Well… My EMS appears to have stopped working!!
As of the other night my system decided it no longer wanted to charge or discharge my batteries automatically
My system
2 x AC Inverters
2 x 9.5kW Batteries
1 x EMS
My settings which prior to this issue had not been changed for some time are..
Both inverters “ECO Mode” Off
My EMS “PLANT” Enabled
All had been running very smoothly for a long time, the only issue I had had in recent months was with the EPS which I think I had just about resolved.
The other night after a very rainy day both my batteries discharged to below their 10% minimum set points and the following day did not start charging when the sun appeared.
I’ve tried so many things that I’ve lost count but it includes full reboots (power off, power on for all my hardware) disabling anything else that could be interfering (GivTCP on Home Assistant) but I cannot resolve the matter.
It feels like its something outside of my / the EMS’s control that’s stopping it.
When the EMS has “Plant” enabled ALL my equipment has green lights and looks like it should be working perfectly at is was until the other day.
ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ideally I’d like to get hold of another EMS to swap with mine to rule that out as the fault but I can’t find 1 available anywhere.
I’ve been in touch with my installers who have been incredibly helpful in the past but without any support from GivEnergy its difficult.
I’m even considering wiring my system back up a it was before the EMS when I only had 1 inverter with 2 batteries but I suspect it wont work because I believe my batteries got a special firmware for working with the EMS.
I run Home Assistant so a software work around could be an option if anyone has any thoughts on that.
I understand I’m just 1 of many many GivEnergy customers with a problem but in the 3+ years I’ve had their equipment this is the only time I’ve genuinely felt STUCK with a problem that I can’t resolve.
W
#2wrighar
Which version of BMS do your batteries declare they have?
What happens when the EMS has “Plant Enabled = OFF” - anything?
On your second note, I’ve got dual 5.0 hybrid inverters currently controlled/ managed by the GE “software balancer” which I am anticipating to be turned off within the next month or so (unless I subscribe, which I don’t plan to ATM). I also have Home assistant set up. I’ve only had a few weeks playing with it and I’ve set up the basic controls and energy card so far, really I am just getting into it.
I will be implementing some kind of EMS myself via home assistant in the not too distant future.
As I’m on IOG, My next immediate challenge will be setting up an automation for “when there is a cheap slot outside of the core IOG 6hrs cheap slots, set the home batteries to charge, then put them back to ECO after”. Next on the list is implementation of an EMS type solution. I can’t help for now but maybe in the not too distant future I’ll have a bit more of an insight, if not a fully working solution.
H
#4Hopeful
Pete UK I think the "cheap slot" outside core ours will be a distant memory soon when Octopus switch to 6 hours of car charging only. My reading of this is that they will monitor how much energy goes into the car and only that will be cheap IF you haven't been charging it for over 6 hours. The house/car can have 23:30-5:30 cheap slot still.
Who knows. Lots of different interpretations of what will happen out there.
If that’s the case at least I’ll be able to pause my batteries instead, as dumping all my stored energy into the car does nothing to help Octopus or myself save money !
#6THALL
Can you turn off plant mode and turn eco back on 1 inverter? Should be able to run 1 at a time.
Time set correctly on the ems?
On the status page on the inverter card, any error codes? do all inverters and batteries appear ok and online?
3020, so that is a fairly late and good version normal BMS, should work with EMS and stand alone.
G
#9Graham_Harrison
THALL time set correctly, no error codes, everything looks correct
I'll try running 1 inverter later and report back
G
#10Graham_Harrison
wrighar I was of the opinion it was a special version just for EMS but I'll be happy to be wrong
My batteries have shown an updated firmware available for quite a while now but whilst everything was working fine Ive been reluctant to update (3022)
#11THALL
Graham_Harrison You are correct the AC3's got a special firmware to make them dumb
G
#12Graham_Harrison
THALL I don't suppose you would know where I might find a copy of that older firmware would you
NormC Unfortunately te firmwares I'm after are not listed but thanks anyway
#15THALL
Graham_Harrison The dumb one? Sadly no, it was applied for me and never sent to me. Unless someone knows a way to extract it from mine inverters???
#16THALL
Graham_Harrison D0.291-A0.282 sadly I can not find it hosted anywhere. Only reference to it is in the EMS manual. Could try emailing the premium email address as all data is wit the software team now
G
#17Graham_Harrison
THALL Can you turn off plant mode and turn eco back on 1 inverter
No, sadly the inverters are without a brain
#18THALL
Graham_Harrison I was always told turning it off and turning one on would work during any EMS issues. I can test this later tonight.
So I eventually got things sorted an sadly it looks like it was my own doing...
I had accidentally changed a time setting from 00:00 to 23:59 which stopped the system automatically charging and discharging my batteries.
Setting put back to 00:00 a few days ago and all if working as it should again.
BUT
I'm still putting together a backup plan for if any hardware ever fails and GivEnergy support is none existant
Thanks everyone for your input
G
#20Graham_Harrison
THALL "Can you turn off plant mode and turn eco back on 1 inverter"
No, that doesn't work
the inverters get a special firmware when an EMS is installed that essentially lobotomizes them.
Out of interest do you have the EPS setup for your EMS managed system (apologies for all the acronym's)
I have whole house for Inverter 1 + Battery 1 and just a double socket for Inverter 2 + Battery 2
BUT (again!) I have found issues since adding the EMS with a 2nd inverter that if power is lost (briefly) to the EMS during a power cut then switching over to the EPS will not work, essentially the EMS needs its own UPS.
And
there are settings for each inverter to enable / disable EPS that are only accessible via the GivEnergy Portal. So if the portal disapears then there is currently no way to check or adjust that setting
#21THALL
Graham_Harrison I do not. I know they advice adding the EMS to EPS but I was a very earlier tester and wasn't advised that at point of install. I have been sent 2 wiring diagrams for adding EMS to one of the EPS's. I will take a look in my email and send them over. I think Michael did post both wiring diagrams on the other form https://community-beta.givenergy.cloud/ if you are on that one?
