SolarEdge battery profile switching by owner (privileges)

[warx]

Going back to the BUI installation PDF I see it call the Generator an "AC input up to 15kW" and "Alternative Power Source" so now I just don't know what to believe from them. The newer PDFs regarding firmware and generators showing an external transfer panel might be their way of saying integration is possible now without actually do what they designed it to be capable of? If only we were able to get real information from SE support. I will try asking my installer again.

One more thought if this is an AC input is that there would be mention of a setting of what amperage (or max amperage) to pull from the generator. My RV van Victron Multiplus has a control that I set to about 60% load of the generator connected.

(ref https://964176.app.netsuite.com/core...1cf09&_xt=.pdf)

[Srrndhound]

With programming the reserve for battery, Solar Edge told me it can be done by owner, but must be enabled by the installer. My installer doesn’t know how to do it, has hasn’t spent the time to ask Solar Edge how. It’s been this way since August.

Your installer can make this change remotely, no on-site visit needed.

He needs to change your "monitoring role and permission" from Dashboard (most basic) or Dashboard and Layout (which adds access to the panels), to Full Access which allows you to adjust the Battery Reserve.

If your admin needs guidance on the procedure, it is detailed on p10 of the document: "SolarEdge Application Note – Site Administration in the Monitoring Portal".

[warx]

However, in the release notes from SolarEdge for the firmware, it only shows the generator connected to a ATS and coming on when battery is low to run the house.

Yup - that is what I saw too. Basically no integration at all - could be done that way without using any SE equipment. The generator "interface" L1 & L2 are just regular outputs of the BUI.

(ref: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/defa...n-note-eng.pdf)

[darkskies]

I’m still frustrated as all heck with my installer and Solar Edge.

Although the firmware is available, my installer still has not updated my system. In addition, the installer told me the system would rub on battery and then, when low, the generator would charge the battery. The installer said that is what they were told by Solar Edge. I found some drawings and such from Solar Edge that shows the battery connected to the BUI.

However, in the release notes from SolarEdge for the firmware, it only shows the generator connected to a ATS and coming on when battery is low to run the house.

The installer put in only a 10 kW generator, based on the “only charging the battery design”. So I’m not sure if we have a secondary issue as well.

Still trying to get the installer out.

With programming the reserve for battery, Solar Edge told me it can be done by owner, but must be enabled by the installer. My installer doesn’t know how to do it, has hasn’t spent the time to ask Solar Edge how. It’s been this way since August.

Oh and the installer still hasn’t registered the battery with LG, so that I get the extended warranty.

This is sooo frustrating.

[warx]

So it's been a while... I'm still sitting on two LGRESU10 but only one works for the last year or so. Both are primary/masters (installer mistake) thus one is useless and have had a secondary/slave version on order for over a year. Ridiculous that this tiny difference isn't a dip switch or software setting. Makes a good 200lb paperweight though. Anyways...

On the generator side; I just read the updated documents on the BUI generator support and was very disappointed to see that it does not support the generator charging the batteries in any way. All it does is provide an output to an auto/manual backup transfer panel! Nothing whole-house about it. Basically you still need to split/dedicate those backed up loads AGAIN - since if you have the BUI you have already done this splitting. Their idea is once you deplete the batteries the generator kicks in. In summer I can generate 48kWh a day so not a big deal but in stormy winter days it's more like 1.5kWh.

On the software updating for end-user profiles; funny to hear it's still "alpha". I was told it was almost ready when I bought the BUI over a year ago - one of the reasons I abandoned my place on the Powerwall wait list and paid twice as much for this system along with the promise of full generator integration (charging the batteries).

At this point I really wish I'd just gone DIY. SE seems to be marketeers not engineers. My generator is still connected to my (RV) Sprinter Van Victron 3000VA inverter charger and 5kWh lithium. I just purchased a SE autotransformer (SE-AUTO5000) so I can convert parallel 120VAC generators to split-phase 240VAC thinking I could finally plug these into the BUI with the firmware update.

Perhaps, since I grew up in the UK and still have the accent, I could call the UK SE support folks instead of the never responding US team.

