I am noticing that when I set a timed export and enable a timed window - it seems to disable the ‘eco’ mode. This means that at the end of the timed export period - with the eco mode disabled, the battery moves to idle and is no longer functioning as one might expect - ie minimise import from grid is charge exists in the battery.
How do I keep my default eco mode enabled except during the timed export window?
Good question. Hopefully it will not require manual intervention every day, or an automation system utilising the GivTCP API.
There isn't a way at the moment. I raised a feature request to do something similar, but I just set a reminder on my Alexa to switch it back once the high export period is up
I've not used timed export mode but not sure what the logic is for disabling eco mode and not reenabling. It would make more sense if eco mode was enabled at the start of the export period to re-enable it automatically at the end of the timed export period. Looks more more like a bug if not its an odd design point
. @Cdent lets hope the feature request is implemented
TBH as I'm on Octopus outgoing agile it seems much easier and intuitive to me to manage the charge rates to control export. In the evening I set charge rate to zero, forcing the morning sun to export for a good price. I then set it to 500watts to stop the inverter clipping until around 1pm when rates go down, then to full import again ready for a full discharge at 4.30pm when rates are higher to export than I pay! In this way I managed 23 kW export with an average of 27p / kWh yesterday, which I'm really pleased with.
CARLMW That's really quite amazing! We exported 21.65kWh yesterday with just ECO but since we are on Octopus SEG, the time of export doesn't make any difference and is a flat rate 4.1p/kWh.
CARLMW I do something similar, but I still have to manually enable and disable Eco and Timed Export for the evening export.
I would like the timed export to work with Eco mode so after the timed export is complete it resumes Eco until the timed export starts again the next day.
I do not understand why the system just works on a last touch basis in terms of the operating mode.
My work involves writing control software for heating and ventilation systems in buildings, and always use a priority system of operating modes, so that more than one mode can have its initialisation criteria active, but the highest priority mode takes precedence. Once the highest priority mode becomes inactive, then the system falls back to the next highest priority mode that is still active.
GivEnergy could use a mode priority system as follows, with highest number being highest priority:-
5 - Timed charge
4 - Timed discharge at full power
3 - Timed discharge to meet demand
2 - Store for later use
1- ECO
0 - Pause
I'm using timed export to dump excess battery power into the car for a hour or so in the morning.
The current setup means I can't just set it on a timer it's manually set then I have to reset eco when done.
I think the logic behind it is that export holds onto all battery charge regardless but I would prefer a mix of eco with a timed export function.
I prefer to do this to use the generation above 5kw to charge the battery during peak times instead of getting it dumped into heat.