Hey everyone! I've got a 6000XP setup at my cabin in a pretty chilly area. I'm trying to maximize my solar power use by dumping any extra energy into my baseboard heaters, especially during those cold winter days. I've already wired a sub panel with circuits leading to the heaters, but I've hit a snag. I thought the smart load would automatically divert excess solar to the heaters, but it turns out they only turn on at 99% output and off at 80%. This timing means I only get about 30 minutes of heat before I need more solar power, which feels like a waste. Does anyone know if there are plans to enhance the smart load to allow more flexibility, or am I just out of luck?
2 Answers
Hey, it sounds like you're on the right track! The way the smart load works can be a bit tricky. If you want your heaters to run with whatever excess is produced, you'd ideally want it to be more flexible. I think you might want to check for any firmware updates that the manufacturer may release soon, as user experiences often prompt enhancements. I also stumbled upon a video that discusses this in more detail, which you might find helpful!
Setting the smart load to track batter voltage instead of PV output could be a possible fix. Have you considered that? Sometimes fine-tuning those settings can lead to better results. I think there could be an option to set it to turn off based on PV voltage drops if that’s available in the latest firmware? Just a thought!
I believe you’re onto something! It's not just about the battery; sometimes the system can prioritize battery levels over immediate solar production. You might need to go into the settings a bit more to figure this out.
Yeah, I saw that video too, it really helped clarify things for me. Using the smart load for heaters is a great idea if it works as intended!