Skip to main content

Settings for PowerSmart

Learn how to set up and configure PowerSmart for your Emporia EV Charger to safely manage panel load and charging rate.

Updated this week

PowerSmart dynamically adjusts your EV Charger's charging rate to prevent panel overloading by monitoring system usage with an Emporia Energy Monitor. This allows the installation of a 48A EV Charger without electrical service panel upgrades. PowerSmart can manage single or multiple EV Chargers simultaneously.

To enable this feature, ensure you purchase the PowerSmart software for your charger if required and install the Vue Energy Monitor to monitor your panel's energy consumption. Both Pro and non-Pro models of chargers are compatible with PowerSmart.

Pre-requisites for PowerSmart Setup

Before proceeding to set up PowerSmart, ensure the following:

  • Obtain the PowerSmart software for your charger. Purchase may be required to enable this feature.

  • Install the Vue Energy Monitor to monitor the electrical panel the EV Charger is wired to.

  • Confirm the Service Rating of the panel to ensure PowerSmart can manage the maximum current.

Configuration Settings

Single Charger

  • Enabled: Toggle to activate/deactivate PowerSmart. Recommended to keep enabled when PowerSmart is required

  • Energy Monitor: Select your Vue: Gen 2 or Vue: Gen 3 device to monitor your system's energy consumption

  • Service Rating: Enter your electrical service panel's amperage rating (typically your main breaker size, e.g., 100A, 150A, 200A)

  • Allocated Charge Rate: Specify the available amperage in your service panel before installation of the EV Charger. PowerSmart will allow the charger to draw up to this amount regardless of real-time Energy Monitor measurements

Multi-EVSE Configuration Settings

Activating PowerSmart and Switching Modes

For Pro Level 2 charger users migrating from "Peak Demand" mode to PowerSmart:

  1. Open the Emporia app.

  2. Tap the menu bars at the bottom right and select Account to confirm your registered email.

  3. Navigate to Devices and click Discover.

  4. Locate "Peak Demand Management" and disable it for your connected device.

Adding Multiple Chargers

Onboarding the Charger

Follow these steps to onboard your charger:

  1. Use the Emporia Energy app to add your EV Charger and connect it to WiFi.

  2. Navigate to the charger settings in the app.

  3. Set the Guaranteed charge rate to match the panel's offline current availability before the EV Charger installation.

  1. Navigate to the PowerSmart page from the "Discover Page" of the Emporia app

  2. Select a "Vue" energy monitor

  3. Set or confirm the Service Rating for your electrical panel

  4. Set the Allocated Charging Amps for the Vue monitor

  5. Toggle each charger on which you wish to manage via PowerSmart

Power Allocation Settings

  • Allocated Charging Amps: Total amperage available for all EV charging across your panel. PowerSmart will distribute this capacity among active chargers

  • Individual Charger Limits: Each charger maintains its maximum charge rate setting, which PowerSmart will not exceed even when capacity is available

  • Dynamic Distribution: When multiple EVs are charging, available power is automatically distributed based on:

    • Equal sharing among chargers with the same service rating

    • Proportional allocation based on individual charger ratings

    • Real-time adjustments as vehicles complete charging or are plugged in

Coordination Settings

  • Update Frequency: PowerSmart checks and adjusts charging rates every minute across all managed chargers

  • Minimum Charge Rate: Each charger requires at least 6 amps of allocated power to operate

  • Failsafe Mode: If communication with the energy monitor is lost, chargers will default to their guaranteed minimum charge rate to ensure vehicles continue charging safely

System Requirements for Multi-EVSE

  • All chargers must have PowerSmart capability or upgrade

  • A single Vue energy monitor can manage multiple chargers

  • The electrical panel must have sufficient total capacity for the minimum charging requirements (6A per charger minimum)

  • All chargers must be on the same electrical panel being monitored

Feedback and Suggestions

This knowledge base is part of our ongoing effort to help you maximize your energy management capabilities. If you found this article unclear or feel we could provide additional helpful information, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team. We value your feedback and continuously strive to improve our guides.

FAQs and Troubleshooting

Q: Can non-Pro Emporia chargers use the PowerSmart feature?

  • Yes, PowerSmart is available for both Pro and non-Pro models as long as the feature is enabled, and the required software is purchased.

Q: What happens if the Allocated Charging Amps are set too high?

  • Setting amperage above the breaker's continuous charging limit may cause system inefficiencies and pose safety risks. Always follow the guidelines provided above.

Did this answer your question?