Battery 100% But Drawing and Exporting from/to the Grid

Several times over the last few weeks I have had periods overnight where there has been no data transfer to the portal but other than blank periods on the graphical presentations all seemed to be functioning properly. I attributed (sceptically) to possible broadband problems. However, this morning, at 08.00, when I checked the portal, the battery was at 100% (Timed Charge 02.00 - 05.00 Octopus Flux) and idle whilst I was drawing 2.7kw from the grid and 153w from the panels.

I checked on 'Known Issues' and saw that some inverters (I have G1 Inv & Batt) had not picked up the change to BST properly, there was no time and date visible in the Remote Control Inverter Date & Time area. Followed the resolution advice and selected Sync Time and that seems to have been successful, recorded in the Remote Control History, although there is no time and date displayed in Remote Control Inverter Time & Date area . No change in function of the system, battery still 100% and exporting generation to the grid.

I am tempted to plump for the Restart Inverter option but I'm not sure what that actually does, so a wee bit hesitant.

Additionally, I tried, earlier, scanning for my inverter on the App. My IP Address changes quite often as I have 4G Home Broadband. The scan appeared to be unable to find my inverter initially but a repeat attempt just now discovered the inverter successfully and the IP Address had not changed.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Regards

Dave

Is Eco mode definitely on? Do you have any timed discharge settings?
Also, it is the internal network IP of the inverter that the app cares about. Not the external address of your router on the internet. Does your 4G router (which presumably acts as a DHCP server) support address reservations? You would typically control this using a web page on the IP address of the router or using a companion app.

Thanks pwdst.

ECO Mode is definitely ON and there are no timed discharges set. The question about the IP Address and router function issue, I'm afraid, is at the very limit of my skill set. The system has been functioning successfully for about three and a half years now so could this problem be associated with a potential issue with the router?

Dave

I would check-
*ECO mode is definitely on (refresh this setting in the Portal)
*Battery is not paused
*Discharge rate is above zero
*EM115 meter is online and working. If you can see your home energy consumption in the app/portal then that is probably true.
*The isolator handles on the battery or between the battery and the inverter are in the on position.
*Any lights on the battery
*Messages in the remote control history

Davegreen1 I have heard that on gen-1 systems, a cable can become detached between inverter and battery such that the inverter knows the battery SoC, but can't get power from it.

Just to check - did you turn eco off and on again ? That's simplest way to ensure the portal hasn't got out of sync with the inverter.

are there any notifications on the portal in relation to comms?
On my Gen 1 the EM115 cable fell out of the port on the underside of the inverter. There is no locking clip like an RJ45 plug, and no cable clamp on the inverter.
Turn everything off, such as inverter mains breaker, battery on/off button, PV string DC isolators, battery DC breaker etc , including the EM115 power supply so it is not glowing.
Take the rubber boot/shroud that the BMS cable and EM115 comms cable pass into on the underside of the inverter. 2 philips screws if I remember correctly. This may dislodge the cables in any event.
I then pulled about 9" of slack cable up inside the boot/shroud and put a couple of cable ties and tape around the cables so when I pulled the cables back into the boot/shroud they jammed tight leaving enough slack that I could plug them back IN THE RIGHT PORTS and turn everything back on.
The cables jammed up inside the base of the boot/shroud stops any unintended pull on the BMS and comms cables.
Been fine for 3 years now
There is/was an image of what ports are what, but you need to get you head around it when looking from underneath.

SteveCook On my Gen 1 the EM115 cable fell out of the port on the underside of the inverter. There is no locking clip like an RJ45 plug, and no cable clamp on the inverter.

If the EM115 stopped for whatever reason, I don't think GE could report 2.7kW import from the grid. (Unless OP was getting that from a smartmeter IHD, but I assume not.)

Thanks a lot everyone.

I will answer the checklist put fwd by pwdst first:

Eco checked as Enabled but cycled to Disabled and then to Enabled in the portal
Battery function in the App was not Paused but, again I cycled to Pause then to Resume
Reset the Discharge Rate from 2400 to 2600
The EM115 meter is online and working ie glowing and digits visibly changing whilst observing.
The isolators are ON
Lights on the battery:
The dongle light is solid blue
The blue activity lights are all illuminated but there is no activity indicated.
The Fault indicator light is green.
The battery capacity lights are all illuminated (ie 100% charge)

The equipment is installed in quite a tight space and I can't see the cables coming from the EM115 meter as they are all within trunking. or behind the mounting board. However, the cables into the inverter (4 Off) do have securing clips and none appear to be loose.

I don't have a Smart Meter IHD

I have to ask, could Restarting the Inverter via the portal have any impact, detrimental or positive?

Dave

Davegreen1
Restarting the inverter via the portal is something I have to do a couple of times a week. Not done it any harm in 3 years

As said above

Turn off ECO and wait 6 or 7 mins then turn back on, Wait at least 10 mins

If that does not fix, your best of restarting your system as it will be in pause discharge mode

Davegreen1 Check also that the battery reserve isn't set to 100%. Also set any limits on discharge slots down to 4 - system may honour them even if timed-export is turned off. (Though perhaps not for gen-1 ?)

Could try switching the battery off with the button on the right. Wait 2 mins, then turn the battery on again. See if that helps.

I managed to get hold of the guy who installed the system for me. Alex said that he would check remotely when he got back to his HQ. I asked about an inverter restart and his advice was 'give it a go'. I did and the system now appears to be functioning again- the battery is down to 4%. Whether it was Alex or me I currently don't know.

Thanks very much to everyone who offered advice.

Dave