The key to having the automated Energy Management features to work correctly is to leave the EV Charger in a "Paused" state within the app whenever you're not using the EV Charger on-demand. Details on how to toggle the EV Charger between a "Paused" and "Ready" state can be found on this page.
Time of Use, Scheduling
Schedules can be managed by the EV Charger itself if needed (does not need a monitor or another device). The schedules can be setup based on your connected rate plan, or via custom scheduled events as well. If using custom schedules, you will want to ensure you have both a "start charging" event specified as well as a "stop charging" event to have a complete schedule cycle. It is also important to ensure that the EV Charger has an appropriate Time Zone setting applied to make sure its following the schedule based on the correct timing for your location. EV Charger behavior is on/off for schedules - meaning that charge rates themselves should not be affected, only whether the charger is on (or available for charging) during certain times or not. Details on how to setup ToU/Schedules can be found here.
Peak Demand
Peak Demand management for the EV Charger does require a monitor, either the Gen 2 or Utility Connect to measure your real-time system usage as a measurement to control the Peak Demand behavior for your EV Charger. Details about those devices can be found here: Gen 2, Utility Connect
Once you have an available Energy Monitor setup as well as the EV Charger, then the EV Charger can be controlled by Peak Demand energy management automatically.
How it works?
The purpose of "Peak Demand" is to keep your real-time system usage under the specified amount. Whenever the connected energy monitor detects that you're getting close to that set limit, it will reduce the charge rate on the EV Charger and even turn the charger off completely in an attempt to keep you under that specified usage goal. Once you're back under that set goal of usage, then the EV Charger will be turned back on and its charge rate increased while remaining under that limit.
How to enable/setup?
In the following example, we'll assume a Gen 2 device has been setup (and working correctly, named "Home Monitor") as the energy monitor to track system usage with the EV Charger setup and acting as the "connected device" (named "Example EVSE").
From within the app, you'll tap the Management button on the bottom of the screen (available from most pages in the app), then tap on Peak Demand Management.
Once on the "Manage Device for Peak Demand" page, you can select your monitor (shown below as "Home Monitor"), and that will take you to the "Peak Demand Management" page, where you can specify the Peak Demand threshold as well as enabling the EV Charger as a "Connected Smart Device" to be managed by that behavior:
Once everything has been setup - your EV Charger will attempt to charge as high as possible as long as your system usage (as detected by the monitor) stays below your specified Peak Demand Goal in kW (on the Peak Demand Management page). Once your system usage starts to get closer to that amount, the EV Charger will reduce its charging rate to keep you under, up to turning the charger completely off.
Excess Solar
Excess Solar optimization for the EV Charger also requires a monitor, either the Gen 2 or Utility Connect to measure your real-time system usage as a measurement to control the excess solar behavior for your EV Charger. Details about those devices can be found here: Gen 2, Utility Connect
How it works?
The energy monitor (Gen 2 or Utility Connect) will track your system Net Usage status, consumption or production, through the mains either by the 200A CT's on the Gen 2 or via the smart meter measurements provided by the Utility Connect. Once that is captured correctly, then the charging behavior can be managed based on the amount of excess generation provided through your system. The EV Charger can have its charge rate dynamically changed (as well as on/off) in order to consume the excess generated solar power instead of sending it back-to-grid.
How to enable/setup?
In the following example, we'll assume a Gen 2 device has been setup (and working correctly, named "Home Monitor") as the energy monitor to track system usage with the EV Charger setup and acting as the "connected device" (named "Example EVSE").
From within the app, you'll tap the Management button on the bottom of the screen (available from most pages in the app), then tap on Excess Solar Management.
Once on the "Manage Devices for Excess Solar" page, you can select your monitor (shown below as "Home Monitor"), and that will take you to the "Excess Solar Management" page, where you can enable the EV Charger as a "Connected Smart Device" to be managed by that behavior:
Once setup correctly, whenever the monitor detects a "Net Production" state (i.e. producing more solar/generation than is being consumed in the system), the EV Charger will turn on and increase its charging rate to consume that excess amount. Once the monitor detects you're in a "Net Consumption"/Usage state, it will then toggle the charge rate down (and even off) to keep you as close to Net Production as possible.
Feedback and Suggestions
This knowledge base is pretty new for the Emporia team. Our goal is to provide all of the information we can to help you manage your energy in better ways. If this article wasn't helpful, or we could be more clarifying on any points please reach out to the Customer Support team and we'll certainly work to improve these guides.