u/Personnel_jesus

Hi all, I'd really appreciate some help in getting set up with local control of my KH10.5 inverter.

I've installed Proxmox on a mini PC to run Home Assistant.

I got my installers to run ethernet cable from the "WiLAN" dongle that came with the inverter which gives wifi access via fox cloud and also a fixed ethernet connection but also via fox cloud.

They also ran a spare cable (CAT 6) alongside as I think we got -our wires crossed-(!) on what I was trying to do.

I used Jeepeetee to guide me through checking if the ports (502?) were open for modbus access and it seemed like they were closed.

The installers have looked through their admin access and couldn't see anywhere to grant me access to ModBus.

Do I need to get an adaptor / dongle for rs485->ethernet like a waveshare?

Apologies I'm not too technically minded but I like to learn, so if there are any easy to follow guides out there please point me that way!

The installers aren't experts in the software side of things (but did a great job of the physical install) but do need to maintain their access via cloud as part of the ongoing support included in the installation.

A slight side note; there was an issue with the PV1 string not working on the inverter, they obtained a replacement inverter from Fox which they will swap over in a few days so I'd quite like to be ready on my end -the mini pc, home assistant etc to get local access as soon as the new inverter is in place.

And if I need to tell them which pins need to be wired up to what / where on an adaptor it'd be good to have it here and ready.

Many thanks in advance, apologies for being an (enthusiastic at least) n00b!

EDIT They showed up! Poor guy is out in the ridiculous heat swapping over both gas and electric meters, I'm providing iced water, suncream (but I'm not applying it! Maybe if he does a reeeally good job XD) + Paper towels and will offer an ice lolly at the end!

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My 'current' (badum tsh) electricity supplier is OVO which I will change once my smart meter is installed, prior to my solar and battery install.

(I guess as soon as they've upgraded the meter to get the ball rolling as EDF sound pretty swamped)

I have/had an old (pre-smart) meter, low spec tails (aka wires/cables) and a 60 amp main fuse.

Installers applied for a free fuse upgrade from the DNO and I applied for smart meters from OVO.

The fuse upgrade requires upgrading the meter tails, consumer unit tails (consumer unit itself is already rated for 100amps) etc

Ovo failed to show up for the first meter fitting appointment which meant I got £40 in compensation.

They later showed up to upgrade the meter tails (which would normally be done at the same time as the meter but was arranged seperately by a clueless muppet in OVO customer service )

Looks like they're not showing up today again for the meter so that's another £40 that'll go into my energy account.

So the 'Hack' is - find out if your meter, tails, fuse are outdated, apply for free upgrades where you are entitled to them and arrange for them to come on a day you will be home anyway -so you're not wasting a day off from work- maybe the day after a public holiday or large sporting event to increase your odds and watch as your account balance goes up £40 each time!

That said, I'd really like this meter to be in place so the installers can get started once my g99 comes back.

All that said - what else can I do apart from switching to edf ASAP after the meter is finally fitted to keep the ball rolling and speed up getting approved for export?

Can I contact the DNO to request the export MPAN as soon as I have the smart meter or do EDF have to do that after they have onboarded me?

I'm keen to switch as soon as I can before I miss out on the 15p export, but I'm a bit stuck with OVO until they finally come and upgrade the meter as I hear only bad things about EDF wait times.

And apologies for the hyperbolic title!

update 1 Installers said no problem to push it back, DNO emailed me this morning but it was about providing more info to get upgraded (free apparently) from 60->100amps on the service unit. I think all this could take a while. Especially when I'm supposed to have supplier coming and fitting a smart meter in a couple weeks.

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My installers have just sent off the G99;

I am getting a 4.6kwh array, Fox KH10 inverter, Fox Ep12kw battery fitted in 3 weeks (Beginning June)

There is Very little chance I'll have a response from the DNO by the time the install has taken place (in my mind) so won't find out if a cap is imposed until the system is in place; I don't love the uncertainty of things in that order but I'm not tooo concerned about a 3.68kwh export cap being imposed as the battery can take up any excess over the limit.

But I AM concerned that (I believe) the DNO can insist on a limit to the physical inverter capacity / size- especially as I intend to switch more of our energy use from gas to electric later.

And the fact that I would have paid extra to install a 10kwh inverter and would have to then pay to fit a smaller one (Which also wouldn't cope with my longer turn plans of switching from gas to electric)

Does this just never happen except in extreme circumstances, or should I speak to the installers and ask to delay the setup?

I always thought you had to wait for DNO response before installing but I guess they wouldn't have suggested this date if not.

They seemed trustworthy (well reviewed, local, independent installer) so am I misunderstanding / catastrophizing or are they taking a risk on my behalf and which could leave me high and dry with an increased bill for a substandard system?

Contract says I need to give X amount of notice to make changes but the install is booked for about 3 weeks away so I think I'd need to request a delayed date sharpish if that's the right thing to do.

Maybe I'm just paranoid

I have a quote with a local installer that I am very happy with for solar and battery etc

I need to do a little more research before deciding on a provider and tariff.

However I am still on an analogue meter (Itron ACE 1000) and my current supplier (OVO for electric and gas) doesn't seem to have any decent rates/ options for cheap off peak usage etc so guess I will be changing supplier.

So should I start the process of changing supplier and tariff now and requesting a smart meter, right before I sign the contract with the installers, or do I wait till I have a date for when the installation should be complete?

Or even wait until the installation is done?

Or just until DNO has responded to G99 application?

I think my options are limited as I don't have an EV yet either (but installers are fitting a charger as a sweetener) but would really like to charge the battery cheaply at night and/or export excess solar asap after the system is installed.

I worry my meter can't track export or differentiate between off peak/ peak usage for those sort of tarrifs so I don't see how exports could be backdated either if it takes ages after solar+batt installation to get all this done.

I've spent a few weeks geeking out on the solar and battery hardware that I'm only just getting round to this rather key part of the process.

Tl:dr - I am about to sign papers and pay deposit for a solar and battery install, G99 application.

No idea the timeline and order I should be trying to pick a tariff, switch supplier, try get a smart meter installed etc

My head is already close to exploding from learning about solar and battery hardware, choosing tariff, switching supplier etc might just finish me off.

Thank you im advance for any knowledge, insights or assurance you provide!