Is there anyway to charge my car with the export energy using my PodPoint charge point? Or by using a standard Level one charger from a three pin plug. I can do it now when exports are 3kWh or over, but if the sun goes in I don't want to drain the battery or pull from the grid.
Gary
GazzaGreen The simple way to "fit and forget" is to use a charger that can monitor grid export. The Zappi with Grid CT and the new Givenergy EV Charger would be suitable. After that, other than nipping out to the car each time the sun goes behind a cloud, you're looking at some home automation.
We have a Zappi which works really well at varying the charge available to the EV as the grid export varies. However, we also have family who have a plug-in hybrid which uses a 13A portable charger. The way I'm planning to enable charging for that car, is to use my existing home automation system which monitors grid export amongst other things. When the grid export exceeds, say 2kW for say 30 seconds, I'll automate the energising of a contactor to switch the external 13A socket on, and off if the grid import exceeds 1kW. Unfortunately, most EV chargers are either on at full load, or off. I'll probably put in a time delay on the automation so that import or export has to be at the trigger level for at least 30 seconds to mitigate fast moving clouds etc.
Thanks Tim. I was thinking of the Zapper but atm I can't really afford something like that.Maybe the giv-engery charger is a little cheaper but it would be next year...
Hi GazzaGreen Did you get an answer to your question? Until now (my PV system was completed with 8.2kWh battery just recently) I was only charging the car during the day and manually start/stop/change rates, so that I can only charge from export. I have a Hypervolt charger, which gives me online access and I can manage remotely the charging power.
In the last couple of days though, when I want to charge the car, it starts pulling from the battery, which I obviously don't want. So, I'm also looking for a way to stop it discharging into the car...
rio911 It seems the only way really to charge car on a trickle charge (when the sun isn't as bright) is to use a smart charger built for this, such as the Zappy. Costs about £800 though, so is it worth it when you already have a charger. No government grant anymore either.
I can't see any solution from AC electricity without something like the Zappy as it would draw be 2.5kWh constantly.
However allowing the home battery to charge the car might be a solution in the morning until about 1 or 2pm. When the battery is quite discharged, unhook car and battery would then start to charge again with the sunlight. Might be a solution in the summer time anyway?
Last resort is to have OctopusGo and charge your car at night for 7.5p per kWh.
If you can follow the various videos around setting up Givenergy on Home Assistant (via GivTCP) there is a plug-in that might talk to your Pod Point so it can start and stop the charge for you when you have enough spare export?
Pod Point for Home Assistant