Geyser timer solution for solar

[denmendez65]

Yeah but it wouldn't detect any of that since the timer will still be getting power via the inverter.

One device can be used to trigger an event change for another device since they all sit on one app. I have energy monitors with CTs on the incoming line to the house. So if the power coming in goes dead then that can trigger the timer on the inverter to turn things on or off. 130 for the timer, 250 or 300 if I remember well for the dual CT energy monitor.

 

[SauRoNZA]

One device can be used to trigger an event change for another device since they all sit on one app. I have energy monitors with CTs on the incoming line to the house. So if the power coming in goes dead then that can trigger the timer on the inverter to turn things on or off. 130 for the timer, 250 or 300 if I remember well for the dual CT energy monitor.

Yeah makes sense if you specifically have something that isn't connected to the grid or is on non-essentials.

In my case the entire house is on essentials so I need the actual Inverter to tell me when the grid is lost.

Would be nice if Tuya supported Webhooks or even full blown API calls because then you could probably get this all directly from Eskom Se Push API.

 

[Zuner]

Did you do a comparison between adding the heat pump vs upgrading your solar for the same price?

This!
A heat pump is nice, but then it's only good for water, upgarde the solar and it's good for everything.
I am 99% off grid, for my needs at least there's no way i'd spend 50k on a heat pump instead of another battery + panels.

 

[isie]

Tuya App has an option to create something called a "scene". It sends you notifications if any of the conditions you have set are met (current, voltage, power, device fault etc) are above or below a setpoint. My timer was 130 bucks. Software is free.

interesting , so the timer picks up when power is lost ,does t have a back up battery?
wont wok / no use for me though but interesting
geyserwise only goes off if batteries are under 50% (or no internet which then im screwed anyway )

 

[SauRoNZA]

This!
A heat pump is nice, but then it's only good for water, upgarde the solar and it's good for everything.
I am 99% off grid, for my needs at least there's no way i'd spend 50k on a heat pump instead of another battery + panels.

For sure, I could do an entire additional inverter and panels for East & West for 10k less.

Giving me a **** load more solar hours and making my full capacity 12,5 kW.

 

[denmendez65]

Yeah makes sense if you specifically have something that isn't connected to the grid or is on non-essentials.

In my case the entire house is on essentials so I need the actual Inverter to tell me when the grid is lost.

It would still work in your case. All inverters that are grid tied typically get their AC IN from the main house breaker. You would know if the grid has gone down and use whatever scenario you want to trigger the timers on and off.

But HA is better since you get the PV stuff etc. The way I do it is just another option even though I dont use all this stuff on the app. Just the inching function that auto switches off after a set time if I manually turn on a device outside of the set timer period. I should look to using more of the available functions in the app.

 

[SauRoNZA]

It would still work in your case. All inverters that are grid tied typically get their AC IN from the main house breaker. You would know if the grid has gone down and use whatever scenario you want to trigger the timers on and off.

Yes but that's what I'm saying only the inverter knows the grid went down. Every device in my house is blissfully unaware since there is no voltage loss as it's all powered by the inverter so there would be no way for any switch to sense that loss and trigger it.

My entire house is on the inverter.

 

[denmendez65]

interesting , so the timer picks up when power is lost ,does t have a back up battery?
wont wok / no use for me though but interesting
geyserwise only goes off if batteries are under 50% (or no internet which then im screwed anyway )

The devices dont have a battery. So when the energy monitor goes down with the grid, the app will pick that up and the ones supplied by the inverter will act according to whatever scenario you have specified. The app picks up that the device is off, not the timer.

They do reconnect decently quick though as soon as the router is backup if you kill everything so havent had an issue with the switches and the app.

 

[denmendez65]

Yes but that's what I'm saying only the inverter knows the grid went down. Every device in my house is blissfully unaware since there is no voltage loss as it's all powered by the inverter so there would be no way for any switch to sense that loss and trigger it.

My entire house is on the inverter.

I meant the energy monitor will go down and hence the app would know. It needs a voltage reference/supply which would be your incoming line to the inverter or house. So the Tuya app would pick that up and trigger your smart switches to do whatever you want.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I meant the energy monitor will go down and hence the app would know. It needs a voltage reference/supply which would be your incoming line to the inverter or house. So the Tuya app would pick that up and trigger your smart switches to do whatever you want.

Yeah I know what you meant, it would just need to be specially wired up that way.

If I wasn't already fully smart homed that's likely the route I would have taken as well.

Still reckon if you have the right inverter then the AUX function and related config can take care of all that for you before the Smart Switch to do the timing bits.

 

[Speedster]

Is using a Geyserwise more worth it or an Astute? The Geyserwise with Tuya should be able to integrate with HA?

And also, is it worth getting https://xtendelements.co.za/ - has anyone put these in?

Hopefully, answers to these questions help OP too

Geyserwise with Tuya (or geyserwalla) is much better than CBI especially if you're running HA as you can use the water temp as a trigger, as well as adjust the water temp dynamically.

