Home charger with WiFi?

jusmeig

Hey

Looking at getting the 2018 leaf and just wondering if anyone has had a good home charger installed?

I got solar so wanted the option to start/stop charging via WiFi and app. Anyone know if this is an option? I've an electrician mate who can install, so I don't mind buying online, just curious to see what people are already using and can recommend! I'm an event noob...

Thanks

KCross

If you have Solar PV and you want to maximise the electricity from Solar into your EV you need the Zappi. Its designed specifically for that job.

http://myenergi.uk/product/zappi/

Gumbo

KCross wrote: »

If you have Solar PV and you want to maximise the electricity from Solar into your EV you need the Zappi. Its designed specifically for that job.

http://myenergi.uk/product/zappi/

+1
Zappi can be set to only charge the car with the excess power generated from the PV panels. So essentially trickle charge the car for free

unkel

kceire wrote: »

+1
Zappi can be set to only charge the car with the excess power generated from the PV panels. So essentially trickle charge the car for free

Can it though?

I could very well be wrong, but I'm under the impression that most EVs can only charge through the EVSE at a certain minimum amperage. So say if your solar is producing 1kW and the car can only take a minimum of 3.3kW, then you're drawing 2.3kW from the grid.

At day rates this is more expensive than charging your car at the full rate from the grid at night. Meaning your solar production has negative value :eek:

KCross

unkel wrote: »

Can it though?

I could very well be wrong, but I'm under the impression that most EVs can only charge through the EVSE at a certain minimum amperage. So say if your solar is producing 1kW and the car can only take a minimum of 3.3kW, then you're drawing 2.3kW from the grid.

At day rates this is more expensive than charging your car at the full rate from the grid at night. Meaning your solar production has negative value :eek:

It has multiple modes. One mode is to stop the charge session if the Solar is producing less than the minimum required.

jusmeig

Does anyone know how you might find out what the required minimum is, and is there any danger to the battery doing this trickle charging?
Also the Leaf will let you charge from a normal plug, so this would be well below 3.3kw. I could use the granny lead into a normal plug when the sun is out, I just need a way to kick off the charge, so this zappi seems like my only option?

Dardania

The product website metnions 6A to 32A variable charging: https://myenergi.uk/product/zappi/
So presumably 6A is the minimum (which would be less than a granny cable?)

unkel

jusmeig wrote: »

Also the Leaf will let you charge from a normal plug, so this would be well below 3.3kw.

That's through the granny cable, though. It could very well be that the minimum is 3kW through the EVSE....

KCross wrote: »

It has multiple modes. One mode is to stop the charge session if the Solar is producing less than the minimum required.

...in which case solar PV charging is completely useless and not worth anything unless you have at least a 4-5kW PV system. Who in Ireland has that???

Dardania

See page 8 of this - apparently mode 3 charging supports variable charging current: http://www.sesko.fi/files/671/EV-charging_standards_may2016_Compatibility_Mode_.pdf

unkel

Dardania wrote: »

The product website metnions 6A to 32A variable charging: https://myenergi.uk/product/zappi/
So presumably 6A is the minimum (which would be less than a granny cable?)

That's all good and well if the car accepts 6A

KCross

unkel wrote: »

That's through the granny cable, though. It could very well be that the minimum is 3kW through the EVSE....



...in which case solar PV charging is completely useless and not worth anything unless you have at least a 4-5kW PV system. Who in Ireland has that???

unkel wrote: »

That's all good and well if the car accepts 6A

The car will accept 6A. Thats the minimum allowed in the standard.

You dont need a 4-5kWp system. If your system can produce 6A(~1.4kW) it will start charging the car, when a cloud rolls over and it drops below 6A it will pause the charge session, when the cloud moves on and it goes back above 6A the charge session resumes.... rinse and repeat.

unkel

Agreed if both car and EVSE can start at 1.4kW, you'd be in business with a relatively small 1.5kW-2kW PV system

Any idea of minimum amperage on EVSE charging for EVs other than Leaf?

bp_me

unkel wrote: »

Agreed if both car and EVSE can start at 1.4kW, you'd be in business with a relatively small 1.5kW-2kW PV system

Any idea of minimum amperage on EVSE charging for EVs other than Leaf?

Zoe appears to need ~10A according to thread on speakev.

