Excess Solar Charging automatically adjusts your EV charging rate based on real-time solar production, directing excess power to your EV charger instead of sending it back to the grid. When functioning properly, the system activates charging when you're producing more solar energy than you're consuming.
Prerequisites Check
To use Excess Solar Charging, you need:
Emporia Energy Monitor - Vue 3 or Vue 2 with 200A CTs on main service lines
At least one controllable device - EV Charger, Smart Plugs, or compatible Thermostats
Stable Internet Connection - Required for real-time monitoring and control
Configuration Verification
Before troubleshooting, verify your system setup:
Open the Emporia Energy App
Tap Management → Excess Solar Management
Verify your energy monitor shows an enabled status
Check that all controllable devices have automation enabled (toggle should be green)
Verify device priority order matches your preferences
EV Charger State Requirements
Critical Requirement: Your EV charger must be in the "off" state for Excess Solar Management to work properly.
To Set Charger to Paused State:
Navigate to your EV charger in the app
Set status to "off" (not "on")
Wait at least 3 minutes for system activation
Why This Matters:
Off - Allows automatic control based on excess solar
On - Charger starts at full rate, bypassing solar management
Solar Production Requirements
The system requires specific conditions to activate:
Minimum 1.5 kW excess power for EV charger activation
Excess solar for 3+ consecutive minutes
Net production status (generating more than consuming)
Monitor your energy dashboard during sunny conditions to verify positive excess production.
Common Troubleshooting Issues
EV Charger Not Activating:
Confirm the charger is in the "off" mode
Verify excess solar ≥1.5 kW for 3+ minutes
Check device priority settings
Ensure stable network connectivity
"Excess Solar Will Be Overridden" Message:
Open Excess Solar Management in the app
Toggle the excess solar feature off
Toggle the excess solar feature back on
This clears the override and restores normal operation
Inconsistent Control:
Review and adjust device priority order
Monitor real-time energy data during solar production
Restart energy monitor (power cycle)
Close and reopen the Emporia Energy App
Testing System Operation
To verify proper system function:
Set EV charger to "off."
Wait for sunny conditions with 1.5+ kW excess solar
Monitor for 3-5 minutes during peak production
Verify automatic device activation
Expected Behavior:
Devices activate after 3 minutes of sufficient excess solar
EV charger matches charge rate to available excess power
System adjusts when solar production changes
Feedback and Suggestions
This knowledge base is continuously evolving to provide comprehensive support for managing your energy effectively. If you found this article unhelpful or think it could be improved, please contact our Customer Support team.