My Givenenergy AC coupled inverter used 0.1-0.2KW per day for a typical 10-15KWh usage. I can cope with the 2p per day when the standing charge is 25p. I’m 95% off grid which is so much better than my 100% on grid previous usage.
@@nicotoscani1707 I think smart meter reads more accurately every drop of electricity used but had to have them as swapped to octopus energy. As I am not hardly used any electric from grid it oesnt bother me so much. I'm just after another huawei battery but impossible to get!
I thought I’d explain what an optimiser does; a typical solar panel has an output of 250W, if the inverter applies too much load the panel will output will drop to eg 200W or too little load is applied say 200W, but if it applies an optimum load then output will be 250W, so what an optimiser does is find the Maximum Power transfer Point and then Tracks it as the sun illumination varies, it’s abbreviated to MPPT and ensures the maximum power transfer theorem is applied to each panel, the net result is the panels provide more power than those without optimisers and the addition is about 20%. Each panel is autonomous. GivEnergy have released new firmware and now their batteries are very quick and I see typically 30Wh over night and the battery is 8.2kwh but actually 10.6kwh, I leave mine on automatic so there’s no user input required.
That's great news. Just a shame it was software holding it back . Such a shame they didn't update mine sooner I could've had a more favourable comparison. On the optimisers I can confirm Solaredge optimised panels are not doing any better than other inverters on my roof. No shading . I'd love 20% more of course
I'd say yes to North panels if it was your best option but optimisers would have the same benefits subject to the obstacles you're dealing with like chimney stacks. You've got to do the calcs to see what losses you're experiencing and how mu h gain optimisers might provide. My North roof has a chimney stack that affects performance but I suspect string design and dual section panel choice could alleviate the need fur optimisers making the potential improvement nominal
Just had the Huawei battery system installed and the inability for the user to set timings for when to charge is still an issue. It's crazy that this isn't accessible in the user settings. Luckily, the installer has given me details of how to set this up in the installer login section. This needs to be made accessible to the user though.
Contact your installer.. when they set up your user and installation on the Huawei app / portal, they need to put you the customer as the installer rather than the end user. This then gives you full access to change battery settings. It's a simple work around, but yes a little odd to have to do this.
Very informative video mate we are looking into a battery storage to compliment our 16 panels and personally I'll hold fire for a few more year's before committing to storage. Most people will just want an install and forget system and I'm one of them ;). On a side note we have started seeing VTG systems in Leicester and I'm still on the waiting list for the leaf . Fingers crossed. Cheers nigel
I'm not convinced prices will change much in the next few years until something disruptive occurs. At least competition is growing which is helping. Raw cell prices are coming down, but packaged home storage systems are still quite high.
Much appreciated. I'm in a fortunate position to test a few batteries. It's good of I can share a little info and help people make their minds up as to what suits them
Nigel I've finally decided to go to EV what's the best charger on the market? I've only heard of your zappy is that market leader? Thanks for your time.
It's one of the best and until recently had very little. Competition for charging from solar. EO might be worth a look, then there's solaredge if you have their solar inverter. I'd avoid Rolec and Podpoint but that's just my personal opinion
@@EVPuzzle I'm on givnergy 5khw and 8.2kWh battery, I know you are on agile is there a EV tariff octopus are doing? Sorry for the questions your my solar/EV go 2 😂
Isn't that dependant upon the capacity of the inverter and the size of the installation? I'm looking at installing an (approx) 8kW system spread equally across an East West roof. If the Huawei is a 5kW inverter will I need two inverters?
Thank you for all your great video uploads. Just wondering with regards to the lawnmower example, and the "kick in" time for the battery to respond, what information would you look for on the data sheet? Thanks
Afraid not, I heard a few have this system but it's not being widely Installed unlike givenergy. Shame as it has makings of a cracking system and a company capable of great software solutions
Enjoying your honest and informing channel. I’m toying between the GivEnergy and a Powerwall 2 for my system. Would you still buy the GivEnergy given your experience? To me the capacity, Tesla Energy Plan 10p import and export plan with no s.c. and the apparent reliability of the Tesla outweigh the additional coast spread over 10 years. It’s not as configurable and I’m not a fan of the Tesla discharging itself every day at peak under the Plan. Would appreciate your thoughts.
