I’ve been exploring ways to enhance my smart home setup, particularly focusing on optimizing my EV charger’s performance. One area I’ve been diving into is controlling the current draw based on solar power generation and user preferences. Here’s what I’ve discovered and implemented.
The Challenge
I wanted my EV charger to adjust its current draw dynamically. During sunny days, it should prioritize using solar power, but also allow for faster charging by drawing from the grid when needed. This required integrating two helpers: one for tracking solar-generated current (input_number.max_powercharge_current) and another for setting the EV charger’s target current (input_number.car_charger_ampere).
The Solution
After some experimentation, I set up a system where the EV charger’s current is automatically adjusted by adding the solar-generated current to the user-defined maximum grid current. This ensures that during peak solar hours, the charger uses as much renewable energy as possible while still allowing for quicker charging when the user desires it.
Implementation Steps
- Helper Integration: I linked
input_number.max_powercharge_currentwithinput_number.car_charger_ampereusing a node. This addition ensures the charger’s current is the sum of solar-generated and grid-drawn power. - Dynamic Adjustments: By adjusting
input_number.max_powercharge_current, users can manually override the system to draw more current from the grid, enabling faster charging when needed. - Monitoring and Feedback: I set up real-time monitoring within the Home Assistant dashboard to track the current draw and ensure the system operates within safe limits.
Benefits
- Energy Efficiency: Maximizes solar energy usage, reducing grid dependency.
- User Flexibility: Allows users to choose between eco-friendly charging and faster charging as needed.
- System Stability: Ensures the charger operates within predefined limits, preventing overloads.
Future Enhancements
I’m considering integrating weather forecasts to predict solar availability and further optimize charging schedules. Additionally, exploring the use of time-based automation could help manage charging during off-peak hours for cost savings.
If anyone has similar setups or additional tips, I’d love to hear about your experiences! Let’s continue to innovate and optimize our smart home systems together.