Victron ESS

[ispookie666]

I'm new to the forum and Li ion storage.

I have recently build a 14s2p Yuasa LEV40 battery pack with 56Ah and 50.4 V nominal, connected to a Victron Multiplus 48/1200(I'm currently running 2x 14s DALY BMS, hopefully will be able to get an Electrodacus). I have also added a Venus Gx to run an ESS.

The main purpose of the system is to run a load of 250-270W till the battery drops to SOC of 60% and then leave the rest for backup power if mains goes off. The AC out from the Multiplus was causing me problems with RCD tripping due to Neutral to Earth linkwhich I have managed to sort out (using a convoluted technique of using two DPDT relay's)

I already have 3.5KWp 14 panel solar with enphase micro inverter 215 (been up and running since 2015). The output from the solar arrays comes directly to the Consumer unit and it has its own MCB. Being a grid tie system with a feed-in tariff, I have been feeding in excess power back to the grid.

Ideally I would love to use the excess solar power to charge the batteries,rather than from the grid.

Any ideas how to use the solar power to charge the batteries ?

Thanx in advance

 

[Redpacket]

If your system is grid tied & especially if you have micro inverters, the best you can do is maximise self consumption, ie use power most when you're getting the most solar.
Use timers, etc to run battery chargers at high solar times.

 

[ajw22]

If you're up for a bit of programming, you can use a RaspberryPi with a Iotawatt to monitor how much AC power is currently being fed back the grid or drawn from the grid, then instruct Wifi SmartPlugs to switch on/off loads. I use that to charge my PHEV (lowered to 8Amps), run the pond pump, and heat water, all using only excess solar power. Also have the capability of switching on a dedicated 10A 48V battery charger, but feeding back makes more sense for my current situation.

 

[camthecam]

I would love to be able to control charge current on a multiplus as the grid goes up and down.

 

[Crimp Daddy]

I have nothing productive to add other than thats a lot of nice gear and a solid start for anyone doing this, especially someone new =)

Have fun, I really like Victron stuff.

 

[slimf]

You need an energy meter connected to ESS. This will monitor your mains feed and will instruct the inverter to either produce power from batteries to avoid importing or charge to avoid exporting.

 

[ispookie666]

You need an energy meter connected to ESS. This will monitor your mains feed and will instruct the inverter to either produce power from batteries to avoid importing or charge to avoid exporting.

Hi
Apologies everyone, I have not had any notification of replies.

Some really good ideas and suggestions.

I do have an ET340 (3 phase meter which victron suggests)- I'm not very sure how to connect the Solar panels to it. I also have a Solar iBoost (its connected to the main feed of the house, and switches on the heater in thehotwater tank when the export starts) - was thinking, I could take an output from it and wire it to the ET340 simulating a solar input in addition to mains. But, I dont know if I would need to use the output from the ET340 to connect to Multiplus for the ESS to work correctly.


The Raspberry Pi options looks good, is there any links I could use to find out more.

Thank you

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If your system is grid tied & especially if you have micro inverters, the best you can do is maximise self consumption, ie use power most when you're getting the most solar.
Use timers, etc to run battery chargers at high solar times.

I have sort of been doing this, with day light slowly dwindling - I was looking at set and forget options