Growatt 6.5 solar battery

Hi,

I have had the above installed as an addition to solar panels, but was surprised to find that the battery fills up overnight to 100%, so that in the morning - when the sun shines - my battery is already full.

As a newbie to all this it seems a bit daft to me, so I queried it with the supplier and he told me it's to take advantage of a cheap rate at night - but the tariff I'm on doesn't have a cheap rate at night.

So my logic feels that:
  • I'm charging at night costing me x pence / Kwh
  • then exporting during the day and earning 'less than x/ Kwh'

    which wasn't what I was expecting.
There's a very extensive web portal that monitors my Growatt system, so I'm wondering if anyone knows what setting to use to tell the battery to only charge to (say) 50% overnight please?

I asked my supplier how to do this but he told me to ask my neighbour (who is also a customer and recommended the supplier) !!   
This whole installation has been problematic and I think he's 'had enough' of me asking questions  :)

Happy for someone to tell me my supplier has been right to set to 100% overnight - but, please will you explain why?

Thanks
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Comments

  • arty688
    arty688 Posts: 414 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Assuming you get on with your neighbour and they are more proficient at programming the battery is not a bad idea as its probably better to be sown what to do .. You also may want to set up a reserve if you have backup facility over this winter. Also is changinf tariff an option with a battery the saving can be quite good.
    8kw system spread over 6 roofs , surrounded by trees and in a valley.
  • j368
    j368 Posts: 25 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    That's not the company :-) I won't name them as I don't want to annoy them in case the whole thing fails. (Already had one battery die on me and have to be replaced under warranty.)

    Anyway I can't find where 'Storage' is at the moment, but I have to work right now, so I'll look harder later. Thanks!
  • j368
    j368 Posts: 25 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Probably a good idea to get my neighbour round for moral support.

    Sadly changing tariff is a whole other saga that I'm trying to get my head round as I can't get my FIT registration released from Scottish Power to go to Octopus - both parties say it's the other party's job. That's been going on for weeks too.
  • I just guessed it was LR as they'd set it up exactly like that for me. It must be something they all learn at PV Installation School. The destop site's rather different...scroll down to "My Photovoltaic Devices", click "Settings" on the RH side, agree to the disclaimer (Devil gets your soul, standard stuff) edit the settings for "Battery First", put the growattYYYYMMDD password into the "press enter key to save" box and click yes. I think that's the theory but editing on the website won't work for me at the moment, only the app. All very growatt.
    4.7kWp (12 * Hyundai S395VG) facing more or less S + 3.6kW Growatt inverter + 6.5kWh Growatt battery. SE London/Kent. Fitted 03/22 £1,025/kW + battery £2495

  • mickyduck55
    mickyduck55 Posts: 676 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 16 November 2022 at 4:08PM
    j368 said:
    Probably a good idea to get my neighbour round for moral support.

    Sadly changing tariff is a whole other saga that I'm trying to get my head round as I can't get my FIT registration released from Scottish Power to go to Octopus - both parties say it's the other party's job. That's been going on for weeks too.
    There is no requirement to move your FIT to change a tariff or indeed change supplier.  I have changed supplier many times since 2011 but my FIT is still paid via E-on who I have never had an issue with.
    3.995kWP SSW facing. Commissioned 7 July 2011. 24 degree pitch (£3.36 /W).
    17 Yingli 235 panels
    Sunnyboy 4000TL inverter
    Sunny Webox
    Solar Immersion installed May 2013, after two Solar Immersion lasting just over the guarantee period replaced with Solic 200... no problems since.

    13 Feb 2020 LUX AC 3600 and 3 X Pylon Tech 3.5 kW batteries added...

    20 January 2024 Daikin ASHP installed
  • I just guessed it was LR as they'd set it up exactly like that for me. It must be something they all learn at PV Installation School. The destop site's rather different...scroll down to "My Photovoltaic Devices", click "Settings" on the RH side, agree to the disclaimer (Devil gets your soul, standard stuff) edit the settings for "Battery First", put the growattYYYYMMDD password into the "press enter key to save" box and click yes. I think that's the theory but editing on the website won't work for me at the moment, only the app. All very growatt.

    In fairness to LR, they didn't do that on my install. They said I could charge the battery up at night if I wished, and emailed me the guide on how to do it.
  • That's good of them - I should have asked if they could email me a guide on how to undo it!
    4.7kWp (12 * Hyundai S395VG) facing more or less S + 3.6kW Growatt inverter + 6.5kWh Growatt battery. SE London/Kent. Fitted 03/22 £1,025/kW + battery £2495

  • Solarchaser
    Solarchaser Posts: 1,751 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yeah no need to get fit moved.
    My fit is still with edf who I left about 5 years ago.

    If you don't have cheap rate, it's nonsensical to charge it at night, that's the companies fault for setting it up that way.
    Also you paid them to install the system, so it is uo to them ti set it up right. 

    Who cares if you are that annoying so and so, you paid them for a service, not to think you are a great person.
    They are failing you here, they should be fixing it 
    West central Scotland
    4kw sse since 2014 and 6.6kw wsw / ene split since 2019
    24kwh leaf, 75Kwh Tesla and Lux 3600 with 60Kwh storage
  • ecraig
    ecraig Posts: 254 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    In fairness to LR, they didn't do that on my install. They said I could charge the battery up at night if I wished, and emailed me the guide on how to do it.
    Same here. They set it up for me for standard solar based charging.
    I have now set it up for TOU overnight..
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