If you don't need the 13.5kwh or the 5kw output Givenergy is better value potentially but if you want more power the Powerwall is worth the extra money compared to a similarly configured givenergy. Givenergy suits UK Octopus tariffs better and export energy trading BUT the powerwall is likely to keep Improving and the auto charging only occurs in one of its modes. If I needed 10kwh+ I'd go with the Powerwall and perhaps the Tesla Octopus tariff. If its a close call you can't go wrong I guess but there are other options than these two. Lots of choice these days
In my opinion the only way you will get what you want, total control, is to buy the components and make your own system. A bit of a faff but it would seem that all ESS suppliers want to not let you do what you want.
What panels do you have on your 2 systems? Trying to quantify the difference in performance of your Solis v SolarEdge v Huawei performance, would be good to know.
@@EVPuzzle Wow, that's quite a difference. I've had a suspicion that Optimised systems would underperform against a string inverter as there's more components, more resistance and more energy needed. Have you considered any other possible reasons to make such a big difference? Also, have you done any calculations to give a % difference in performance? Would love to know how it pans out if you have.
Love your reviews. I have a Givenergy 8.4Kw battery on order. They just told me there is a delay and they have offered me a FOX - ESS as an alternative. Has anyone had any good or bad experiences or would you suggest that I wait for the Givenergy?
If you follow me On twitter @EVPuzzle look out for Nickie @Thew0lfman, he's got a Fox ESS system and doesn't rate the interface. I'd choose Lux power over fox ess
Bit confused. I thought if you want a huawei battery buy have to use their inverter? If this is the case how are you able to see your solar production on the solar edge app? Isn’t this disconnected from the panels?
My installer has just told me that you can have the huawei battery AC coupled? I wasn’t aware of this. I already have a PV array with a solar edge hd wave. I didn’t want to give this up so was looking at the powerwall due to that huawei limitation. If it can be AC coupled then the huawei is looking much more attractive!
Just to add to this. I understand you can charge via AC but it’s the solar charging I’m talking about. Without the inverter is the battery charge controller smart enough to charge with excess solar using CT etc.
@@EVPuzzle thanks for your replies. Wonder if you can remember what happened when your solar edge array was in excess and the luna2000 detected a positive load. Did it charge the huawei battery from that excess solar? Or did that just export to the grid?
Hi. Did you ever get sorted with setting the charge times? I’m looking to confirm an installation tomorrow and this Huawei system is what they install. I’d like to charge at night so it’s important that this can be set!
@@igorzyskind74 from looking at the app on the app store, it looks much the same as was reveiwed in this video. my installer has told me he can set it charge at night but i'm not sure if you had tariffs that change times.
@@niallbenn great news! Did you have to have "installer" version of the app or normal "end user" mode was enough for that function? I was under impression that you need an installer version but hopefully this is not the case
Hi Nigel. Have you done a vid showing your array config? I'm interested in putting up a second array but am unsure how to connect it to my existing system of a hybrid inverter and Givenergy battery
thanks for your great videos , loads of info , like you said in your vid, you need a powerwall 2 with gateway 2 to be 100% off grid , would be great if you could get one to try and test .
Sorry I don’t understand what you are saying about battery delay, you talked about using an electric lawnmower and it being turned on and off, and I get that the electricity demand will go up and down, but what impact does the battery have? You talked about your wife needing to ask when she could turn the oven on which I didn’t understand either. In my simple mind, electricity demand in the house can be fulfilled from solar panels, a battery, and if demand is higher than the battery can supply, the mains grid. If solar power output is greater than house demand then the excess power is used to charge the battery, and the battery can be further topped up overnight on cheap rate grid. I appreciate that in such a configuration the battery would have to swap from ‘being charged due to excess solar’ to ‘being discharged due to higher house demand’, and that that ‘mode swap’ might take time, but what happens during the swap, do you use grid (that you’d prefer not to) or do all the lights dim or what? Currently we have a 4kW solar panel system with a reasonable FIT tariff payment (had it about 6 years), no EV at present (but considering a PHEV for my next car), and looking like we will be fitting an air source heat pump to replace the oil boiler. Considering a battery and have been thinking about GivEnergy but confused as to battery delay. Thanks
@@EVPuzzle Thanks for the quick reply, so basically it takes a period of time (which latest GivEnergy firmware update now has down to 5 seconds) before the battery kicks in when the house demands more energy than the solar is providing, and in the period of time that it takes to kick in, the power you require is supplied from the grid? E.g. turn on the oven and the first 5 seconds of the oven power is taken from the grid, thereafter the battery supplies the oven.
