Today in Cape Town it started misty but cleared up nicely.

With @plonkster's help and after fixing a config problem on my inverter my "Grid-tie without feed-in" is working properly.  This is where I used a python program on a Raspberry Pi to convert the measurements from my Carlo Gavazzi ET112 meter so it looks like the Eastron SDM630 that the inverter modbus card expects.  

I'll share this code sometime since the idea could be used to feed the modbus card data from anywhere - like EmonCMS for example.

We had a high consumption day.  My batteries also started the day quite empty and were fully charged about 16h30.

Today the main consumers so far

• Geyser: 7.5Kwh
• Pool filter pump: 4.7kWh
• Stove: 3.7kWh
• "Essentials" (computer stuff, tv, lights): 6.3kWh
• About 8Kwh of "other" (Tumble dryer, Washing machine and dishwasher were all run too but don't have separate CTs for those)

As of now in total: 15.9kWh drawn from the grid, 14.5 from the panels.

You can see, we used everything the panels could do until 16:30:

Yellow line is the nett flow at the grid connection
Blue is what is coming out of (positive) or going into (negative) the batteries
Red is the grid interface on the inverter - positive if power is flowing into the inverter, negative if flowing out
Green is power taken from the PV panels
Purple is power on the ac out of the inverter - the "essentials".

The control of feed in worked well - 0.3kWh fed in in total.  Flows on grid connection to CoCT looks like this:

I guess I could offset the zero point a little to reduce the feed in.  But 0.3 kW in a day is an average of only 12.5w.  So since my meter doesn't trip off or anything I don't see its worth trying to change it.

I'm starting to understand better how this all goes down in practice.  Thank you SO much to everyone on Powerforum who has helped so much.

 

12 hours ago, Elbow said:

This is where I used a python program on a Raspberry Pi to convert the measurements from my Carlo Gavazzi ET112 meter so it looks like the Eastron SDM630 that the inverter modbus card expects. 

I love what you did... but just for the full picture: Why didn't you just get an SDM630 from the beginning? 🙂

11 hours ago, plonkster said:

I love what you did... but just for the full picture: Why didn't you just get an SDM630 from the beginning? 🙂

I was lead to understand that the ET112 would work, didnt understand the principle by which the modbus card worked, and assumed that they all worked to a standard.

IE I flashed the plastic before doing proper research...  and I’m stubborn.

OTOH, the SDM630 wouldn’t have fitted in my DB and is much more expensive.

Edited May 2, 20197 yr by Elbow

9 hours ago, Elbow said:

much more expensive. 

Strange how the world changed. There was a time the Victron system only worked with one kind of meter (the EM24), and it was a 3.5k exercise. The SDM meters were much cheaper 🙂