Xtend elements are snake oil. Stay away from that rubbish

 

[Speedster]

What logic does HA have that a normal smart timer cant do?

Any logic I want it to have, that's part of the beauty of it.

 

[HowTo]

...and how do you know if Eskom is on/off at home while at the coast ?

I have solar, geyser is on solar.

 

[cavedog]

There is a lot going on here.

So the inverter I have is a pretty basic inverter. Navasolar PV1800 PRO 5.2KW 48V Offgrid Solar Inverter

It doesn't have any of the fancy features.

So my thinkingh was just get a decent geyser timer that I set for 9am to 2pm or so. If there is good sunlight then geyser heating will be free. If not then running my inverter in SUB mode means it will just feed of the grid its not like I will lose anything because its already running on grid anyways.

I just don't want it to drain the battery if a power outage strike that time. Then I will only have solar + bat and if light is low the battery will be drained quickly. It won't matter if the sun comes back because the battery will charge but what if it rains.

Now I have a battery that is empty. Grid that is off due to power outage but hot water at least. I'd rather have backup battery power than hot water.


How are you guys running the geyser setup on solar?

 

[Speedster]

There is a lot going on here.

So the inverter I have is a pretty basic inverter. Navasolar PV1800 PRO 5.2KW 48V Offgrid Solar Inverter

It doesn't have any of the fancy features.

So my thinkingh was just get a decent geyser timer that I set for 9am to 2pm or so. If there is good sunlight then geyser heating will be free. If not then running my inverter in SUB mode means it will just feed of the grid its not like I will lose anything because its already running on grid anyways.

I just don't want it to drain the battery if a power outage strike that time. Then I will only have solar + bat and if light is low the battery will be drained quickly. It won't matter if the sun comes back because the battery will charge but what if it rains.

Now I have a battery that is empty. Grid that is off due to power outage but hot water at least. I'd rather have backup battery power than hot water.


How are you guys running the geyser setup on solar?

I've got home assistant

 

[Magnum]

CBI Astue in your DB or CBI Astute isolator at your geyser and be done with it.
I have them on 3 x geysers and a pool pump with a heat pump.

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Edit: I did not read your specific requirements, only saw it now. Not sure what solution is available for your use case.

Been using this 3 ish years now. Very happy with it. Just loses time rapidly if no internet is available. You could hack it to work with Ha.

 

[denmendez65]

There is a lot going on here.

So the inverter I have is a pretty basic inverter. Navasolar PV1800 PRO 5.2KW 48V Offgrid Solar Inverter

It doesn't have any of the fancy features.

So my thinkingh was just get a decent geyser timer that I set for 9am to 2pm or so. If there is good sunlight then geyser heating will be free. If not then running my inverter in SUB mode means it will just feed of the grid its not like I will lose anything because its already running on grid anyways.

I just don't want it to drain the battery if a power outage strike that time. Then I will only have solar + bat and if light is low the battery will be drained quickly. It won't matter if the sun comes back because the battery will charge but what if it rains.

Now I have a battery that is empty. Grid that is off due to power outage but hot water at least. I'd rather have backup battery power than hot water.


How are you guys running the geyser setup on solar?

I doubt it works like that. It will only switch to grid when the battery is drained to a certain level. Gte yourself and automatic changeover switch. Wire the primary input to the inverter non essential. And the secondary backup input to be the grid. Output to the geyser. When the non essential switches off, the automatic changeover switch will switch it to eskom.

Set the non essential high, say 90% battery SOC. No fancy timers or home assistant needed.

 

[denmendez65]

I doubt it works like that. It will only switch to grid when the battery is drained to a certain level. Gte yourself and automatic changeover switch. Wire the primary input to the inverter non essential. And the secondary backup input to be the grid. Output to the geyser. When the non essential switches off, the automatic changeover switch will switch it to eskom.

Set the non essential high, say 90% battery SOC. No fancy timers or home assistant needed.

SUB and SBU did nothing on mine. It only switched to grid when the battery was drained to the battery cut off voltage. The Voltronic clones seem to work like that. Plenty others had that issue and had to find workarounds. My solution was just running off-grid as a test and continued since then.

 

[isie]

There is a lot going on here.

So the inverter I have is a pretty basic inverter. Navasolar PV1800 PRO 5.2KW 48V Offgrid Solar Inverter

It doesn't have any of the fancy features.

So my thinkingh was just get a decent geyser timer that I set for 9am to 2pm or so. If there is good sunlight then geyser heating will be free. If not then running my inverter in SUB mode means it will just feed of the grid its not like I will lose anything because its already running on grid anyways.

I just don't want it to drain the battery if a power outage strike that time. Then I will only have solar + bat and if light is low the battery will be drained quickly. It won't matter if the sun comes back because the battery will charge but what if it rains.

Now I have a battery that is empty. Grid that is off due to power outage but hot water at least. I'd rather have backup battery power than hot water.


How are you guys running the geyser setup on solar?

lol you going to have to go back an read all our comments

Mines is on the Smart load port on the Deye inverter

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

I have solar, geyser is on solar.

you also missed the point