Between October 17 – October 19, GivEnergy attended Solar and Storage Live as the event title sponsor. During the show, we answered hundreds of customer questions — both on the stand, and after our busy schedule of presentations, speeches, and panel discussions.
Not all of you were able to make it to the show. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to get an update on the various FAQ we were answering.
So, from firmware, to the EV charger, to the EMS, here’s a handy roundup of the most common GivEnergy questions and answers from S&SL 2023.
-Firmware-
Q: What’s the status with multiple charging slots?
We’ve now rolled out multiple charging slots for our newest technology. So, the All in One (AIO) and Gen 3 hybrid inverters now offer up to 10 charging slots per day. This can be managed from the portal.
Currently, this is a feature limited to the AIO and Gen 3 products, due to limited memory on the older kit.
Q: Can the AIO be paralleled yet?
The AIO parallel function on the single Gateway is currently in development. It isn’t going to be ready this year, but it is definitely coming.
The AIO can soon be used without the Giv-Gateway. In turn, this is opening the possibility to use an EMS (Energy Management System) and treat them as multiple AC coupled in the regular multi-inverter methods.
The AIO without the Gateway is a firmware change. It has not yet been through the rigorous testing process we apply, so will not be offered as an option until later this year.
Q: What’s happening with the AIO mixed with AC 3kw and or Hybrid with/without battery?
– AIO with AC3: Although not officially supported, the AIO has been proven to work with an AC coupled inverter on at least 3 installations. Balancing is via HomeAssistant. This type of setup will require specialist support, from the GivTCP community and HomeAssistant.
– AIO with hybrid inverter – no battery: This is supported, using the hybrid as a string inverter.
– AIO with hybrid + battery: This will work, but isn’t supported. The hybrid will charge first from PV. Then once full, the AIO will charge. Some cross charging may occur. At night, the hybrid will continue to discharge its battery (seen as PV by the AIO), until the hybrid battery is flat. Then, the AIO will discharge.
EMS
Q: What is the GivEnergy EMS (Energy Management System)?
The EMS is a hardware based solution that manages double and triple plant installations on GivEnergy AC coupled systems.
Version 2 will be coming out next year, and that will give us the ability to manage hybrid plants and hybrid AC coupled plants.
With the EMS, you can manage 2 or 3 inverters currently, and an option to manage 4 may be coming later or rolled into version 2. (Depending on demand.)
Q: When will the EMS be released?
We are working hard with our beta testers and firmware developers to ensure we deliver a quality product to you. This takes some time and of course we would rather give you a quality product than a product that doesn’t function as it should.
The beta pilot is progressing well, and all beta testers are very happy with the EMS. So, we are now just waiting for a firmware update and further testing before we make the decision to roll out the EMS.
Q: What are the EMS tech specs?
The EMS has WIFI, 4G, and LAN connections for communication. It has 4 Modbus ports and two CAN bus ports. It runs on a 5 volt separate power supply. It’s approximately 6″ by 8″ dimensions, with a depth of approximately 2″.
Want to know more about the GivEnergy EMS? Watch Michael Smith’s >15 min presentation below:
-EV charger-
We had so many EV charger questions that we’ve popped them all in a standalone article. Check it out here: https://givenergy.co.uk/coming-soon-givenergys-ev-charger-faq/
-New product-
Q: When is the 3-phase line coming out?
A: December. The 3-phase products will be reaching European wholesalers first, and then UK wholesalers shortly after.
Q: What new products are you working on?
Amongst some (currently secret!) new products, we’re currently looking into sodium batteries, with a view to providing a lower-cost alternative to our LiFePO4 solutions. These sodium batteries are currently in R&D, so follow our social media channels for ongoing news on progress.