That’s what I want also, if my powerwall had a decent time clock and could export it would be brilliant would like to loose the ai learning and make the mistakes myself
@@DarylRaverty you can’t export to the grid from the powerwall, what we need is to control it including export to grid, and not rely on the AI to decide if it needs to charge up from previous days data
I feel I must warn potential purchasers of the Huawei Luna2000 battery system, that the unit can be intrusively noisy, emitting a high frequency 'hum', registering between 45 and 50 decibels, for about a ten minute period. This normally happens at about 06:45 hrs, so, as the battery pack is installed in a utily room, within my home, this wakes up the whole family. I feel that this unit is only suitable for installation in garages, or on external walls, but nowhere is this issue mentioned in Huawei leterature, or in any of the online reviews, so buyer beware. By the way, the Huawei customer service (Europe) is defensive, bordering on obstructive and practically non-existent.
You contradicted yourself a lot saying you don't want to be a geek but want total control, don't mind losing half a kW over the course of a day but do mind the battery delay costing you a few watts at night when rates are at their lowest.
My colour vision isn't great at all. Perhaps these companies employ 20 year olds with perfect eyesight to do the programming? Street signs were all designed so that colour blind people would still be ok so why not a screen to manage your solar / battery?
It's more expensive than Givenergy , think it's being pitched at Solaredge customers. Glad the honesty came across. Givenergy looks better value on paper
It's what most people recognise and use . I'm not interested in being exact or correct so long as people understand. It is strange though how when we try to pronounce foreign names accurately they're harder to recognise
My Givenenergy AC coupled inverter used 0.1-0.2KW per day for a typical 10-15KWh usage.
I can cope with the 2p per day when the standing charge is 25p.
I’m 95% off grid which is so much better than my 100% on grid previous usage.
Do you charge an EV?
Just installed the Huawei system and it feels good. First switch on about 6pm and still my suppliers energy meter is reading 1W! Love it!!
You'll be watching it all the time now. Never stops amazing me that an empty graph can be so interesting
@@nicotoscani1707 smart meter
@@nicotoscani1707 I think smart meter reads more accurately every drop of electricity used but had to have them as swapped to octopus energy.
As I am not hardly used any electric from grid it oesnt bother me so much.
I'm just after another huawei battery but impossible to get!
@@nicotoscani1707 got one on order since July!
I thought I’d explain what an optimiser does; a typical solar panel has an output of 250W, if the inverter applies too much load the panel will output will drop to eg 200W or too little load is applied say 200W, but if it applies an optimum load then output will be 250W, so what an optimiser does is find the Maximum Power transfer Point and then Tracks it as the sun illumination varies, it’s abbreviated to MPPT and ensures the maximum power transfer theorem is applied to each panel, the net result is the panels provide more power than those without optimisers and the addition is about 20%. Each panel is autonomous.
GivEnergy have released new firmware and now their batteries are very quick and I see typically 30Wh over night and the battery is 8.2kwh but actually 10.6kwh, I leave mine on automatic so there’s no user input required.
That's great news. Just a shame it was software holding it back . Such a shame they didn't update mine sooner I could've had a more favourable comparison.
On the optimisers I can confirm Solaredge optimised panels are not doing any better than other inverters on my roof. No shading . I'd love 20% more of course
@@EVPuzzle I understand that the GivEnergy inverters have two MPPTs so they can simultaneously optimise east and west facing roofs
Doesn't the SUN2000 have 2 MPPT trackers built in?
Mine was, yes
I'd say yes to North panels if it was your best option but optimisers would have the same benefits subject to the obstacles you're dealing with like chimney stacks. You've got to do the calcs to see what losses you're experiencing and how mu h gain optimisers might provide.