[darkskies]

I finally got lucky with SolarEdge support using the "chat" mechanism (regular case openings take over a week for response)...

I found out that the firmware IS available (since July), so now I'm trying to get a hold of my installer to schedule an update. I don't want to do the upgrade myself, as I want the installer to complete the project properly (they have some temp items in place and I'm very concerned that they had not designed this integration correctly).

Support also mentioned that I should be able to set the battery reserve, but it requires the installer to enable that feature - no idea why they didn't do that when the battery was added in August (I've been pinging them weekly about it). Wondering if I could use setapp to enable this myself.

I have used setapp to view only, as we had a arc fault error once, and I used setapp to get more info on the error codes.

[Iniadan]

Here in the US, we do need an isolating component. Besides the inverter, my SolarEdge system has a backup interface (BI-EUSGN-01) which has a transfer relay inside to disconnect from the grid when it goes down -- redirecting the PV and battery power to my home's power panel. The unit also prevents the PV output from reconnecting to the grid until a certain time after it recovers to let it stabilize. Just taking a quick look at their UK website, I'd guess the BI-EU3P Home Backup Interface would be the unit to look at, but not sure. Your friendly installer can easily confirm. Do you have a system diagram we can see?

Thanks for looking that up, yes that makes sense. I don't have the backup interface right now but it's useful to know I could consider adding one to protect against grid failure. My motivations for the solar install were mainly about economy, though it's also nice to have "low carbon" energy. Our electricity unit prices right now in UK are 200% of what they were in Jan 21 and mains (natural) gas we use for heating, 540%. Even at that level the govt is subsidising energy bills and will scale the subsidy back from April 23 so prices will go up again. I gather you in the US are helping us out by shipping us more LPG! There's not much sign of a return to cheap energy so it's useful to have a hedge against that. Here in suburban Cardiff the grid has been pretty reliable so backup was not foremost in my mind, though that could change....

I’ve got the same thing here SolarEdge 7.6kw inverter, energy hub, and backup interface. All systems must disconnect from grid, when there is no grid power.

Of course, I’m still waiting (for over a year), for a firmware update that integrates the inverter, battery, and generator. Right now, I have a temporary automatic transfer switch, so that the generator can be used.

My installer thinks the firmware update is available, but I’ve not been able to get a date setup to change things, I can’t get any info from SolarEdge support (their support for owners is terrible). I’m certainly not holding my breath.

Before I took full control of my SolarEdge account, at one point I "hacked in" to my own inverter because my installer seemed to have switched it to an unsuitable time of use setting. My installer didn't mean any harm, just don't think they fully understood the different charge modes.

I found I could get access by registering for a self-installer account on the SolarEdge site, then downloading their "setapp" Android application and logging in on it with my new self-installer credentials. The "setapp" then checks with SolarEdge via the phone's Internet and downloads the latest inverter firmware.

I then followed the "setapp" steps to connect to the inverter via local WiFi (scanning the barcode on the side, clicking the big setting switch on the bottom of the inverter etc.)

The "setapp" then detected I didn't have quite the latest inverter firmware and started an upgrade.....it does that automatically, you can't get any further with the app until it's done. Takes about 5 minutes, during which the inverter is out of action.

So you could give that a try yourself if you wanted, worst that could happen, you upgrade the firmware but it doesn't contain the feature you're looking for. It doesn't upset anything on the monitoring site i.e. anyone with a valid installer login can use "setapp", doesn't have to be the admin for your monitoring account.

If you just want a poke around, the "setapp" has a "view only" mode for which you don't need a login, which lets you see but not change the various settings, firmware version etc.

The "setapp" did what I wanted, i.e. I was able to switch the inverter back to "maximise self-consumption" instead of "time of use" despite not, at that point, having admin access to my web monitoring account.

[darkskies]

I’ve got the same thing here SolarEdge 7.6kw inverter, energy hub, and backup interface. All systems must disconnect from grid, when there is no grid power.

Of course, I’m still waiting (for over a year), for a firmware update that integrates the inverter, battery, and generator. Right now, I have a temporary automatic transfer switch, so that the generator can be used.

