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I'm looking for a grid meter for use with Energy Storage System design. I live in the US, with split-phase 240VAC power, my home has 200A service, phase angle is 180*.
Would the Carlo Gavazzi EM24DINAV53DISX work? I wasn't sure since it's marketed as 230VAC 3-Phase compatible which is not available in the US.
Got an answer from Carlo Gavazzi support. The EM24 does support Split Phase 240VAC, up to 200A using Current Transformers.
I am also interested in this question. Did you actually try it?
I'd also ask if ESS accesses the EM24 meter in a manner that results in the total power being read, or if it tries to read the power for each phase and do its own calculations, or something else. Relevant to this:
On this page: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/energy-meters:start?s[]=gavazzi
It says:
In the ET340 - the energy imported and exported is counted at each individual phase and then the Total is provided from the sum of those values.
In the EM24 - the energy imported and exported is counted as a total power, with net differential readings from each phase cancelling each other out.
I'm just guessing that there is no code in ESS specifically for the US split-phase system because it isn't seen in any supported country. So, will it "just work" or are there going to be issues, even if the meter supports it?
I have not yet, the quote I got from the manufacturer was around 750$ just for the energy meter. I certainly will let you know once I have.
I would also be interested in this solution although the price seems steep for the functionality. Was the $750 retail or are you able to find it cheaper?
Thanks
That was the quote directly from the manufacturer's sales team. And yes, that seemed quite steep indeed, considering the two MultiPlus Compact 2000s I'm using were around $1000 each.
The specific model their sales team confirmed would work with my setup was:
EM24DIN AV5 3D IS X
I was originally concerned because the voltage listed in the specs for this model was misleading (I think it listed something like 230v per phase or something), but that was apparently was a range of acceptable voltages, and the listed value was the "maximum allowed voltage allowed up to" voltage, meaning 120VAC (or split phase 240VAC) would be just fine.
To be honest, at this point in my setup, I have the ESS Assistant working exactly the way I want it to, without the use of an Energy Metering device configured in my Venus GX. I am interested in my whole home's net consumption, but the cost to get that data seems too high at this time, I'd rather spend that money on additional lithium battery modules, but will post here if I ever have extra cash burning a hole in my pocket and do end up buying one.
So today I measure my overall usage through this device: https://iotawatt.com/
At the time I paid $150 for the base station and then spent another $30 or so on some addition CT sensors. From there I graph the data in EMONCMS. I can get a nice view of consumption (GRID & Loads) and production (PV). Biggest thing that is missing for me is Battery Bank SOC / Volts. There are options to grab and graph that data but I have just not got around to buying the addition hardware.
I wonder if there are other CT / meters options that are more economical that are supported by Victron? I did notice that the MultiPlusII leverages a CT clamp I believe similar to what I use for my Iotawatt unit and those can be had for 'cheap'.
I am interested in your overall setup since today I am using a 'cheap' inverter and am looking to upgrade to either Victron or an Outback. Do you have a hybrid setup or completely off grid? I am looking at a hybrid setup to minimize grid usage and avoid selling back. Thanks
I have mostly given up measuring overall net usage, and just taking to inferring based on the data that is available to me/looking at my utility bill. I had an Aeon Labs Home Energy Meter before for about the same price you mentioned, problem with most energy meters besides the Carlos Gavazii ones is they don't read reverse current properly so it became depreciated as soon as I got solar. If you look at the Victron forms, other people have asked the same question and been told no, CG meters are only ones supported besides the Victron branded external CTs.
I have an on-grid connected ESS setup, I use my batteries to offset the energy I use during peak pricing times, to the super-off peak hours. I permit the system to feed in AC back to the grid as well during those hours, as I receive credits that can be used to buy back energy later. What I do to accomplish this is set the Grid Setpoint to -10,000 watts (PV output reaches up to 9,000 watts), and then enable "Limit Inverter Power" so that my battery bank is being discharged at a consistent rate during the on-peak hours; weather that energy goes to my loads, or gets sent back to the grid it really doesn't matter to me. To stop the system from discharging or charging during the "mid-peak" I simply set an option during those hours in "Scheduled Charging", but set the SOC limit low, around 25%, it will charge up to the amount, but not discharge at all during that time. And then during super off-peak, I set it to scheduled charging but with the SOC limit at 100%.
