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Excess Solar Management

Excess Solar Management automates control of your connected devices with your solar generated power, including charging your electric car.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

What is Excess Solar Management?

Excess Solar Management is a standout feature of our home energy platform that automatically adjusts your connected devices based on your real-time solar production and net metering status. This smart technology helps maximize the use of your solar energy by directing excess power to devices like EV chargers instead of sending it back to the grid, making it ideal for customers looking to optimize their energy usage.

Required Hardware

  • Emporia Energy Monitor: Vue 3, Vue 2 (only 200A CTs on mains required)

  • At least one Controllable Device:

    • Emporia EV Charger: On/off control with adjustable charge rates

    • Emporia Smart Plugs: On/off control

    • Thermostats: Temperature adjustment

Feature Functionality

The energy monitor tracks your electrical system's power status in real time. When it detects net production (you're generating more solar energy than you're using), the system activates your connected smart devices. Here's how it works:

  • Continuous Monitoring: Your energy status is tracked in real-time

  • Excess Production Detection: The system activates when you produce more solar energy than you consume

  • Smart Device Management: Devices are turned on or adjusted based on available excess power

  • Consumption Prediction: Historical usage estimates each device's power needs

  • Dynamic Adjustment: For variable-consumption devices like EV chargers, the system starts at minimum settings and increases as excess power allows

  • Automatic Balancing: If your consumption exceeds production, the system reduces or turns off devices to maintain optimal energy balance

Configuring Excess Solar Management

  1. Open the Emporia Energy App

  2. Tap the Management icon at the bottom

  3. Select Excess Solar Management

  4. Select your energy monitor (should show enabled when properly set up)

  5. Configure your controllable devices:

    • Enable automation for each device (toggle to green)

Configuring Connected Smart Devices

  • Energy Dashboard: View your daily solar generation totals

  • Device Automation: Toggle each device to the green (enabled) position

  • Priority Adjustment: Tap and hold the four-bar icon beside each device, then drag to reposition devices in your priority list

Connected Device Priority System

Managing your device's priority list is essential for optimal energy usage. Here's how the Excess Solar Management feature handles device priority:

  • Priority Sequence: Devices at the top of your list receive power first when excess solar energy is available

  • Power-Down Sequence: When solar production decreases, lower-priority devices power down first to protect higher-priority device operation

  • Smart Capacity Allocation: If a high-priority device needs more power than currently available (for example, only 1kW is available when 2kW is needed), the system intelligently skips to the next compatible device on your list

  • Dynamic Management: The system continuously evaluates which devices can operate within current energy constraints

Troubleshooting and Support

The Excess Solar Management feature requires proper installation and configuration of your energy monitor and controllable devices (EV chargers, smart plugs, etc.), plus correct app settings. While most setups are straightforward, some fine-tuning may be needed for optimal performance. Our support team is available to help with hardware installation, app configuration, and performance optimization to ensure your system works perfectly.

Feedback and Suggestions

Our knowledge base is continuously updated to provide accurate, comprehensive energy management information. If this article doesn't meet your needs or you have improvement suggestions, please contact our Customer Support team. We respond promptly to feedback and make updates to enhance our guides. Your input helps us maintain high-quality support resources.

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