KCross

unkel wrote: »

Agreed if both car and EVSE can start at 1.4kW, you'd be in business with a relatively small 1.5kW-2kW PV system

Any idea of minimum amperage on EVSE charging for EVs other than Leaf?

I obviously dont have first hand experience of each car but they are all supposed to adhere to the same charging standard and so they should all accept 6A.

@bp_me: I've seen threads where the Zoe was shown to accept 6A.
https://speakev.com/threads/solar-install-zappi-i3-which-electricity-provider.106345/#post-1937417

@unkel, I'd expect the Ioniq to accept 6A but obviously haven't proved it myself.

jusmeig

I've a 1.8kw system, so is this a complete waste of time?
I should just get a normal charger - If so, any recommendations?!

KCross

jusmeig wrote: »

I've a 1.8kw system, so is this a complete waste of time?
I should just get a normal charger - If so, any recommendations?!

No, its not a waste of time.

It works as a normal charger as well so why not get it and have the ability to use the Solar power when it suits and who knows you might increase your Solar PV in the future and have more spare capacity.

The Zappi also has load balancing capability so you can connect it to a second Zappi and charge two EV's without tripping switches.

So, it has more capability that just utilising Solar.

Other EVSE's like the Rolec's just do one thing and thats it. The Zappi does multiple things for similar money.

Ewan Hoosarmi

Just so ya know. Phil in Kildare sells Zappi chargers at a very good price. They are quite expensive even in the UK, but Phil does free delivery which makes his price quite good. Any problems with the unit would be easier to deal with too.

bp_me

KCross wrote: »

@bp_me: I've seen threads where the Zoe was shown to accept 6A.
https://speakev.com/threads/solar-install-zappi-i3-which-electricity-provider.106345/#post-1937417

It might be something version specific..

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1900281

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1993049

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1996193

KCross

bp_me wrote: »

It might be something version specific..

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1900281

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1993049

https://speakev.com/threads/limit-charge-to-zoe-to-use-pv-generated-electricity.104681/#post-1996193

I have heard of the Zoe being a bit temperamental and not always adhering to the standards even on Fast AC.

I do know that the Zappi people have tested multiple cars (I've had a few email exchanges with them a few months ago) so its just a case of getting it in writing from them that they have tested the car you have before buying.

BoatMad

J1772, which is the charging protocol between the car and the EVSE, for Type 1 and type 2 AC charging ( and that includes the granny cable , which simply has an integral EVSE) has a minimum charge current of 6A, i.e. the car cant signal any max lower load

furthermore J1772 does not specify any way to " pause " charging , nor does it explicitly support dynamic changing of max charge current levels, hence the specific implementation is car specific .The leaf for example will suspend charging and reengage the timer ( if set ) if the charge process stops for any reason , hence its not possible to "pause " the charging process.

IN reality with solar PV a battery bank is needed to support EV charging

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

J1772, which is the charging protocol between the car and the EVSE, for Type 1 and type 2 AC charging ( and that includes the granny cable , which simply has an integral EVSE) has a minimum charge current of 6A, i.e. the car cant signal any max lower load

furthermore J1772 does not specify any way to " pause " charging , nor does it explicitly support dynamic changing of max charge current levels, hence the specific implementation is car specific .The leaf for example will suspend charging and reengage the timer ( if set ) if the charge process stops for any reason , hence its not possible to "pause " the charging process.

IN reality with solar PV a battery bank is needed to support EV charging

Is that not splitting hairs? The term “pause” is just that, a term. The charge from a Zappi stops(pause) and starts again when there is enough power. The standard covers that scenario.

You don’t need a battery bank.

BoatMad

KCross wrote: »

Is that not splitting hairs? The term “pause” is just that, a term. The charge from a Zappi stops(pause) and starts again when there is enough power. The standard covers that scenario.

You don’t need a battery bank.

SAE J1772 does mandate that the car tracks the duty cycle of the CP during the charge cycle ( well the spec says within 5 secs of a CP duty cycle ) but the spec has no provision for " pausing " the charge process unless that is done by the car . Hence in the leaf for example , if the AC disappears for any reason , the session will end and the timer will reengage, ( i.e. if the timer override was activated to allow the charge cycle to begin , in the first place )

The fact is J1772 is a very basic signalling system and isnt really suited to advanced charging systems

KCross

You are complicating it. If you are using Solar PV and using a Zappi you won’t be using charge timers.