Specifically I have split-phase 240VAC power (Southern California, USA), L1+GND= 120v, L2+GND=120v, L1+L2=240VAC. I have two MultiPlus Compact 24/2000, running in a 180* Split Phase operation mode, with the grid connected on the only AC input. My PV inverter unfortunately is connected in parallel with the grid, NOT on the AC Out of my MultiPlus.. Although the PV inverter is still added to my Venus GX, and is sending the data to VRM. The AC Out of the MultiPlus system goes to a sub-panel which powers my critical loads.
Yes, I'd also love to learn more about any ESS system running in the USA.
AFAIK: Victron has certified only two 120V Multiplus versions to UL 1741 for the US:
Seems like you need that certification for ESS? I'm hoping for 48V Quattros ... someday.
It would be pretty cool if OpenEnergyMonitor could be used instead of proprietary meters from CG. I'm looking into their integration with openEVSE vehicle chargers already. Charging your car when there is PV available isn't so different from what ESS does is it?
Mike, thanks for the link to iotawatt. I've been looking for a more affordable (& accurate) energy meter. Maybe this is it.
Reviving this. I do wish we had an option for ESS compatible grid meter in the USA that wasn’t $750.
ESS can be used in the US by using additional UL verified equipment between it and the grid, and many utilities will do assessments of non UL inverters for additional fees so there are often avenues to hook up non-UL inverters via utility inter connection agreement process.
You could always install any modbus meter and make it work with ESS in Mode 3.
This isn't that hard to do in Node Red if you run the large firmware on the Cerbo.
https://www.victronenergy.com/live/venus-os:large
2x Smart KWh meter 120V with Modbus
https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Single-Energy-anylizer-Modbus/dp/B07D49N8FH/
https://meters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EM115-MOD.pdf
1x RS485 to TCP/IP
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C1TC165/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You can create a flow that takes in the Meter data and sets the Multiplus setpoint.
I know this is outside the scope for the average person but it is a low cost option.
There will be issues, like the ESS setting Menu won't work and VRM will not include this data. Hopefully we can get this NodeRed feature soon and then this will be a viable option for more people and VRM, ESS will work like normal and you won't have to do Mode 3.
https://github.com/victronenergy/node-red-contrib-victron/issues/82
But I just wanted to let people know that there is a low cost option will just need more setting up. As this would be around $200.
Thanks. I thought of doing something similar — using IoTaWatt at around $200, which has an API to pull current power use, then have code that constantly reads that and adjusts grid set point on the Victron side.
But as you noted, this kind of thing is a half solution and gets a way from why I’m using Victron in the first place. The ecosystem... e.g, VRM portal missing data, dashboard view on Venus wouldn’t show the mains usage like with the officially supported meter, etc.
The time spent figuring out the coding, then only having a half measure, means it’s more logical to capitulate and get $700 of Carlo Gavazzi stuff.
It can be currently done if you create your own D-Bus service but that is way more complicated than clicking a few buttons.
In the UK the EM24-DIN.AV5.3.D.IS.X (£300) would be used with CT clamps (£30 each)
Very old thread, but as of 2/22/2024 prices for the EM24DINAV53XE1X have dropped dramatically. Unaka, located in Spartanburg, SC as them in stock for $494.00. Mate them up with a pair of Carlo's CTD1X2005AXXX CT's, $55 a pop and you're golden. Desperately needed a Grid Meter to monitor my 2 UL list MultiPlus-II 120V 48/3000/35-50's in a Split Phase configuration. Wanted to hold out for the UL listing of the 5K's but they've been promising that for months and nothing.
I'm in EE her in Florida and we use lots of Carlo Gravazzi equipment at all our substations, they're built like tanks, with failure rates far below anything other manufacture. I think at the $600 price-point, they are money well spent.
Just placed my order, let you know how it goes.
