Lux ac battery controller

Tir3d

Hi folks, has anyone managed to get Octopus Agile Export working properly with the Lux 'Octopus Charge' integration?
Mine doesn't seem to work, my guess is that it only loads import pricing (which is obviously capped at 35p) so if you want to be battery exporting when prices are (say) 50p+ as I do by setting "Discharge Price (Pence/kWh)" to 50p, then it doesn't seem to ever force discharge, even above those price levels. 

goRt

Tir3d said:

Hi folks, has anyone managed to get Octopus Agile Export working properly with the Lux 'Octopus Charge' integration?
Mine doesn't seem to work, my guess is that it only loads import pricing (which is obviously capped at 35p) so if you want to be battery exporting when prices are (say) 50p+ as I do by setting "Discharge Price (Pence/kWh)" to 50p, then it doesn't seem to ever force discharge, even above those price levels. 

I think import is capped at 50 pence now

Tir3d

goRt said:

I think import is capped at 50 pence now

Nope still at 35p cap for Agile import. Standing charge also still at 21p which is aces while it lasts.

goRt

Tir3d said:

goRt said:

I think import is capped at 50 pence now

Nope still at 35p cap for Agile import. Standing charge also still at 21p which is aces while it lasts.

Showing as 55 pence here:
https://www.energy-stats.uk/octopus-agile-outgoing-export-southern-england-2/

Tir3d

Oh wow. I'm still capped at 35p for import in my Octopus Account (have just checked the pricing chart in my account) but I guess new customers are not...

"When more electricity is being used than generated, wholesale prices rise. While price spikes are short-lived, typically lasting 30 minutes to an hour, they do happen. Agile Octopus includes Price Cap Protect, which ensures you'll never pay more than 55p / kWh for your electricity, guaranteed."
https://octopus.energy/agile/

This is confusing as there must now be two Agile Import price rates then, those with a 35p cap and those with a 55p cap.

And I don't want to be exporting at 50p+ import price but a lower export price. 

greytuk

For the EPS function, does anyone know if this can always provide a power output or does this only ever kick in when there is a power failure? Ideally I would like to use this as a server UPS and hence needs to provide power 24/7

Tir3d

greytuk said:

For the EPS function, does anyone know if this can always provide a power output or does this only ever kick in when there is a power failure? Ideally I would like to use this as a server UPS and hence needs to provide power 24/7

It always does. I believe fed from the main AC connection until it detects no voltage and a relay flips it over to an "EPS" supply. My EPS ouput is wired to a double-socket with integrated RCD A-type and works that way.

I saw a change-over time quoted somewhere in the materials which may or may not be quick enough for your equipment to notice (a cheap UPS will tick you over that gap if needed). 

You have to have a battery for the EPS to function, but it is then fed by battery and solar. 

Alnat1

Agile import prices changed on 22nd July. It seems those already on the 35p cap will keep their price until their 12 month contract ends.

I just happened to switch to Agile on 21st July 

chainreaction

Great to see such an active forum with lots of solutions and how to get the most out of the lux controller and battery set up. My first post here, so I thought I'd give you some info on my set up and then the issue I have. 

Set up : Installed March 2021 1 x AC Lux Controller with 4 x uhome 2.4kW batteries (installed though Jake at BGB), EPS feeds dist board in the house to low power circuits eg, oil boiler, router etc. I also have a 6.5kW solar system installed Dec 2016 with 23 x 285W Sharp panels, feeding via a 6Kw solaredge SE6000 inverter with a powerdiverter (its trade name, pushes power to the immersion when excess export). EO mini pro 2 EV charger installed as a replacement under warrenty earlier this year when the EO min pro v1 started to fail following 2 years or so use + an additional 0.55kW solar (via 2 ground mounted panels) that I installed earlier this year as a project. I have a Jaguar I Pace and have the GoElectric35 tariff with EDF, currently 1am to 6am at 4.5p/kwh and the rest at 20.5p/kwh, with a standing charge circa 35p/day.

With the monitoring system available on the lux app, ive been able to reduce the house load from circa 400w average to 150-200w baseload.

At 150W we import approx 50w (measured via our smart meter display unit), as the load on the lux increases the import reduces to zero at about 350-400w, so the lux is balancing the load with little import/export. This is how I got lux to change parameters (via Jake) after a couple of months use as we were exporting almost 100w at these loads when the system was first installed.

As the load on the lux increases the export level to the grid increases almost linearly, so by max load on the inverter 3400-3500w we export almost 350w. This is similar if the battery is charging at full capacity, we end up exporting circa 350w, so a 10%-100% charge (8650w), means I actually use probably an extra 1000w. I'm happy with how the system works at low power as the import issue only lasts for v short periods as soon as PV comes the issue goes away. the issue I'd like to solve is the large export to the grid when the lux controller is either charging or discharging at hi rates. Any help greatly appreciated. 

Solarchaser

Hi chain reaction and welcome.
I'd suggest emailing lux directly to resolve your issue, I put up the email a couple of pages back on this thread, tell them how much you want to reduce the threshold and they will sort it usually within 24 hours,  it's an offset they adjust.

You will tend to find Mick and Jake are not so helpful or quick to respond when you have already bought everything you are going to buy 🙄