Remote 'Generator' Start. Adding a smart switch to the Phoenix Inverter. 

especially one that works

YEAH Like the IRS ...

How do I get 49VDC from the garage to the water heater at the house??? No way this is more efficient.

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I found it easier to bring the PV, from the solar arrays, to the Hybrid inverter, and keep them closer to my hot water heater. Note - I use another hot water heater (in-series), with my AC powered HW heater, which has 48 VDC elements……..best of both worlds 👍

How did you automate this?

@@ipstacks11 These are my thoughts have something similar, The best way is to use AC out 2 for dump loads based on SOC. You can’t control AC out 2 with node red which is annoying but you can program the relays and use a relay assistant to turn it on. If you connect the dump load to AC out 2 this code will send a 1 or 0 to control the cerbo relay which you can then connect to the relay on the multiplus to turn on AC out 2. Or you can use MQTT to switch a large relay like a tuya or sonoff on the hotwater. There are dozens of ways to solve this problem. ### Explanation: 1. Initialization: The current time and battery SOC are retrieved. 2. Operating Hours Check: Ensures the logic runs only between 6 AM and 6 PM. 3. Turn On Heater: If the SOC is 100% and the heater is off, the heater is turned on, the timer is set for 10 minutes, and `msg.payload` is set to `1`. 4. Heater Running Check: If the heater is on and the timer has expired: - If the SOC is above 90%, the timer is reset for another 10 minutes and `msg.payload` remains `1`. - If the SOC is below 90%, the heater is turned off and `msg.payload` is set to `0`. 5. No Action: If it's outside the operating hours or the conditions to turn the heater on/off are not met, the function does nothing. ------------------------------------------------------------------- var now = new Date(); var localTime = new Date(now.getTime()); var currentHour = localTime.getHours(); var currentMinute = localTime.getMinutes(); // Get the battery SOC value from global context var batterySOC = global.get('SOC') || 0; // Define the heater state and timer end time in the global context var heaterState = global.get('heaterState') || 'off'; var timerEnd = global.get('timerEnd') || 0; // Function to set the timer for 10 minutes function setTimer() { var currentTime = new Date().getTime(); var tenMinutesLater = currentTime + 10 * 60 * 1000; // 10 minutes in milliseconds global.set('timerEnd', tenMinutesLater); } // Function to turn on the heater function turnOnHeater() { heaterState = 'on'; global.set('heaterState', heaterState); setTimer(); msg.payload = 1; // Heater On return msg; } // Function to turn off the heater function turnOffHeater() { heaterState = 'off'; global.set('heaterState', heaterState); msg.payload = 0; // Heater Off return msg; } // Check the current time to ensure it's daytime (between 6 AM and 6 PM) if (currentHour >= 6 && currentHour < 18) { // Handle the heater state based on the battery SOC if (batterySOC >= 100 && heaterState === 'off') { return turnOnHeater(); } else if (heaterState === 'on') { var currentTime = new Date().getTime(); if (currentTime >= timerEnd) { if (batterySOC >= 90) { setTimer(); msg.payload = 1; // Heater remains On return msg; } else { return turnOffHeater(); } } } } // If it's not within the operating hours or the heater is off and SOC is not 100% return null;

Great solution and example of automation!

The Deye sun inverters and all the clones have this feature build in, if you don't want to start a diesel generator (for some reason, that's the same connection). You can have 12kW (on the 12kW variant) switched on whichever SOC % you want. Ours goes on at 98% end goes off at 95%.

The Cerbo is not in HA as this is my test system. I only have the production system connected to HA. Not sure if the integration can scan for a second GX device?

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I think you can add another HUB... but I haven't tried that.

Thanks Andrew, just a short drive up to Noosaville for a few days. It was amazing.

Hahaha, yeah, that would work too with the switch at the Phoenix.

We've got trees, you know😉

@@OffGridGarageAustralia the trees do look good 👍

Yeah, only 4 days left, I guess...

Yes, great idea!

Interesting. I didn't know the GTIL will stop when there is no CT. Edit: Yes, I remember now, without CT, no output. Clever solution.

No need fot hat. It works directly in HA as it is. No Tomato, no MQQT. A dream comes true: github.com/AlexxIT/SonoffLAN

Yes, it is great.