The car/Zappi will stop (pause) the charge when the Solar can’t provide 6A and resume when it can. Simple. The standard doesn’t have to specifically mention pause.

This is a commercial product that loads of people have.

BoatMad

KCross wrote: »

You are complicating it. If you are using Solar PV and using a Zappi you won’t be using charge timers.

The car/Zappi will stop (pause) the charge when the Solar can’t provide 6A and resume when it can. Simple. The standard doesn’t have to specifically mention pause.

This is a commercial product that loads of people have.

I was merely pointing out that there is no support in J1772 for pause, therefore there is no guarantee that the car will not terminate the charging session

thats all , if I arrive up to a Zappi and I have to release the timer to start charging if the Zappi "pauses " , i.e. switches off the AC feed, then the car will not restart the session even if the Zappi tries to resume , because J1772 does not support that mode of charging

thats all I was contending

Dardania

While J1172 may be true for the North American cars, perhaps the European market cars have to comply with a different spec?

jusmeig

KCross wrote: »

No, its not a waste of time.

It works as a normal charger as well so why not get it and have the ability to use the Solar power when it suits and who knows you might increase your Solar PV in the future and have more spare capacity.

What I neglected to mention was that I already have an Immersun.
This is a control unit that I think was possibly made by the same Company: This Eddi product is the same thing basically.

So when I have excess solar, rather than export it turns on the immersion to heat my tank.
I guess this might complicate using a Zappi, as it would only take excess after the Immersun?!

jusmeig

Ewan Hoosarmi wrote: »

Just so ya know. Phil in Kildare sells Zappi chargers at a very good price. They are quite expensive even in the UK, but Phil does free delivery which makes his price quite good. Any problems with the unit would be easier to deal with too.

Do you have any contact details or a company name for Phil in Kildare?

KCross

jusmeig wrote: »

What I neglected to mention was that I already have an Immersun.
This is a control unit that I think was possibly made by the same Company: This Eddi product is the same thing basically.

So when I have excess solar, rather than export it turns on the immersion to heat my tank.
I guess this might complicate using a Zappi, as it would only take excess after the Immersun?!

A quick google suggest that the Zappi can integrate with the Immersun as it will "grab" the power before the Immersun will.


Ultimately you would give priority to the car if its plugged in and then the immersun/Eddi takes the excess after that to heat the water.

BoatMad

Dardania wrote: »

While J1172 may be true for the North American cars, perhaps the European market cars have to comply with a different spec?

no Type 1 and Type 2 uses J1772 as the signalling/charging protocol , european cars are no different

Dardania

If you look under the history chapter here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

It appears for European cars, there is some cross over with IEC after 2009...?

BoatMad

Dardania wrote: »

If you look under the history chapter here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

It appears for European cars, there is some cross over with IEC after 2009...?

mainly on the connector , J1772 as a charging protocol was essentially added verbatim to the IEC spec

jusmeig

KCross wrote: »

A quick google suggest that the Zappi can integrate with the Immersun as it will "grab" the power before the Immersun will.

Would you mind sharing that link please? I was not able to find anything that spoke specifically of Immersun and Zappi together.

BoatMad

jusmeig wrote: »

Would you mind sharing that link please? I was not able to find anything that spoke specifically of Immersun and Zappi together.

care needs to be taken , in understanding these devices, the best way is to read the manuals of each device, there is a lot of " whites man magic " around these types of units

The Zappi and the Immersun are essentially diverter devices, i.e. depending on sensing loads on certain electrical circuits they divert supply from one output to another

IN the case of the Zappi , if you have an Immersun, I cant see much benefit to the Zappi, as you could use the diversionary systems in the Immersion to power an ordinary EVSE .

You could arrange the Zappi to sit before the Immersun in priority or after it depending on how much priority you give to EV car charging from your array

jusmeig

BoatMad wrote: »

You could arrange the Zappi to sit before the Immersun in priority or after it depending on how much priority you give to EV car charging from your array

I have no idea how to do any of this, is this something an installer will know?