My North roof has a chimney stack that affects performance but I suspect string design and dual section panel choice could alleviate the need fur optimisers making the potential improvement nominal
Just had the Huawei battery system installed and the inability for the user to set timings for when to charge is still an issue. It's crazy that this isn't accessible in the user settings. Luckily, the installer has given me details of how to set this up in the installer login section. This needs to be made accessible to the user though.
Contact your installer.. when they set up your user and installation on the Huawei app / portal, they need to put you the customer as the installer rather than the end user. This then gives you full access to change battery settings. It's a simple work around, but yes a little odd to have to do this.
[Insert Queen track at the end] - "I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I want it in under 5 seconds!"
Very informative video mate we are looking into a battery storage to compliment our 16 panels and personally I'll hold fire for a few more year's before committing to storage. Most people will just want an install and forget system and I'm one of them ;). On a side note we have started seeing VTG systems in Leicester and I'm still on the waiting list for the leaf . Fingers crossed. Cheers nigel
I'm not convinced prices will change much in the next few years until something disruptive occurs. At least competition is growing which is helping.
Raw cell prices are coming down, but packaged home storage systems are still quite high.
Great video. No one really reviewing battery storage in this in depth. I agree RE the efficiency. It would annoy me.
Much appreciated. I'm in a fortunate position to test a few batteries. It's good of I can share a little info and help people make their minds up as to what suits them
@@EVPuzzle Thank you 👍
Nigel I've finally decided to go to EV what's the best charger on the market? I've only heard of your zappy is that market leader? Thanks for your time.
It's one of the best and until recently had very little. Competition for charging from solar. EO might be worth a look, then there's solaredge if you have their solar inverter. I'd avoid Rolec and Podpoint but that's just my personal opinion
@@EVPuzzle I'm on givnergy 5khw and 8.2kWh battery, I know you are on agile is there a EV tariff octopus are doing? Sorry for the questions your my solar/EV go 2 😂
Unless I'm mistaken, as long as the inverter is dual mppt, shading on one roof won't affect the output of the other one.
Yep if can can seperate strings
Isn't that dependant upon the capacity of the inverter and the size of the installation?
I'm looking at installing an (approx) 8kW system spread equally across an East West roof. If the Huawei is a 5kW inverter will I need two inverters?
Thank you for all your great video uploads. Just wondering with regards to the lawnmower example, and the "kick in" time for the battery to respond, what information would you look for on the data sheet? Thanks
Don't think ramp up times are quoted anywhere except its instant when configured for off grid
Do you have a list of UK companies who install Huawei battery and PV systems? I can't seem to find any
Afraid not, I heard a few have this system but it's not being widely Installed unlike givenergy. Shame as it has makings of a cracking system and a company capable of great software solutions
Enjoying your honest and informing channel. I’m toying between the GivEnergy and a Powerwall 2 for my system. Would you still buy the GivEnergy given your experience? To me the capacity, Tesla Energy Plan 10p import and export plan with no s.c. and the apparent reliability of the Tesla outweigh the additional coast spread over 10 years. It’s not as configurable and I’m not a fan of the Tesla discharging itself every day at peak under the Plan. Would appreciate your thoughts.
If you don't need the 13.5kwh or the 5kw output Givenergy is better value potentially but if you want more power the Powerwall is worth the extra money compared to a similarly configured givenergy.
Givenergy suits UK Octopus tariffs better and export energy trading BUT the powerwall is likely to keep Improving and the auto charging only occurs in one of its modes.
If I needed 10kwh+ I'd go with the Powerwall and perhaps the Tesla Octopus tariff.
If its a close call you can't go wrong I guess but there are other options than these two. Lots of choice these days
@@EVPuzzle thanks for the input
Can we use any brand battery with sun2000 or we only have to use huwawei battery
In my opinion the only way you will get what you want, total control, is to buy the components and make your own system. A bit of a faff but it would seem that all ESS suppliers want to not let you do what you want.
Thanks for another great video
Nice to see you catching up on my older vids
Very helpful thanks, Can the huawei be installed with an existing solarEdge inverter?
Am I right in assuming that the Huawei inverter does the job of two inverters? So the up front cost is different.
It is a hybrid inverter charger
What panels do you have on your 2 systems? Trying to quantify the difference in performance of your Solis v SolarEdge v Huawei performance, would be good to know.