Yes, the Sonoff can do this as well. It has the RF transmitter included as well.

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I use 5 Sonoff 4 CH pro but they would not interface with the Quinetic RF transmitter or any other that I have tried so I had to purchase the Quinetic receiver.

Even easier, toggle relay 2 via VRM.

@@shanesummerhayes7101 This is the solution I was thinking of too.

I was considering using a Shelly to do something similar, but that's a great idea!

Venus OS large image has node red built in and could probably switch this via home assistant very easily with no additional hardware as stated above. Nice sonoff relay though. No right or wrong way. What ever works. Only benefit switching is via software is your not cutting the power off whilst under full load. Inverters can get upset by this. 😊. Been there got the tshirt haha

I don't use Node Red. Too complicated.

Great work!

Yep, I have heard that before. The thermal switch is not designed for DC.

Why not look at solar tubes?, way more efficient. and cheaper. I would advice to keep them cool, even if your water is hot enough. So you need a backup to dump your energy, like in a pool (we dry our firewood with 70C air).

18c! Wow😅

@OffGridGarageAustralia I hope you enjoyed your winter vacation. 😊 I think you should invest in a heat pump water heating system to use 1/4 the power of ordinary heaters.

I always watched disco!

Absolut!

Oh, wow, what if HA does not work? I would not rely on this as a BMS substitute. Break was wonderful!

Kann kein Node Red. Zu kompliziert.

🥈

Sonoff works in HA directly. No need for Tomato🍅

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Ha ha! Tasmota has a lot more functionality than Sonoff such as setting power up defaults, failover wifi networks etc. Worth a look if you haven't already.

Why?

Thank you. Been back for a few days now...

But how do I control the Cerbo relay?

VRM?

Yeah, you could make the Shelly monitor the power line to the heater and switch upon a certain power threshold.

I already monitor the water heater and get all data in HA. The Shelly 12-36V made no sense to me. More expensive and I still needed the DC-DC converter. But yeah, just another option, I guess...

For a permanent solution, yes, absolutely!

In der Naehe von Australien... das ware dann Neuseeland😆

4 days until the solstice my friend😅

I use it only manually. I have to see how much power is in the batteries and make a decision day by day.

Shelly does not work on 58V.

Full resistive heating with 1.6kW element. A heat pump is not viable in my case as I have surplus energy 9 months of the year.

I can auto turn on the hw with the Sonoff as well as I explained in the video. How do you turn on the relay in the Cerbo though? Node Red magic?

In the VRM directly. From the mobile app view: when you are on the main page where battery status and so on is, at the top right corner there’s like a “controls” button (from left to right you’ve got last updated, status, local time and then comes the button). I can set there the shore current limit for the multiplus in my camper for example and so on…. As soon you have one enabled relay you’ll see a simple switch under all the other setting.

Uh, no idea... AliExpress is your best friend there...

48V would be a bit too low, I guess. We can have up to 58V in these batteries.

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I meant 48v as in use on 48v batteries with their range of 0-100%. I will try to find one today and double check tho. :)

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I am sorry, this route has ended. After they have become Frient and not develco the IO module only support 28v max now so it’s become useless. Saved a penny and lost a market 😂

Resistive heat element with 1.6kW. Works well and never breaks (... knocks on wood)

I don't want to automate it. I need to decide day by day when and if to turn it on depending on how much power I'm predicting to use. I only need this for winter until I have more solar...

It's for testing purposes. I connect and disconnect some of the batteries when I test them or their BMS. I don't want to do that with a production system.

Yes, absolutely!

@@OffGridGarageAustralia what you’re going to do about it?

Hello🙋‍♂️

I have another Sonoff for the gate opener as well. I can power it directly from the 24V system there.

Oh, my mistake. It is the relay of the Cerbo but not that ont the Quattro, what I'm switching via VRM. But should work also fine, as someone has already mentioned before.

This has never worked for me. I used to see the 'relay' in the VRM but could never remotely turn it on via VRM. Now, I only have the Grid Current Limit and the mode of the MP I can set though the VRM. The relay function has disappeared for a while...