BoatMad

jusmeig wrote: »

I have no idea how to do any of this, is this something an installer will know?

depends, you need to firstly determine what you want , most EVSE ( charge point) installers have little PV experience , most PV installers have little EV experience

My own experience is you really need to educate yourself directly as otherwise you can fall foul of " salesmen" selling snake oil

KCross

jusmeig wrote: »

Would you mind sharing that link please? I was not able to find anything that spoke specifically of Immersun and Zappi together.

https://blog.spiritenergy.co.uk/homeowner/smart-ev-charging-from-excess-solar-power-zappi

Look at the section titled: "What if I have a battery or an iBoost installed?"

Also look at the FAQ in the Zappi website: http://myenergi.uk/faqs/
Look for "How will zappi work alongside an existing third party power diverter such as immersun or iboost?"

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

The Zappi and the Immersun are essentially diverter devices, i.e. depending on sensing loads on certain electrical circuits they divert supply from one output to another

IN the case of the Zappi , if you have an Immersun, I cant see much benefit to the Zappi, as you could use the diversionary systems in the Immersion to power an ordinary EVSE .

If you connected a "dumb" EVSE to the output of an Immersun wouldnt that result in the EVSE continuously powering on/off as the Solar PV went up/down?
Im not sure I'd like my Rolec EVSE to be constantly power cycling like that. I'd expect early product failure if it was doing that.

The Zappi is more intelligent than that and has more features/modes so I dont agree with your statement that there is no benefit to a Zappi in that use case.

e.g.
- You can configure the Zappi to maintain 1.4kW(min charge level) and taking energy from the grid to maintain that.
- You can set a minimum charge state for a particular time so that you utilise the spare Solar PV but at the same time have enough charge for your needs later in the day regardless of the availability of Solar PV.
- You can set it like the Immersun example as well where it will only charge the car using spare Solar PV. When there is no available Solar it stops the charge and resumes when there is.


These modes give you the ability to ensure you dont feed anything back to the grid for free but important also to ensure your car gets charged regardless.

Zappi also has a bunch of other features that are also useful and not in your standard dumb EVSE.... load balancing across two Zappi's to allow two cars charge together, more stats etc.

I would see Zappi as an intelligent EVSE. Other EVSE's like the Rolec's are just sockets.

berocore

Would you guys know who can supply and install Zappi charger in Ireland? Dublin area? Thanks.

BoatMad

KCross wrote: »

If you connected a "dumb" EVSE to the output of an Immersun wouldnt that result in the EVSE continuously powering on/off as the Solar PV went up/down?
Im not sure I'd like my Rolec EVSE to be constantly power cycling like that. I'd expect early product failure if it was doing that.

The Zappi is more intelligent than that and has more features/modes so I dont agree with your statement that there is no benefit to a Zappi in that use case.

e.g.
- You can configure the Zappi to maintain 1.4kW(min charge level) and taking energy from the grid to maintain that.
- You can set a minimum charge state for a particular time so that you utilise the spare Solar PV but at the same time have enough charge for your needs later in the day regardless of the availability of Solar PV.
- You can set it like the Immersun example as well where it will only charge the car using spare Solar PV. When there is no available Solar it stops the charge and resumes when there is.


These modes give you the ability to ensure you dont feed anything back to the grid for free but important also to ensure your car gets charged regardless.

Zappi also has a bunch of other features that are also useful and not in your standard dumb EVSE.... load balancing across two Zappi's to allow two cars charge together, more stats etc.

I would see Zappi as an intelligent EVSE. Other EVSE's like the Rolec's are just sockets.

but the immersun manual suggest it can be configured to do that as well, it actually just selects what outputs to power up based on certain criteria . it can draw from the grid too ( its actually connected after the CU anyway )

all the Immersun does is route power to upto two outputs based on a series of criteria

Ewan Hoosarmi

jusmeig wrote: »

Do you have any contact details or a company name for Phil in Kildare?

Sorry, Phil is pretty well known on Boards.

Phil FitzGerald http://www.electricautos.ie/

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

but the immersun manual suggest it can be configured to do that as well, it actually just selects what outputs to power up based on certain criteria . it can draw from the grid too ( its actually connected after the CU anyway )

all the Immersun does is route power to upto two outputs based on a series of criteria

I must be missing something here. How can an Immersun make intelligent EVSE related decisions (charge speed etc), minimum charge level, load balancing etc?