Specs are in the video description
@@EVPuzzle ah yes! Thanks. Are all the panels on the same pitch and orientation too?
Yes
@@EVPuzzle Wow, that's quite a difference. I've had a suspicion that Optimised systems would underperform against a string inverter as there's more components, more resistance and more energy needed. Have you considered any other possible reasons to make such a big difference? Also, have you done any calculations to give a % difference in performance? Would love to know how it pans out if you have.
Solaredge is a mini inverter too using two panels per optimiser. I suspect a bigger inverter would actually yield better results with less loss
Hi can you install these battery's your self ? and do you have a video on the frankinwh ? thanks
Not really no as you need professional electrician skills
Love your reviews. I have a Givenergy 8.4Kw battery on order. They just told me there is a delay and they have offered me a FOX - ESS as an alternative. Has anyone had any good or bad experiences or would you suggest that I wait for the Givenergy?
If you follow me On twitter @EVPuzzle look out for Nickie @Thew0lfman, he's got a Fox ESS system and doesn't rate the interface.
I'd choose Lux power over fox ess
Now u recommend fox ess? In 2k24@EVPuzzle
Nope
Been quoted for the same Huawei setup - do you know if they have updated the software to allow you to set times to charge battery now?
Sorry not sure
Is have it too.hope is good for many years...
Bit confused. I thought if you want a huawei battery buy have to use their inverter? If this is the case how are you able to see your solar production on the solar edge app? Isn’t this disconnected from the panels?
Different array
My installer has just told me that you can have the huawei battery AC coupled? I wasn’t aware of this. I already have a PV array with a solar edge hd wave. I didn’t want to give this up so was looking at the powerwall due to that huawei limitation. If it can be AC coupled then the huawei is looking much more attractive!
Just to add to this. I understand you can charge via AC but it’s the solar charging I’m talking about. Without the inverter is the battery charge controller smart enough to charge with excess solar using CT etc.
The whole point is to charge from solar on a hybrid inverter
@@EVPuzzle thanks for your replies. Wonder if you can remember what happened when your solar edge array was in excess and the luna2000 detected a positive load. Did it charge the huawei battery from that excess solar? Or did that just export to the grid?
Hi. Did you ever get sorted with setting the charge times? I’m looking to confirm an installation tomorrow and this Huawei system is what they install. I’d like to charge at night so it’s important that this can be set!
No I didn't but hopefully other owner can comment here as I know a few have Huawei systems
Niall I also have the same question. Charging at night is critical for me
@@igorzyskind74 from looking at the app on the app store, it looks much the same as was reveiwed in this video. my installer has told me he can set it charge at night but i'm not sure if you had tariffs that change times.
@@igorzyskind74 I got this installed at my house. Been able to modify it without issue. Software has been pretty good. Easy to use.
@@niallbenn great news! Did you have to have "installer" version of the app or normal "end user" mode was enough for that function? I was under impression that you need an installer version but hopefully this is not the case
Hi Nigel. Have you done a vid showing your array config? I'm interested in putting up a second array but am unsure how to connect it to my existing system of a hybrid inverter and Givenergy battery
Yes I have . There's a playlist for my solar videos. Should be an earlier one from around sept 2019
@@EVPuzzle thanks
thanks for your great videos , loads of info , like you said in your vid, you need a powerwall 2 with gateway 2 to be 100% off grid , would be great if you could get one to try and test .
I'm confident I'll end up with a system that ticks all my boxes.
What size array do you have in kilowatts?
How is it configured?
Details are in the description of my videos. 6.3kw
@@EVPuzzle thanks. 👍
Sorry I don’t understand what you are saying about battery delay, you talked about using an electric lawnmower and it being turned on and off, and I get that the electricity demand will go up and down, but what impact does the battery have? You talked about your wife needing to ask when she could turn the oven on which I didn’t understand either.
In my simple mind, electricity demand in the house can be fulfilled from solar panels, a battery, and if demand is higher than the battery can supply, the mains grid. If solar power output is greater than house demand then the excess power is used to charge the battery, and the battery can be further topped up overnight on cheap rate grid.
I appreciate that in such a configuration the battery would have to swap from ‘being charged due to excess solar’ to ‘being discharged due to higher house demand’, and that that ‘mode swap’ might take time, but what happens during the swap, do you use grid (that you’d prefer not to) or do all the lights dim or what?