My installer thinks the firmware update is available, but I’ve not been able to get a date setup to change things, I can’t get any info from SolarEdge support (their support for owners is terrible). I’m certainly not holding my breath.

[Srrndhound]

My battery tab in MySolarEdge doesn't show any backup settings etc. (below) I think that's because my setup (SE6000H inverter, StorEdge and battery) can't be used for backup i.e. it won't work if grid power fails.

I think that's a regulatory restriction here in UK (and elsewhere in Europe). To have battery backup here I think an extra component is needed which will isolate the house completely from the grid, the idea is to protect engineers working on failed elements of the local grid nearby which they expect to be powered down, but unbeknown to them it is being energised by my battery / inverter. I think this may be different (less restrictions) in USA, no need for the isolating component? ]

Here in the US, we do need an isolating component. Besides the inverter, my SolarEdge system has a backup interface (BI-EUSGN-01) which has a transfer relay inside to disconnect from the grid when it goes down -- redirecting the PV and battery power to my home's power panel. The unit also prevents the PV output from reconnecting to the grid until a certain time after it recovers to let it stabilize. Just taking a quick look at their UK website, I'd guess the BI-EU3P Home Backup Interface would be the unit to look at, but not sure. Your friendly installer can easily confirm. Do you have a system diagram we can see?

[Iniadan]

Greetings from across the pond. Congrats on your new system.

Many thanks!

I've wanted this ability for years now. I'm glad they are working on it.

One of the support engineers I "spoke" with on Whatsapp called it an "Alpha" (i.e. further away from release than a Beta) so I wonder when they'll be releasing it.

When I was experimenting with the storage profiles in the admin web interface (below), it struck me what a complex interface this is. It's very fully featured - you can have different named profiles on different days of the week, different times of year with "special" days which are exceptions. Each profile can switch between 5 or 6 different modes on a timetable, and you probably need to read the application note to understand fully what each mode does. I think it won't be trivial to turn it into something that's easy for end users to do on a phone.

storprofile.jpg

My battery tab in MySolarEdge doesn't show any backup settings etc. (below) I think that's because my setup (SE6000H inverter, StorEdge and battery) can't be used for backup i.e. it won't work if grid power fails.

I think that's a regulatory restriction here in UK (and elsewhere in Europe). To have battery backup here I think an extra component is needed which will isolate the house completely from the grid, the idea is to protect engineers working on failed elements of the local grid nearby which they expect to be powered down, but unbeknown to them it is being energised by my battery / inverter. I think this may be different (less restrictions) in USA, no need for the isolating component?

Screenshot_2022-12-07-18-41-29-45_c9cd3d70baa8e2f6f50c767617a09056.jpg

[soby]

Greetings from across the pond. Congrats on your new system.

SolarEdge did tell me they are modifying the MySolarEdge (owner) app to make it so the owner can control time of use profiles directly from the app. They offered to add me to the "beta" for this but in the end being a technical type I preferred to take full control.

I've wanted this ability for years now. I'm glad they are working on it.

Also I asked, why do the blue self-consumption figures sometimes disappear from MySolarEdge. Answer - they are only there if you spend the whole day on max self-consumption. They go away if you switch to time of use profile.

I asked them about this a few years ago and got the same answer. I call this a bug. There's no reason why it can't still report self-consumption.

What does the battery tab of the app look like for you? I recently lost the ability to adjust my "Backup Reserve" amount using a slider. I have a service ticket submitted but haven't heard back regarding why it went away. IMG_1717.PNG

[Iniadan]

I had a SolarEdge SE6000H inverter with 20 panels, StorEdge interface and an LG RESU10H battery installed by a local installer here in Cardiff, UK at the beginning of Nov 22.

I had read about the problems mentioned above re: owners having trouble getting access to configure time of use profiles for the StorEdge / battery. In my case though, they were easy to resolve. SolarEdge support were very helpful and a lot more helpful than I was worried they might be, based on the descriptions above.

In the end I decided to take full control of my site myself i.e. transfer it away from my installer to a new "self installer" account I created. SolarEdge did that for me within a couple of hours, so now I have full access to Energy Manager / Time of Use profiles etc.