Are you saying I could connect an Immersun to my dumb Rolec and it would give me the flexibility that a Zappi can? I dont believe it, tbh, but happy to learn if it can!

What part of the Immersun manual details how to set minimum charge level for departure time X, for example?

The Zappi is more than a diverter device, although that is a core part of what it does.

And as already stated, I wouldnt like the Immersun continuously making and breaking the power to my Rolec as the clouds rolls in and out. The Rolec's are prone to failure as is... continuous power cycling would tip them over the edge, I suspect.

BoatMad

KCross wrote: »

I must be missing something here. How can an Immersun make intelligent EVSE related decisions (charge speed etc), minimum charge level, load balancing etc?

Are you saying I could connect an Immersun to my dumb Rolec and it would give me the flexibility that a Zappi can? I dont believe it, tbh, but happy to learn if it can!

What part of the Immersun manual details how to set minimum charge level for departure time X, for example?

The Zappi is more than a diverter device, although that is a core part of what it does.

Im not saying the Immersun is an EVSE , I am saying that the ability to divert electricity depending on the load elsewhere is something the Immersun can do , theres a similar function in the ZAppi

the term " departure " does not appear in the Zappi manual as far as I can see, and a search etc . what page are you referring to , How can an EVSE on a J1772 link determine the state of the cars battery ?

BoatMad

And as already stated, I wouldnt like the Immersun continuously making and breaking the power to my Rolec as the clouds rolls in and out. The Rolec's are prone to failure as is... continuous power cycling would tip them over the edge, I suspect.

in effect the Zappi ECO plus mode does exactly that

as to the cycling of the charger , for example in the ABL , its a trivial mod to power up the EVCC separately , which would keep the contactors pulled in when sun power was not available and the CP signal in place etc

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

Im not saying the Immersun is an EVSE , I am saying that the ability to divert electricity depending on the load elsewhere is something the Immersun can do , theres a similar function in the ZAppi

the term " departure " does not appear in the Zappi manual as far as I can see, and a search etc . what page are you referring to , How can an EVSE on a J1772 link determine the state of the cars battery ?

It doesnt sense the cars charge level. What I said was "minimum" charge level.

Look at pgs 13-17 in the Zappi manual around Boost and Smart Boost.

Snippet:

It's a sunny Sunday and you wish to ensure there is enough charge in the EV to get to work in the morning (e.g. 15kWh), but in the meantime, you want to use the surplus energy from the PV system to charge the car, so you choose to use ECO+ mode. At sunset there was only 10kWh of charge accumulated. However, because you activated Smart Boost, and set the time you needed to leave for work, zappi automatically boosted the charge in the night to top up the battery to the required 15kWh by 7am.

Thats just one example. Everyones lifestyle and needs will be different. The Zappi has lot of configurable timers and sensors that work with the Solar PV. Its much more advanced than an Immersun diverting power to a dumb Rolec.

And then load sharing as well to ensure you dont blow the ESB fuse while charging two 7kW capable cars.

jusmeig

Ewan Hoosarmi wrote: »

Sorry, Phil is pretty well known on Boards.
Phil FitzGerald http://www.electricautos.ie/

Thank man, he only has the Type 1 connection, and the new Leaf is type 2
I've reached out to bhcdistributors.co.uk who are distributors for Ireland also for a price.

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

in effect the Zappi ECO plus mode does exactly that

as to the cycling of the charger , for example in the ABL , its a trivial mod to power up the EVCC separately , which would keep the contactors pulled in when sun power was not available and the CP signal in place etc

The Zappi is powered on at all times. Using the Immersun to divert power to the Rolec would mean cycling the power to the EVSE itself.... I dont think the Rolec would take kindly to that type of usage at all. The controllers in them are not the best (I've replaced one already in 2yrs and lots of examples of others the same).

I've no experience of the ABL but you are saying its a trivial mod.... your're an electrical engineer.... will Johnny down the road be able to do it without killing himself?!!!


The thing is, the Zappi has been designed for Solar PV. No other EVSE is and it has advanced features for same.

I'm sounding like a salesman for it and I dont even have one!

But I suspect when I get a second EV I will(for the load sharing capability, not Solar), hence I've read the manual!

jusmeig

Also guys from page 27 of Zappi manual:

Third-Party Diverters
If there is a third-party energy diverter on site, it may be desirable for zappi to take priority over the diverter. This can usually
be achieved by installing an additional sensor connected to the CT2 input. The sensor should be clipped onto the supply cable
to the diverter with the arrow pointing towards it. The CT2 Input setting should be set to Storage.

