I am aware that we have lost the ability to see multiple battery info in the latest app version - which is a seriously retrograde step. I have a 5.2 and 9.5 battery however my Home Dashboard figures no longer add up..It appears that it is only taking into account one battery output.
I have the excellent android InverterMonitor and this shows correctly the two batteries output.
I have seen no mention of this in the other app change threads. Am I the only one affected in this way?
How much is it out by? The “calculated load” toggle has gone with the new update as well, so now I’m about 90w out or so. Or is it a much larger error?
Edit: just realised what you said.
Mine never seem to add up. Looks like one battery’s load is included in the house load in error. Ie it’s 3.4kW higher “house load” that it should be when charging. Think mines always been like that for the last 16 months
I tried to post a screenshot but it doesn’t seem to work from an aircraft at 36,000’ !
Pete UK 7i
It is difficult to tell but I assumed that the total shown in the Dashboard centre would still be the total of the solar input, the battery input / output, and the grid input / output. The Dashboard would appear to have no logic or purpose if it did not!
The amount it is out ( ie less by) varies and I suspect it is caused by only taking the output of one of the batteries into account. I have had fairly minimal solar input today so the batteries have been outputting all day. Before the app update the centre Dashboard figure was always accurate to a 1 watt. As I type the battery output is showing about 25 watts less than the centre total is showing. In other words the battery output is lower than it should be and the overall figures fail to balance.
Ah, I wouldn’t worry about <100w. That’s pretty normal.
Mines about 25w out at the moment. I think that “error” is due to them removing the “calculated load toggle - which fudged it so they used to add up.
Pete UK You may well be right but I fail to see how they could makes such changes without letting the end user know what the knock on consequences would be. The more I have read about Givenergy recently, the more I wish I had bought a different brand…..water under the bridge I suppose!
I stopped updating the app and the inverter firmware months ago because they seem to get worse over time.
to nophead:
I have noted that the app automatically updates itself, whether you like it or not!!
(like for example 2 days ago).
(I am on Apple ecosystem so may be different with Android?)
Steventon22 I'm on Android and it also updated automatically, either earlier today or last night. Thoroughly pi$$ed off with them d1cking about with the data they think we need to see versus what we want to see. Particularly given the discrepancies between batteries which are so widespread. If anyone from GE actually looks at these forums now, please do the right thing and put it back. The bad taste you leave in folks mouths by messing around like this doesn't fade quickly and will be a disservice to you. We shouldn't have to rely on third party apps to work out if our kit is working correctly or not. But then that's why you got rid eh?
Totally agree. I’m really pissed off they have done this. It’s taken them well over a year to finally get my system working properly as advertised since install, 4 replacement batteries after spending over a month at a time for a diagnosis and another month at a time to get a replacement fitted and I still reckon the one and only original battery is a bit duff. I’d like to still be able to monitor its performance in their app. Now I have to run another third party app to see the data because they say it was “duplicated and confusing”. It wasn’t Duplicated or confusing ! It was different important numbers for different batteries.
It’s more confusing without it !
It’s bad enough that I have to look at the app AND the portal to cobble together correct data (the app numbers are wrong for grid to battery, total battery charge etc) but the solar generation on the portal is correct but lots of the rest is wrong and doesn’t add up etc)
How to piss off your entire customer base in one go !
Cant see the individual batteries data, cant see an overview of their temperature or voltage or SOC.
Turning off the calculated load?
And now it seems my batteries are discharging 3% slower than before.
I can’t even see any house load in the app or portal now. It just shows zero !
Come on GivEnergy put it back as it was. You’re going to lose valuable customers pulling this kind of stunt. Concentrate on fixing the problems not wasting time trying to hide them.
Pete UK Ridiculous isn't it. I gave GE a chance rather than go with Tesla, but now starting to regret the choice. Our system "works" reasonably well after quite a lot of teething issues and failed firmware updates, but I dread it going wrong given the current poor support response. Also a company hiding data and rolling out new kit with too many issues - it doesn't bode well. Hopefully they'll realise how naive they've been and reinstate the information.
Utterly Ridiculous yes. And extremely aggravating.
I’ve just sent lots of individual bug reports and feedback in the app. Suggest we all do the same. Maybe they don’t reply but I’m sure someone sees it.
I’ve just noticed I’ve got a missing data gap from 19:45 till 20:25 just now. Right before (during?) when my grid discharge was supposed to start as well. Right before it suddenly now only exports at 7.75kW rather than the 8kW it was doing up until yesterday. Hmmmm.
Just realised the data gap was a 40 min power cut !
I contacted GE support and was told 'After reviewing, we decided to remove it due to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the data presented. While some variation in the data is expected and usually balances out, we observed that these fluctuations were causing confusion among our customers.'
To me this is a cop out for a system that is not working and or not getting the correct data from or to the system. I have had multiple issues with the secondary battery stops responding due to over voltage and SOC and voltage drops in both batteries. I am now raising a complaint to GE support to try and get the individual battery data reinstated.
Ortwin In theory the data obtained from your system belongs to you, or at the very least you are entitled to see all of it.
If you don't get anywhere with your complaint then put in a Subject Access Request (SAR) every month and they'll have to supply it.
Steventon22 I turned off all automatic app updates. Everyday Google Play tells me there are about a dozen updates available and I have to manually allow them all except the GE one. It is a real pain but it also makes me realise just how many app updates there are under Android. Odd thing is I hardly ever notice anything change.
Formal complaint in and awaiting their reply (not holding my breath). Now trying to find a previous version of the app so I can see the battery data. I h
Find it frustrating I have to install a third party app (Monitor for GivEnergy) which at least gives me details for the two batteries, but I wonder how long this app or any other will have access to the battery information?
Ortwin I wonder how long this app or any other will have access to the battery information?
For as long as the firmware on your inverter and batteries remains compatible.
The only way I can think it could be stopped would be for GE to update the firmware(s) to restrict the information. Currently GE don't do automatic firmware updates, but they could if they wanted to.
Rubikcube The only way I can think it could be stopped would be for GE to update the firmware(s) to restrict the information. Currently GE don't do automatic firmware updates, but they could if they wanted to.
They could encrypt the output. It would probably only require a change to the dongle firmware, as they did recently to check the crc, rather than the inverter itself. I think that was an automatic update ?
DD Very true. I don't like automatic updates for so many reasons.
GE is still trying to update mine ... being going on for months. Don't expect it will ever get past my firewall.
Rubikcube Don't expect it will ever get past my firewall.
Is there a warranty requirement that the inverter is online. I assume that's in part so that they can send updates like this - does your firewall fall foul of this requirement ? (Though I guess since it doesn't actually record that the inverter is offline, should be okay.)
DD My inverter is connected to the portal and uploads data every 5 minutes and allows requests for information. The only restrictions are that the portal cannot change registers nor send packets larger than 100 bytes (i.e. updates). I even allow my local changes to be uploaded to the portal so it keeps proper track of my settings, although I am considering blocking this.
If GE support ever need to update or change anything, I can turn the firewall off to grant access.
The warranty description is ambiguous, but my consumer rights protect me.
Well, I have just looked at my android app which has now updated to version 3.4.4.5604 from 3.4.3.5598 and the individual battery details are back. Yippee to common sense (I hope).
Interesting that the Monitor for GivEnergy app has now stopped working today, but may be a coincidence as it's always shown a few errors gathering data from the inverter.
Turns out that was just a temporary glitch and now working again.