Initial set-up

Bayernlarge

Hi,
I'm setting up WW for the first time and have two questions please:

Q1.
When I put my Growatt username and password in, my serial number and solar capacity was correctly found (6480kWp).
But when I hit Save Settings, I get an error message saying to input a solar capacity between 1 and 150kW.
Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious, but what should I do?

Q2.
I have previously been managing my pv and battery system using the Growatt app. I have it set to charge my battery in the off peak period between 2-5am. As it's winter, I also delay the discharging of the battery until 9am, so it gets me through the 4-7pm peak time.
Should I clear these settings and let WW manage them, or will WW automatically override them?

Thanks for your help!

admin

Bayernlarge But when I hit Save Settings, I get an error message saying to input a solar capacity between 1 and 150kW.
Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious, but what should I do

Solar capacity should be in kW. So it should be 6.48 in your case.

Bayernlarge Should I clear these settings and let WW manage them, or will WW automatically override them?

WW will overwrite the charge slot. The delay of discharge (load first period) will remain untouched.

Bayernlarge

admin
Thanks - 6.48 worked.

So I should leave the charge slot alone, right?

When you say 'The delay of discharge (load first period) will remain untouched' do you mean it won't be affected by WW?
If so, would you recommend I remove this instruction in my Growatt app, so WW can do its thing?

The next window in my set-up is Schedules - do I need to add any?

I'm on an Octopus Flux tariff, so should I ignore the Octopus Agile section of the WW set-up?

Lastly - will WW automatically begin working? And will I get a notification when my trial period ends?

Thanks for being patient with all my questions - I'm pretty new to this!

admin

Bayernlarge So I should leave the charge slot alone, right?

Yes, but it doesn't matter, WW will overwrite it anyway.

Bayernlarge When you say 'The delay of discharge (load first period) will remain untouched' do you mean it won't be affected by WW?

How do you currently achieve the battery not being used until 9AM?

Bayernlarge The next window in my set-up is Schedules - do I need to add any?

I'm on an Octopus Flux tariff, so should I ignore the Octopus Agile section of the WW set-up?

Yes, you can set up the relevant Flux time charge schedules in the Schedules section.

You can indeed ignore the Octopus Agile section completely.

Bayernlarge Lastly - will WW automatically begin working?

It will, once you have active schedules configured.

Bayernlarge And will I get a notification when my trial period ends?

It will tell you on the dashboard that automations have been paused and your Trial period has ended.

Bayernlarge

To stop the battery discharging until 9am, my installer recommended the setting shown in this screen grab of the Growatt desktop app.

I've just created a schedule to charge my battery during the Octopus Flux off-peak period, between 2-5am. I selected smart charging, plus charge to at least 25%. Is that right?

Do I need to set anther schedule to cover the peak period, from 4-7pm? If so, what should this be?

Of course, during this time, I'd like to be using solar energy, battery, then imported from the grid - in that order.

admin

Bayernlarge To stop the battery discharging until 9am, my installer recommended the setting shown in this screen grab of the Growatt desktop app.

Ah, I see, you may want to move this setting to Slot 2. We overwrite Slot 1 for discharge slots (when you configure them through WW).

Bayernlarge I've just created a schedule to charge my battery during the Octopus Flux off-peak period, between 2-5am. I selected smart charging, plus charge to at least 25%. Is that right?

For winter months, it makes sense to not rely too much on Smart charging, so Fixed to a 100% might be more sensible, in order to not get caught short.

Bayernlarge Do I need to set anther schedule to cover the peak period, from 4-7pm? If so, what should this be?

Of course, during this time, I'd like to be using solar energy, battery, then imported from the grid - in that order.

No additional schedule needed for 4-7PM, as the default mode on Growatt will maximise self-use.

Are you on the Flux export tariff too? I think as other have pointed out before, that may not be optimal compared to a fixed tariff, though I'm unsure about the valid/allowed import/export combos with Octopus.

Bayernlarge

admin
Do you mean I should move the setting in the screenshot I sent to slot 2 if I want it the instruction to remain active and delay battery discharging until 9am? Would WW not delay the battery charging for me?

Thanks for the advice on the Smart charging to 100% - I just changed that.

I don't mean to be rude, but given those two points, what benefit will I be getting from WW? I had assumed it would help manage the battery charging (only charging it as predicted to need) and discharging (delaying it until 4-7pm when needed).

Yes, I'm on Octopus Flux for export too. I think you need to be on Flux for both, but I can check.

I went onto Flux for the cheap overnight battery charging, which I guess I'd lose if you have to have Flux for both and I changed export. No idea how to calculate the net benefit - I just assumed it was worth having the Flux import as I use it (in winter) every day to charge the battery overnight.

admin

Bayernlarge what benefit will I be getting from WW

Our charging schedules adjust the charge rate dynamically to utilise the full window (this is better for the battery) and our charging/discharging can be configured to be conditionally too, based on current state of SoC percentages.

In terms of solar forecast, in the winter when we're hitting really poor yield, it's not as accurate (yet) than in the summer.

Additionally, setting up schedules in Growatt and most other inverter apps is just a pain in the backside most of the time.

And whilst the following does not apply to you, we support Agile and IOG integration for Octopus users. Might be useful in future if you're switching tariffs.

Bayernlarge Would WW not delay the battery charging for me

Yeah, you could actually, if you configured it the way you have in Growatt, which is effectively setting up a discharge schedule, to discharge down to 100%, which of course would just hold the battery at 100%.

Bayernlarge

Is there a way WW can intelligently hold battery charge (or add a bit of charge from the grid beforehand) if it looks like I'm going to be short for the peak 4-7pm period?

The guy at my installer (Jake at Infinity Renewables) said he thought there was a way to input my peak slot into WW, but wasn't sure - and I haven't seen it.

admin

Bayernlarge Yep, just set up a charge schedule prior to the peak Flux period.

You could create a schedule from 14:00-15:55 or so where you set your target SoC to let's say 85 or 90%, whatever it is you think you need to add to get you through the peak period.

Additionally, you can select Smart Charge, set a high charge at least target and decide to conditionally use the battery if the battery is a high enough percentage, which could then look something like this:

Or you could even have two separate charge slots with different conditions prior to the Flux peak, one hour from 14:00-15:00 and one from 15:02-15:58. Good to leave a min or two between adjacent schedules due to scheduler functions timings.