Currently we have a 4kW solar panel system with a reasonable FIT tariff payment (had it about 6 years), no EV at present (but considering a PHEV for my next car), and looking like we will be fitting an air source heat pump to replace the oil boiler. Considering a battery and have been thinking about GivEnergy but confused as to battery delay.
Thanks
Not sure how to better explain it but battery response isn't instant and no the lights don't go out 😂
@@EVPuzzle Thanks for the quick reply, so basically it takes a period of time (which latest GivEnergy firmware update now has down to 5 seconds) before the battery kicks in when the house demands more energy than the solar is providing, and in the period of time that it takes to kick in, the power you require is supplied from the grid? E.g. turn on the oven and the first 5 seconds of the oven power is taken from the grid, thereafter the battery supplies the oven.
Any footage 9n installation and settings?
That’s what I want also, if my powerwall had a decent time clock and could export it would be brilliant would like to loose the ai learning and make the mistakes myself
I guess it's a control thing. I don't mind automation but I'd like lots of control parameters. My usage is unique to me
I don't understand, I am an installer and my Powerwall has an easy option in the app. Time of use. Input the times, done.
@@DarylRaverty you can’t export to the grid from the powerwall, what we need is to control it including export to grid, and not rely on the AI to decide if it needs to charge up from previous days data
Part of the bigger plan Chris? Tesla want to control the export
@@EVPuzzle they do on the Tesla energy plan, I’m hoping at some point they allow us without using hacks
Does the Huawei have an API you can access to process the data yourself?
It has export abilities but I've not seen an Api yet
Yes, it does have an API that you can use to access the data.
Is huawei api compatible with octopus agile?
Not really no
What about Victron multiplus II vs Huawei?
Now that's one I'd like to try
Does anyone know if the time-of-day issue has been resolved?
great video👍. Where can i get that huawei system?
In the UK just ask your Installer. They should be able to buy through their usual sources
@@EVPuzzle i thought i could import I'm not based in the UK
I see. Drop Huawei UK a line on twitter to inquire or Google shipping might find a few
@@EVPuzzle on it. Thank you.
Can you use your own battery? Thank you in advance!
Not sure what you mean . Some inverters accept a variety of batteries but Huawei and Givenergy don't for sure
How does this compare with the Sonnen battery?
Not tried sonnen but its a quality box, I'd guess better overall
I feel I must warn potential purchasers of the Huawei Luna2000 battery system, that the unit can be intrusively noisy, emitting a high frequency 'hum', registering between 45 and 50 decibels, for about a ten minute period. This normally happens at about 06:45 hrs, so, as the battery pack is installed in a utily room, within my home, this wakes up the whole family.
I feel that this unit is only suitable for installation in garages, or on external walls, but nowhere is this issue mentioned in Huawei leterature, or in any of the online reviews, so buyer beware.
By the way, the Huawei customer service (Europe) is defensive, bordering on obstructive and practically non-existent.
You contradicted yourself a lot saying you don't want to be a geek but want total control, don't mind losing half a kW over the course of a day but do mind the battery delay costing you a few watts at night when rates are at their lowest.
I also said swings and roundabouts. I want both.
Good vid.
Hwa way 👍
My colour vision isn't great at all. Perhaps these companies employ 20 year olds with perfect eyesight to do the programming? Street signs were all designed so that colour blind people would still be ok so why not a screen to manage your solar / battery?
Totally agree it's not hard
Yes, once again it’s form over function ’it must look nice’!
It doesn't sound better tbh Nigel lol
Also what would the price be compared to givenergy set up? Nice vid as always 👍🏼
It's more expensive than Givenergy , think it's being pitched at Solaredge customers.
Glad the honesty came across. Givenergy looks better value on paper
They also need to take account of colour blind people.
I agree.
It's pronounced wa-way 👍
I'm aware👍
I'll stick with H-wa-way
@@EVPuzzle 😕 ok, strange you intentionally want to pronounce it incorrectly.
It's what most people recognise and use . I'm not interested in being exact or correct so long as people understand. It is strange though how when we try to pronounce foreign names accurately they're harder to recognise
What a load of paid bs
Yeah right paid 🤣🤣🤣