Myenergi Zappi / Harvi EV Car Charger First Use Review With VW ID Buzz - Not Impressed

In this video we continue our electric car journey by installing a Myenergi Zappi car charger. The charger is supposed to be able to monitor the solar export and divert this to the car but the unit just seems to get itself in a pickle. The software also seems to lack refinement.

[@Tinusdeminus]

The Zappi is not installed on the right way, you miss the solar in the app. I think the CT-clamps are not installed the right way

[@blusox78]

You installer shouldn't have left you in that state. I've got a Zappi, Eddi, and Harvi in conjunction with Solar and a power wall. It all works really well, but that's because the installer set it al up and explained to me wat settings they had set and what they did. On a side note, get yourself some battery storage. That made the biggest difference in terms of savings for us as it meant we could use 100% of our solar in the summer and in winter months run the house during the day from cheap off peak electricity in the inwter.

[@timogronroos4642]

I would change to Octopus energy or similar and have the extra electricity go into a buffer (wallet) you can use later.

[@AndyK.1]

Most people use CAT cable between the zappy and current clamps

[@L663]

Yes i have this now ! but the device needs to let you know there is a problem !

[@dennisanema8133]

Looks like you misplaced the meter for the solar array, it should be visible in the app.

[@L663]

Edwyn Corteen ? @ 9:15 you wanted the app to show you there was a problem with the grid readings, there was! the very obvious yellow triangle! If you are using the Harvi for grid it is limited to 65a per phase which in a large building like yours may not be sufficient, As others say wire the grid CTs directly to the Zappi. You can then use the Harvi to measure your solar output and show this on the Myenergi app. Also is your building a metal wall? this will be blocking the signal from the Harvi.

[@L663]

Hi Edwyn - thank for the comment - yes you appear to be correct that there is a warning of sorts but not that clear. If the Harvi hits its 65A limit the app / Zappi will show 65x240 = 15.6Kw ( single phase ) and 46.8Kw on three phase - again this would help if the software defaulted to MAX if it saw these values - if the CT was set to Harvi and it saw these figures. My building is block for the first meter as you can see on the video - then steel. Why they do not give you an option to add an internal antenna is confusing to me.

[@bobuilt10]

Good point with the LED lights, they are a frigging nightmare. I'm on my third brand in my unit as they completely kill my DAB signal. Swich off lights and my radio comes on switch lights on and I have radio silence. So much for advances in technology.

[@L663]

Yes this is a big issue !

[@darrenmarshall4454]

I thought hard wired it to the net Rj45 data cable , surely the harvi WiFi is to far from the hub .

[@SteveNC61]

To get 11 kw, you must have a 3 phase zappi. Are you measuring all three phases with Harvi.

[@L663]

Yes we have 3 phase - we ditched the Harvi as it was not reliable !

[@grahamp4384]

What a fantastically user unfriendly device that seems to be. Not just the apparently over-complicated procedures for set up, but the interface looks like a microwave oven from the 1980s! You have far more patience than me - but the appearance of the chair gives the game away on how much time you've devoted to this so far.

[@L663]

So initially i was asking the electricians why they put it so low on the wall.... then i realised it was perfect height for a chair ! and yes i spent a couple of hours sat in that chair !

[@michaelawude4247]

What charger do you recommend?

[@johnbrown3471]

Why on earth would you disconnect the clamps?

[@johnbrown3471]

My Zappi phone app said .2kw was coming into the house from the grid during a local power cut. Ignore it.

[@alancobbin]

20-25 metres is the maximum distance between the Harvi and the Harvi according to my energi,can the connection between the two be hard wired?or is this a software bug,a persistent call to My Energi is definitely needed indeed.

[@L663]

I have tried to contact Myenergi and they are not great... i get there is a limit to the range but surely they need to have 1 - A clear signal indicator 2 - A warning when there is no connection 3 - the option to add an internal antenna ( most of the time the Harvi is inside and the Zappi is outsite - one hole and a small antenna cable would solve this issue - my alarm auto dialler has this removal antenna.

[@alancobbin]

@@L663 couldn’t agree more fella,looking forward to the next video ,hope you get things sorted ASAP as it’s costing you a lot of money.

[@ecossearthur]

Very interesting!

[@L663]

Yes there are a few things that need improving with this charger.

[@DavHill77]

Hi Simon, with the increase of EV charger cable theft ( either for resale or copper content scrap cost) any views on anti-theft devices ???

[@L663]

That is a new one...... maybe they could build in a feature where if a short circuit is detected across any pins ( wire being cut with a saw ) then it sends you an alert ( as it is connected to the internet ). Also a high qaulity braiding near the start of the cable - could work like chainsaw trousers ?

[@petergarner5991]

Hello Simon, I've heard that you can have your own batteries so you don't give it to the grid you save it in batteries and can use later. Have you looked into this?

[@L663]

We did get a quote for a battery system - they are more complex for the 3 phase system we have at work. The quote was £70K for the battery system ( 70Kwh ). Our electric bill was only £3500 last year.... so hard to justify... also the VW Buzz was only £60K and has a 77Kwh battery....and comes with wheels and seats !

[@petergarner5991]

@@L663 wow yes I understand. I didn't know.

[@PaulHawxby]

The clue to your misunderstanding, how is the Harvi powered and in what situation would that power not be available?

[@simonjefferson]

The clue to the real problem is that the Harvi originally worked fine and then stopped working without any changes being made to the configuration.

[@PaulHawxby]

​@simonjefferson it was doing its best but being used way out of spec. The equipment was installed wrong then being blamed for performing poorly. The reason for the range spec on the Harvi is you need to have a very solid strong signal with it. As it's powered by the CT clamps it's monitoring when the power on the wire drops to 0 the Harvi stops transmitting. IE, when the Zappi has successfully balanced solar export to the grid, the grid tails drop to 0, the Harvi loses power so it expects to stop hearing from it. It's working fine now it's hard wired because all the equipment is being used in spec.

[@simonjefferson]

@@PaulHawxby This still raises more questions than it answers 1 - why is there no capacitor / battery in the Harvi 2 - we turned the car ON and OFF in the video - with the same sunlight - and the Zappi showed the same reading - it would be impossible for both these scenarios to have a perfect balance - unless the Zappi can turn the sun off ! 3 - the readings were not perfectly balanced across all phases so the harvi had power 4 - why does it not clearly state - Harvi has gone offline

[@mvirdi2333]

Very nice 👌 ❤❤🙏🙏

[@L663]

Good evening Mr Virdi !

[@dessieb123]

VW has software issues with the Zappi charger until you get an update it will run into issues

[@L663]

Thanks for the update - do i need an update for the VW or the Zappi ?

[@dessieb123]

@@L663 I think VW need to pull their finger out

[@tstuart7333]

Sounds like "Zappi " should be wearing a nappy.

[@mrbigvanlife7130]

Basically it’s s**t then 😂

[@L663]

With the Harvi remote CT yes - they could do a lot to improve the software and hardware on this.