Which inverter brands to consider for automation?

[abudabi]

I'm assuming home assistant is the go to software (suggestions if not) for this use case, but which inverter can integrate with it so I can dynamically turn on / off things based on SOC / panel production / LS schedule etc. ?

 

[calypso]

I'm assuming home assistant is the go to software (suggestions if not) for this use case, but which inverter can integrate with it so I can dynamically turn on / off things based on SOC / panel production / LS schedule etc. ?

I can speak for others but I use Victron and connect to the inverter via modbus (MQTT is also an option). You can do everything you say above pretty easily and you can also pass commands back to the inverter such as changing the SoC based on triggers, such as upcoming loadshedding.

 

[abudabi]

Yeah that's what I'm referring to. I see mention of solarassistant. So would the comms chain then be:

Inverter <-> SolarAssistant <-> HomeAssistant

I'm looking at a luxpower inverter and it seems it's supported by SolarAssistant

 

[B-1]

Yeah that's what I'm referring to. I see mention of solarassistant. So would the comms chain then be:

Inverter <-> SolarAssistant <-> HomeAssistant

I'm looking at a luxpower inverter and it seems it's supported by SolarAssistant

For most of them you need one or other intermediary. Solar assistant, Solarman or DIY dongle as example.

 

[calypso]

Yeah that's what I'm referring to. I see mention of solarassistant. So would the comms chain then be:

Inverter <-> SolarAssistant <-> HomeAssistant

I'm looking at a luxpower inverter and it seems it's supported by SolarAssistant

Yeah with Victron it's direct. No 3rd party tools are needed.

 

[Mzezman]

SolarAssistant is not a NEED but it does make the process easier. Also there is a cost. If your inverter has a means of doing it directly then that will work well, either via modbus, dongle integration or MQTT. HomeAssistant is what most people use - I am not sure if other platforms (HomeKit, Habituat etc) have integrations available

 

[spidaman]

So can one use HA and MQTT on a Sunsynk without SA?

 

[Mzezman]

So can one use HA and MQTT on a Sunsynk without SA?

Not sure about MQTT but definitely you can integrate a Sunsynk / Deye with HomeAssistant without Solar Assistant

 

[SauRoNZA]

So can one use HA and MQTT on a Sunsynk without SA?

Yup.

But it’s wired.

 

[AfricanTech]

Not sure about MQTT but definitely you can integrate a Sunsynk / Deye with HomeAssistant without Solar Assistant

Can you do near-real-time updates without SolarAssistant?

 

[Mzezman]

Can you do near-real-time updates without SolarAssistant?

I am not sure tbh - when i was using primarily the solarman dongle it had a 5-5min delay but i know they've improved this somewhat.

 

[SauRoNZA]

HA works via Solarman wireless dongle AFAIK

New Sunsynks no longer come with the Solarman dongle.

For more than a year already.

 

[AfricanTech]

I am not sure tbh - when i was using primarily the solarman dongle it had a 5-5min delay but i know they've improved this somewhat.

Ah ok,

It's still got a fair delay which is why I went the SolarAssistant route - it's near real-time - so in my setup I've got SA linked to HA and configured a few simple gauges that live on the far right of my second monitor - this morning, I saw the gauges jump suddenly (two washing machines and the dishwasher had been switched on at the same time), still below capacity but gave me the opportunity to educate the household about concurrent use of high draw devices, especially during LS.

 

[AfricanTech]

New Sunsynks no longer come with the Solarman dongle.

For more than a year already.

I wonder why?

It was included with the Deye bought a month ago

 

[Mzezman]

I wonder why?

It was included with the Deye bought a month ago

Deye still uses the solarman dongle but SS went with a new dongle to integrate to their software platform.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I wonder why?

It was included with the Deye bought a month ago

Sunsynk make their own dongle for their own platform.