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July 5, 2022
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Why is my Solis solar inverter drawing energy from the grid?

  • July 5, 2022
  • 52 replies
  • 28106 views

Hey everyone,

 

I need some help and advice.  My Solis Inverter still draws minimal energy from the grid even though my solar panels are generating enough energy for use and storage.  The problem is that this minimal amounts are costing me almost £1 a day, around £30 a month.

 

Is there anyone of fixing this issue? Solis says there is nothing that can be done at the moment but have raised a ticket that has not been allocated to anyone.  Would this be the same issue with all inverters?

 

Best answer by Jequinlan

Hi @Mbu1982 

 

Welcome and I hope below answers your question:

 

Yes the PV systems all draw (at times) an amount from the grid.

 

I have been monitoring mine for weeks and can confirm there are times there is :

 

A) a trickle from the grid, a cloud can drop PV suddenly and if charging a battery the grid may step up while the battery charge is adjusted

B) a trickle TO the grid, this happens most when PV panels suddenly gain more sun, or when battery is charged.

C) when the battery falls to 4% on my system the trickle to the grid is used to maintain the management of the PV system.

 

Pretty sure the net benefit of solar far exceeds this gain/loss scenario but it appears to be just the way it is.

52 replies

Abby_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 22, 2024

Hey @marsalek 

 

Welcome to the Forum!

 

I hope BPLightlog’s replies have been helpful to you, do let us know how you get on as it can always be helpful to others in the community to here more experience.🙂

Currently Playing: She's Electric
Newcomer
June 20, 2024

At the moment my solar battery is covering all our power usage overnight (according to the solar app).  Why is OVO showing power coming from the grid?  Admittedly not a lot, but thought it would be zero until the battery discharged.

 

Thank you.

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
June 20, 2024

I guess that it depends on your particular setup.

Is you battery charging perhaps set to trickle charge from the grid when there is no sunlight - ie. overnight?

Most charging systems will not let a battery go flat but will start charging once it drops below a certain percentage charge, which may be as high as 90% or even 100% stored charge.
Depending on your system you may be able to change/lower the percentage at which that happens.
(Think of your smartphone battery, even if already at 90% it will still charge to 100% when connected to a supply).

Do you perhaps have some things that may be designated to always use the grid, so that they are not reliant on the state of the battery? (Wired in fire/smoke/burgular alarms for example).

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
June 20, 2024

Hi @Sue732H , your notes from solar and battery use are very common as (you might expect) most people do expect their system to cover everything up to their capacity. 
What is less well known is that the solar inverter - the heart of the system - can often take a few seconds to begin to deliver power from the battery even if there’s plenty stored. That means that a kettle or similar suddenly being switched on (I know there’s no other way) can draw from the grid until the inverter recognises the demand and switches to battery power. 
Some systems are better than others but for the majority, there can easily be times when the immediate need from the property has to be supplemented from grid power until things adjust and your system supplies instead. 
Hope that helps. 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Abby_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 21, 2024

Hey @Sue732H 

 

Welcome to the Forum😊

 

I’m glad to see a couple of our volunteers have already stopped by with some really helpful advice already, I hope you’ve found what they’ve both said useful.

 

We’ve also got similar topics which may also be helpful for you:

 

 

Let us know how you get on, and feel free to ask any other questions you may have, we’ll do what we can to help.

Currently Playing: She's Electric
Newcomer
July 20, 2024

I recently insatalled Solis on grid inverter 10kw. The issue im facing is that even though my inverter is turned on it still drawing energy completely from the grid. My app tells me my system is generating and there is no change in our electric bill. 

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
July 20, 2024

It’s best to keep any questions in one place 

On the face of it, it looks like a configuration issue. It may be set and exporting rather than supplying the property. 
What are you seeing on the app?

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Newcomer
July 20, 2024

Here is the message that it's showing me on the app

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
July 20, 2024

According to Solis, that suggests a problem either between the inverter and the data logger (that is off line) or possibly an issue with connection via WiFi or similar 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
July 22, 2024

@abdullahahmed @BPLightlog 

 

Hey both,

 

I have merged the two threads into one to make this conversation easier! Any questions please let me know 😊

Renewable energy jokes never get old.