Inverter switch for car charger

RobAMerc · 16-12-2022 04:56PM #1

hi all,

I might be asking a stupid question but is there a switch or gadget I can get that will allow me to leave the car plugged in and divert to it instead of pushing to the grid, but not pulling down unless I directly turn on charging.

As it stands, if I plug in it immediately ramps up to 7kwh and I am paying 44ckwh - then at other times I am pushing to the grid and only getting 18c back.

Basically I am looking to use the car as a sink for what I make.

We have a Zappi and Solis Inverter.

ELM327 · 16-12-2022 05:00PM

Zappi will do this in eco plus mode.

fael · 16-12-2022 07:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120004407#Comment_120004407

Indeed, put it in Eco+ mode and then in the app you have a slider from 1% to 100% (this setting can be found on the Zappi itself as well). Depending on the car, the minimum charging power of the Zappi is 1.4kW. If you set this slider to 100% it won't charge the car until you hit 1.4kW export to the grid (so 100% of the power to the car is generated by your PV). If you set it to 50% for example it will start charging the car once you hit an export of 0.7kW (so at least 50% of the power to the car is generated by your PV).

RobAMerc · 17-12-2022 09:11AM

thanks for - in other news "man regrets not setting up zappi app on phone !" 😁

micks_address · 19-12-2022 10:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120004987#Comment_120004987

thanks for the slider explanation - mine is set to 50%.. i guess i should set it to 100?

fael · 20-12-2022 11:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013509#Comment_120013509

Depends on what you want really. For example in the summer at the start or end of the day you might not hit the 100%, which means it will export all of that. It could be useful to use it at 50% in that case so at least you'll use your own PV to charge the car at half import cost.

I have it set to 100% myself. But I find myself using Eco (without the +) a lot which forces a charge at 1.4kW and goes higher when a higher surplus is available. Works well with a house battery, if PV goes below 1.4kW it uses the house battery to keep the 1.4kW going into the car.

I have my Zappi linked to my Home Assistant so I'll automate it a bit more over the next while to make sure I'll always keep some reserve in the battery in order to use all the PV myself and minimise the export.

micks_address · 20-12-2022 11:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017530#Comment_120017530

On eco plus if I have say 4kw excess solar will all that go to the car? Or will it only ever use 1.4?

Calahonda52 · 20-12-2022 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017566#Comment_120017566

see post above your

micks_address · 20-12-2022 11:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017593#Comment_120017593

My question is more will it only use 1.4kwh on eco plus.. not sure if there answered above?

unkel · 21-12-2022 11:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017629#Comment_120017629

It's in @fael 's post:

"Eco (without the +) a lot which forces a charge at 1.4kW and goes higher when a higher surplus is available"

And on a side note, nice sunny day in Dublin. My battery is almost full again and then the Zappi will start charging the car from PV. On he shortest day of the year. Pretty incredible.

micks_address · 21-12-2022 11:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021236#Comment_120021236

Thanks unkel so eco plus won't do anything above 1.4? Sorry to sound dumb by asking again

unkel · 21-12-2022 12:12PM

No, both will do over 1.4kW if you have the excess. I've charged my car with 7.4kW purely from PV on Eco plus (and Eco)

Inverter switch for car charger

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