?
Current load - 0.13kW
PV generating - 7.70kW
Grid exporting - 7.04kW
Battery charging - 0w (52%)
Feed-in Priority is: load>grid>battery
In the case of the external generator, the power generated will be used to supply the local loads firstly, then export to the public grid. The redundant power will charge the battery.
Shouldn't any generation above my 5kW export + house load go into the battery as it seems that it's going all to the grid, rather than being limited and or going into charging my battery?
What is the SOC target for the battery at that time ?
Min SOC - 10%
Max SOC - 100%
Should the Min SOC be 100% too?
I have gained 3% more battery charge over the last few hours, but I am rocking 10.3kW generation currently.
And apologies - I feel like I've taken over this thread
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If your G100 export limit is set correctly then you shouldn't be able to export at a higher rate than that. If it was 5kW then it would max that out and send the rest to the battery.
It looks like your installer havent done it.
I looked at the smart meter and that was showing as 5kWh as the limit which I presume is set by Octopus.
I've sent an email to FPS to ask if they have indeed set the correct limit as the FoxESS app is showing all the excess generation above the 5kWh going to grid, rather than battery.
I've sent an email to FPS to ask if they have indeed set the correct limit as the FoxESS app is showing all the excess generation above the 5kWh going to grid, rather than battery.
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You can see the export limit that is set (and possibly change it) in the v2 version of the Fox Cloud:
https://www.foxesscloud.com/v2/login
Click on "Plant name"
Click "Devices" in the left menu
Click on "Inverter1" then Settings
Click "BatteryCapacityControlAndOff-GridSettings"
Look at the number in "ExportLimit" - That is your number. The default with no limit is 60000.