The update is a significant improvement to the solar PV divert (Eco Mode) function.
Once the updated has been tried and tested we hope to back port the update to the ESP8266 WiFi module (currently installed in most OpenEVSE/EmonEVSE units).
If you are already running an ESP32 module, you can update to this firmware by downloading the pre-compiled .bin attached to the release via the web interface.
Please feedback on this thread, if possible include Emoncms graph of solar pv / Grid IE vs EV current/power to illustrate.
Here is the change log from the release:
Realtime VRMS via MQTT for improved solar PV divert calculation. e.g from emonPi emon/emonpi/vrms
Note: this feature will in the future be used to improve the OpenEVSE energy calculation, this will require a OpenEVSE controller firmware update (as yet unreleased)
Eco Mode is now pervasive between charging sessions
PV divert (āEco Modeā) will now pause charging once solar PV / Grid IE drops below the minimum (6A ā1.4kW) and will resume when more power is available.
Charge current calculation is now processed via a smoothing algorithm to avoid any stopping/starting charging unnecessarily
Timer charge functions as an overnight boost timerā. If EcoMode is left enabled and a timer is set e.g overnight off peak period, the EV will charge at full current for the duration of the timed charge.
Enable āadvancedā mode to adjust smoothing and minimum charge time settings:
Improved user display to communicate charging state e.g āCharging from Solarā, āWaiting for Solarā etc
Thanks for this update - looks like a good new list of features and fixes (I only just spotted this, Iām still on 3.0.3).
This will be the first update I have done, and Iām not yet familar with this firmware. There seem to be 4 different .bin files associated with the release on GitHub, bootloader.bin, esp32-gateway.bin, firmware.bin and partitions.bin. Would I be correct in guessing that esp32-gateway.bin is the one I need to upload via the web interface to do the upgrade?
Ok, done the update no problem. I can see straight away it working nicely on this sunny/cloudy intermittent day, cutting out after 10 mins of not enough sun and then kicking back in when the sun comes out again.
Nice to be able to configure the smoothing parameters, Iāll be fiddling with those so hopefully I get to keep a little more of the solar to myself, hopefully reducing that margin that it doesnāt use.
Itās till reporting it as ESP8266, no big problem, I wonder if that parameter is coded in the boot loader so didnāt get updated?
Itās also mis-reporting that Energy Monitoring is āConnected:Noā on the service tab , but I think it is connected because I can see it updating the feeds in the OpenEVSE topic when I look at it using EmonCMS, it is updating the Amps, Wh, voltage etc at about 30 second intervals - so I think it is just the GUI mis-reporting that it is not connected.
What are the thoughts about how often it should be allowed to pause and restart without causing excessive wear to the contactors in the EV?
You will certainly be able to squeeze more solar charging by adjusting the parameters, the defaults were chosen to minimize contactor wear in the EVSE and the car by avoiding too many stops/starts. Probably not a major issue but just be aware that stopping and starting very frequently may not be the best long term for the equipment.
Ah, this fix must not have made it into the release. Itās only text that was left over from the migration, it doest mean anything just ignore.
Interesting, Iām unable to replicate this. It says connected āyesā for me. What emoncms server are you posting to? Could you share a screenshot?
I would recommend sticking to the default settings.
So it is! Thanks Glyn.
I could only see 3.1.0 yesterday, I swear.
Updated my unit just now - will let you know how it goes.
Just need the sun to come out briefly over N.E. Scotland
Quick question. Does having the time set to NTP allow for the units to auto update their time? Also, will Daylight savings be implemented in the future or is it auto?
No I donāt think NTP will enable auto Daylight Saving. For the moment itās probably easier to set the time via the browser to apply the daylight saving change.