My installer was pretty relaxed about me doing this. SolarEdge sent me a PDF of how I could give my installer access again once I had taken full control using the "associated accounts" feature which works a bit like friends on Facebook - I invite my installer via my new self installer account, they accept, once they've accepted I can give them read or read / write access to my site. I gave them read access, I think my installer wanted it because it helps with prospective new customers if they can show the figures for sites they installed etc.

There didn't seem to me be to be much of an issue with warranty. For the costly components - the warranty on the inverter (12 years) is with SolarEdge, the warranty on the battery (10 years) is with LG. In neither case do I need the original installer to make a warranty claim. On the other hand, if my inverter fails, what I'll get from SolarEdge is a new inverter in a box. Then I'll need to find an electrician to swap the dead one out for the new one, but that's a quick job, an hour or two of work, shouldn't be too costly?

SolarEdge did tell me they are modifying the MySolarEdge (owner) app to make it so the owner can control time of use profiles directly from the app. They offered to add me to the "beta" for this but in the end being a technical type I preferred to take full control.

They were very happy also to answer a couple of questions I had e.g. why does my LG battery only charge at 2kW when there is 5kW available from panels, whereas back in Nov it did sometimes charge from panels at the full 5kW. Answer - weather is cold right now, battery is in my garage, battery's charge controller restricts max charge rate for safety / to prolong life of battery when battery is cold (recommended temp for battery is above 15C but will work right down to -10, I guess with restrictions)

Also I asked, why do the blue self-consumption figures sometimes disappear from MySolarEdge. Answer - they are only there if you spend the whole day on max self-consumption. They go away if you switch to time of use profile.

All in all I'm very happy with the SolarEdge solution I bought and their support could not have been more helpful.

Here in UK there is one supplier (Octopus) offering a time of use tariff. It's not very attractive right now due to war in Ukraine / sky high gas prices etc. but when energy market settles down I'm hoping to be able to make use of battery time of use functions to use a tariff like this and use battery to power through the expensive early evening peak.

[jc95]

If you have Acct Admin, can you create another user with another role (like Acct Mgr) and see what they can & can't see & do?

I confirmed with my installer that they set everyone to MSC 24x7x365 and just leave it. I think the other users probably don't know or care that there are other profiles available. The installer said they would make an individual profile change for $300 each.

[soby]

A BIU is part of the plan.

If an AMgr with an unchecked "allow access for all" still allows access for all sites, that seems like a bug, no? Is there any situation (other roles, maybe) where unchecked actually works as might be expected?

Since they don't want their other customers exposed to me and I wouldn't want the liability in any case, is there a solution to this other than to yanking the system over to me? I really just want to configure my own storage profiles. I don't know what their default is, but I suspect it's probably MSC all day, every day.

I did some poking around since my installer is no more and I can't really get myself in trouble. As you can see below, I am setup as an "Account Admin" which seems like a huge mistake. Nevertheless, the "Allow for all sites" is unchecked and I only have full access to my own site. However, there is literally nothing stopping me from checking that box and getting full access to all 647 sites. Based on the Role descriptions, maybe my correct role would be Account Manager but that may strip me of the ability to create battery "Storage Profiles". I can play around with it some more later tonight but I have to be careful not to do something that kills my access.

Early on I would change storage profiles a lot more because you couldn't change the backup reserve from the app. With that ability more readily available, I have the same battery storage profile of "charge from clipped solar" during the day with MSC discharge overnight. The only time I would ever consider changing storage profiles is if I can foresee a power outage coming but there is no sun to charge up the battery. In that scenario, I have a storage profile that allows the battery to charge from the grid. I have only used this for 3 hours in 3 years.

Capture.JPG

[jc95]

A BIU is part of the plan.

If an AMgr with an unchecked "allow access for all" still allows access for all sites, that seems like a bug, no? Is there any situation (other roles, maybe) where unchecked actually works as might be expected?

Since they don't want their other customers exposed to me and I wouldn't want the liability in any case, is there a solution to this other than to yanking the system over to me? I really just want to configure my own storage profiles. I don't know what their default is, but I suspect it's probably MSC all day, every day.