Seems like I could favor Zappi over Immersun doing this, without having to replace my perfectly good Immersun!

BoatMad

KCross wrote: »

The Zappi is powered on at all times. Using the Immersun to divert power to the Rolec would mean cycling the power to the EVSE itself.... I dont think the Rolec would take kindly to that type of usage at all. The controllers in them are not the best (I've replaced one already in 2yrs and lots of examples of others the same).

I've no experience of the ABL but you are saying its a trivial mod.... your're an electrical engineer.... will Johnny down the road be able to do it without killing himself?!!!


The thing is, the Zappi has been designed for Solar PV. No other EVSE is and it has advanced features for same.

I'm sounding like a salesman for it and I dont even have one!

But I suspect when I get a second EV I will(for the load sharing capability, not Solar), hence I've read the manual!

I think we are debating around the topic here, Im not really arguing against the Zapii etc .,

what I trying to say was that all these issues have to be carefully looked at , theres a lot of white mans magic

ultimately Zappi is a simple diverter with variable charge control , The ABL EVCC can actually do most of that , and so can a few DIY boards on the market ( Open EVSE )

the real issue is whether a Solar PV array can really charge a EV is the bugger question , without either FIT or battery storage

KCross

BoatMad wrote: »

I think we are debating around the topic here, Im not really arguing against the Zapii etc .,

what I trying to say was that all these issues have to be carefully looked at , theres a lot of white mans magic

True. Everyone has to do their own research and be happy it suits their needs.

I believe the Zappi does do what it says on the tin though. I read forums related to it and have questioned them directly and read the manual.

BoatMad wrote: »

ultimately Zappi is a simple diverter with variable charge control , The ABL EVCC can actually do most of that , and so can a few DIY boards on the market ( Open EVSE )

You are talking about a DIY project there though, not a commercially available product that Joe Public can buy off the shelf, get a spark to install and get it to do what the Zappi does. It doesnt exist outside the Zappi AFAIK.

Also as I said, the Zappi does more than just the Solar PV integration (e.g Load Balancing and load limiting/shedding).

I know you were at one point playing with a load shedding EVSE but there are loads of things that can be done but they are no good to Joe Public unless its commercially available and certified for domestic install etc.

The Immersun diverter connected to a dumb Rolec does not substitute for a Zappi, bearing in mind your comment was that there was no added benefit to a Zappi.

"IN the case of the Zappi , if you have an Immersun, I cant see much benefit to the Zappi, as you could use the diversionary systems in the Immersion to power an ordinary EVSE ."

Im just saying there are many reasons to have the Zappi in that use case.

BoatMad wrote: »

the real issue is whether a Solar PV array can really charge a EV is the bugger question , without either FIT or battery storage

No reason why it cant(with the Zappi). Do you think it cant?

The main gotcha is that you have to have your car plugged in while the sun shines, which wont suit a lot of people, but thats a different argument.

Dardania

KCross wrote: »

The main gotcha is that you have to have your car plugged in while the sun shines, which wont suit a lot of people, but thats a different argument.

Interesting topic indeed in it's own right - the "duck curve" will start championing it: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/3/20/17128478/solar-duck-curve-nrel-researcher

BoatMad

The Zappi in effect , has a sensor on the mains , from which it determines whether power is being exported and if so it will divert that power to the car ( in either all or variable charge rates )

It knows nothing about Solar PV per say , and it assumes you are exporting energy , i.e. grid tie in


Load balancing is different , the Zappi has a feature that it will limit import power to a max value by effectively reducing the car charge current, This is more correctly called load shedding .

"IN the case of the Zappi , if you have an Immersun, I cant see much benefit to the Zappi, as you could use the diversionary systems in the Immersion to power an ordinary EVSE .

and I stand by that remark , in that in theory , there is nothing to stop you simply stoping the supply to a EVSE , as Ive said before, depending on how the car is configured , it may not restart charging anyway , unfortunately J1772 cant initiate charging and thats a major drawback

given we dont have FIT here, then we really should be discussing Solar PV in the context of battery banks and hence grid tied export power controllers are less then useful