@@OffGridGarageAustralia The relays are only visible and operable if they are set on "manual" function in the settings of the Cerbo . I was wondering, why I can see only relais no. 2. but not no. 1. Reason was, that relais no.1 is set as alarm relay by default. As I have nothing connected to it, I have set it also to manual and now I can operate both of them via VRM. By the way, I have firmware v3.13 on the Cerbo.

Hello my friend.

The Shelly only goes to 48V. The battery will go up to 58V though.

The Fronius is easy. You just need to turn on the API in its settings and have the network IP linked in your easysolar. This will then show up as a PV Inverter in the VRM as it does in my VRM.

Yes, that will come soon. The sparky has got them already. I can still use the Phoenix as a gen...

How do I turn it on?

The Phonix as the 'grid' will provide the ground and MEN when it starts. Hence the MP has to turn its connection off. There can be only one MEN. All explained in the videos where I set this up: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SsTkgoN6ENM.html

Yes!

I don't think you can turn it on remotely via the VRM.

@@OffGridGarageAustralia not directly within the app, but within the vrm-portal on console 😉

But this works without flashing. No need for Tomato☺️

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Maybe some day you will discover how easy ESPhome is to handle. 😉 Its integrated in HA out of the box. No need for extra tools...

I've been wondering that myself for ages and I think it's pretty much as you described. The Phoenix kicks in when there's a lot of demand and uses the energy stored in battery stack to meet that demand This stops the battery shelf from being depleted The more typical solution would probably be to have two Multi plus in parallel and all the batteries in the same DC bus However since Andy has a lot of batteries under test, they can appear and disappear. So this solution is probably better for his use The price difference between a Phoenix and Multi is also big enough that this world be a much cheaper solution for occasional usage

He had the phoenix first. Later got the multi but didn’t want to let the phoenix go to waste. So this way he reused it.

@@IPad-OG iirc, he ordered a second phoenix to parallel but they were out of stock and the distributor offered him the multiplus at the phoenix price. When he didn’t reply whether he wanted to wait for the phoenix to come back in stock, they shipped him the multiplus.

@@davedubreuil it was the short version. (My answer). But you got a good memory. I remembered the supply issue part. But not the part about waiting and responding. It was a while ago if I’m not mistaken.

Mostly as people said here, the Phoenix is a booster if demand is high. But I also wanted to test this setup. Victron is not officially supporting or recommending such a series connection of inverters. It works for 2 years now without any problems. It's explained in all details in previous videos like these two: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zRi8EL2P-HM.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SsTkgoN6ENM.html

Bin schon am schneiden...

Why should I use power saving mode? The inverter is remote-off and uses no power right now. I have all control via HA. Victron Connect app is too fiddly and takes forever. No option via VRM to turn it on remotely.

try 48V system or 53V in reallife on that 32V input... magic smoke will be lost !

I know it is, but...

The MPII is 5kVA. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zRi8EL2P-HM.html

Looks like a Lynx Shunt sized gap to me. 😆Tempted to rip mine out myself and use it as a boat anchor.

The Lynx shunt stopped working so I had bypass the connection when I sent it back for warranty. I hope they don't replace it but give me a refund. Worst Victron part ever...

I don't use Node Red. It's too complicated. The Sonoff integrates automatically in HA and I now have a switch to turn on the inverter. Easy as...

@@OffGridGarageAustralia horses for courses… I am experienced in both physical hardware and the software side… node red is very powerful, but agreed there is a learning curve. It also adds node red as a failure point.. it avoids the potential hardware failure points though… both are interesting! And it’s great to have different options!

I'm off-grid. No ESS. No Node Red.

Too expensive.

🥉

@@OffGridGarageAustralia i like it

There is a function called AES and you can put it in search mode uses up to 70% less power.

No, I haven't. I'm still getting 49c/kWh. I have a contract until 2028 and will go off-grid after that.

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Hi, do a youtube search " Home owners to be charged for feeding solar power into the grid "

Yes.

Nooo, these batteries are for testing only atm... But, yes, you can connect different capacies in parallel without issues. I have many videos about this on my channel.

They pay me for power I feed into their network.

🥇

Yes, I know. Some last forever!

freundin/lebensgefährtin des sohns. halt der lebenspartner 😅 kann auch nen freund/lebensgefährte sein. wie auch immer.

@@casemodder89 Das ist jetzt nicht mal sicher, dass hier mit dem Finger gelötet wird?

🧐