Installing a CT clamp in an Eddi to capture PV generation

In this video I show I added a CT clamp to my Eddi so that it can measure the output of my SolaX inverter and battery.
If you would like to know more, please use the comments below. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have around the Eddi.
If you find this useful, please like the video. If you're interested in videos like these, please subscribe to my channel.
Thanks for watching!

[@colingoode3702]

Hi Tom. Interesting solution. I have a Zappi & Eddi together with a GivEnergy 3.6kW hybrid inverter & a 9.5kWh battery fed by a 4.1kW array. I recently got an EV & started using the Zappi for the first time but noticed that, overnight when I charged the car, it was draining my house battery as well as taking power from the grid. I suspect I also need an additional CT to prevent this from happening. I have also noticed that the ME app is showing different grid power numbers (equivalent to grid+battery) than the GE App. I therefore suspect that some CT's were not configured correctly by the original installer so some fettling will be required. I have a couple of CT's on order so hopefully I can sort it out soon. Subbed & liked.

[@tomasmcguinness]

I had the same problem! I'm was using Octopus Go and had my Zapp set to charge from 12:30am to 6:30am. It would discharge the battery whilst charging. I was able to partially resolve this by forcing preventing my battery discharging during the same time. Of course, this meant nothing else in the house was powered from the battery during this period, which was kinda okay, since it was off-peak. I added another clamp to my inverter, but this didn't help with the battery discharge issue. If you watch this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e57bf2Cdf8Z6i9k - I show how I had my Zappi and Eddi rewired, so their load never appears to my inverter.

[@colingoode3702]

@@tomasmcguinness Thanks Tom. I'll have a look. PS. I have the sparks coming back to check my installation because something is not right e.g. I found 3 CT's in the meter cupboard with the arrows all facing the same direction on the incoming live? Surely 1 should be facing the other way to pick up the excess going back into the grid? 1 CT for the Zappi / Eddi (Eddi is my master) & 2 CT's for the ME Hybrid Inverter? Don't think there is a CT on the Battery or elsewhere. Anyhow, hopefully the sparks should be able to sort it out. There must be an "intelligent" way to stop the Zappi / Eddi draining the house battery under any circumstances without any sacrifices elsewhere. More digging needed I think.

[@tomasmcguinness]

The CT clamp's arrows point in the direction of flow, so if they are on the live (brown), they'll point towards your house, as it were. They will know when power is going in the opposite direction. As you have a Hybrid inverter, you cannot measure the battery independently from the solar. It's their main weakness in situations like this. As for "intelligence", there are setting in the Zappi/Eddi for this. One I tried is called Export Margin and this is designed to prevent battery drain by always ensuring some power flows into the grid. It didn't work for me, but might work better for you? There are other battery drain settings in there two, which might help? You can read more here www.myenergi.com/wiki/eddi/configuration/#:~:text=This%20sets%20a%20minimum%20level,export%20level%20at%20all%20times.

[@colingoode3702]

@@tomasmcguinness 👍

[@Chequr_Prostate]

Hi Tom I thought the CT for the grid, went to the left hand CT connection (CT1) in the Eddie and the PV CT went to the right hand CT connection (CT2)? Thanks for posting this video.

[@tomasmcguinness]

You specify what type of clamp is connected using the configuration. In my case, I set CT1 to Gen & Battery. You can read more here www.myenergi.com/wiki/eddi-wip/configuration/#CTConfig

[@Chequr_Prostate]

@@tomasmcguinness Thanks for your reply 👍

[@MrToriordan]

Hi tom great video but any chance you could elaborate on the push connectors. how much pressure do you need I'm afraid ill break them

[@tomasmcguinness]

Thanks! Just depress with a screwdriver. It didn’t take much pressure at all.

[@GreenEverAfter]

Any particular reason to have it grouped as GB1? I have it off myself

[@tomasmcguinness]

It set that by default. I haven't seen any negative behaviour, so I left it alone!

[@thepeginator2556]

The only issue with this is system can’t actually differentiate between power coming from the battery or “direct” from the PV as it all comes from the inverter, I guess there’s no way round that with a DC coupled system though. Only the inverter is going to have the data and what power is coming from where. Looks nicer in the app though 😅

[@tomasmcguinness]

Yeah, it's far from ideal. What's worse is that I'm experiencing issues where my Zappi is discharging the battery! When my Zappi was installed, it was connected directly to the main consumer unit so the inverter cannot see the difference between the house load and the Zappi load. I'm hoping to get an electrican in soon that will just split the feed.

[@thepeginator2556]

@@tomasmcguinness this is a very common issue from what I’ve seen. I’ve seen various workarounds people have tried like putting the inverter/battery into timed charging from the grid (even at a low amperage) whilst the car chargers overnight. Ideally you want a battery CT so the myenergi system knows what’s going on, but I don’t think it’s possible with a hybrid / DC coupled battery system.

[@tomasmcguinness]

From reading the Myenergi forum, the best approach seems to be having the CT clamp on the inverter only measuring the load from the house. That way the Zappi will see any surplus, by the Inverter doesn't see any load from the Zappi (so it shouldn't discharge the battery) - Here is what I'm referring to - support.myenergi.com/hc/en-gb/articles/10066139366161

[@BAC_Mono]

@@tomasmcguinness Why wouldn't you want to discharge the battery into the EV? you're still getting to use the energy

[@homeandgardenprojects2868]

that was a bit rubbish innit? it didn't do what it was supposed to so you overlaid a screenshot of the app

[@tomasmcguinness]

Sorry, I don’t understand. I jumped over to the app to show it was reporting what I expected. Not the best edit, I’ll grant you, but this was one of my early videos, so I didn’t have much focus (or skill) on the editing.

[@homeandgardenprojects2868]

@@tomasmcguinness ha lol well done buddy xx i was only trolling you

[@homeandgardenprojects2868]

@@tomasmcguinness gimme your number as i have to go sort one tomorrow and dont have a clue where to start]

[@fishfingers160]

@@homeandgardenprojects2868lol poor trolling