Another thread about solar surplus charging

[someone22]

Just wondering what would be some options for safely controlling the charging rate. I have my inverter and house batteries integrated into Home Assistant, grid consumption/injection is also monitored. I would probably not want to pull more than 3kW (@240V) except in special cases. The most I would be able to pull would be 6kW, but that would be an absolute limit.
I initially thought of a smart socket but not sure how long the contacts would last and if the car is able to resume charging immediately. However one socket like that is about 10$ or less, can just buy a new one each year.
I've read that Emporia was a recommendation. Can that be controlled with finer granularity, let's say any value between 0.5 and 3kW.
Or can the car be charging controlled via some Ford API?
Someone also posted this some time ago: https://github.com/evcc-io/evcc but I haven't researched it.

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[markboris]

I have Emporia EV chargers. On their app, you can easily, at anytime (when charging or not) adjust the charge rate in AMPS. It is adjustable from a minimum of 6A up to a maximum of 48A in 1A increments. Converting that to kW, 6A would be around 1.44kW, 7A-1.68kW, 8A-1.92kW, 9A-2.16kW, 10A-2.4kW, 11A-2.64kW, 12A-2.88kW and so on up to 48A-11.52kW

On the Emporia EV charger, when you set the option to charge on excess solar only, it will start charging when there is minimum of 1.5kW of excess solar for 3 minutes. After is starts charging, the charge rate will vary continuously up and down but not beyond the maximum AMPS you have set. If the excess solar falls below 1.5kW, charging will stop until it goes back up over that minimum level for 3 minutes.

 

[someone22]

How does the charger know what excess solar is available?

 

[markboris]

How does the charger know what excess solar is available?

I have the Emporia Vue Home Energy Monitor system. https://www.emporiaenergy.com/energy-monitors/ Extremely easy to install and set up.

It keeps track of my energy consumption on every circuit breaker and can view in real time, integrates with my solar, EV charger, smart plugs, etc. You can set up your EV charger to charge on a specific time schedule, or enter in your rate plan from your electric utility company and will charge based on off-peak times or charge on excess solar plus more. It will give you a monthly report of your EV charging and what it cost you. Can set up notifications like I have one that alerts me if my oven has been on for more than 2 hours.

 

[Charge_Rob]

In North America, I'd say that is the answer, @markboris. I love my Emporia and using it for Excess Solar charging. But, if @someone22 is in Europe, I do not believe they have the Emporia EVSE available.

Other EVSEs can also do this - the Wallbox Pulsar Plus can do this in NA and Europe. In Europe, there's MyEnergi's Zappi that can also easily do this out of the box.

 

[markboris]

In North America, I'd say that is the answer, @markboris. I love my Emporia and using it for Excess Solar charging. But, if @someone22 is in Europe, I do not believe they have the Emporia EVSE available.

Other EVSEs can also do this - the Wallbox Pulsar Plus can do this in NA and Europe. In Europe, there's MyEnergi's Zappi that can also easily do this out of the box.

Emporia EV chargers and their energy monitor systems are available in Europe. I have a friend in Germany and another in Italy that have both. They also make their products like smart plugs designed for the various outlets in EU countries.

 

[Charge_Rob]

Emporia EV chargers and their energy monitor systems are available in Europe. I have a friend in Germany and another in Italy that have both. They also make their products like smart plugs designed for the various outlets in EU countries.

I knew about the smart outlets and monitor. I can't find a single reference to a Type 2 version of their EVSE on their site anywhere, my bad.

 

[markboris]

I knew about the smart outlets and monitor. I can't find a single reference to a Type 2 version of their EVSE on their site anywhere, my bad.

I'm not sure where they were purchased but I can find out. I know they got them a few years ago after seeing my setup here.

 

[someone22]

I have the Emporia Vue Home Energy Monitor system. https://www.emporiaenergy.com/energy-monitors/ Extremely easy to install and set up.

That's extremely cool and the pricing is good as well. I only monitor the main house consumption as well as the grid, but if I would start over, that system looks much better.

Yes, Emporia could be bought in EU last time I checked (one month ago) and I got local prices on their website. Now they are back to USD, but probably still deliver to EU.

 

[Fremont Kid]

A slightly simpler configuration to consider. Energy produced by my solar panels go to the house first, which includes the MME charging circuit. Any surplus energy is then routed out to the grid, managed by the utility. I receive credit via 'net metering'. I use the Ford Mobile Charger, which usually charges at 6kW. The other configurable charges are great options. I just did not want solar-produced energy to be dedicated to the EV first. All the best.

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