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Sunny Portal Help
Configuring loads
In order to configure a load, you must make the following settings:

 

Setting Explanation
Type of load
  • Information: The options for further settings depends on which Type of Load you select:
  • Select the type of load connected from the Type of Load drop-down list:
    • Self-configured: The load connected is self-configured. With this type of load, you must also state whether the load is program-controlled.
    • Dishwasher: The load connected is a dishwasher.
    • Washing machine: The load connected is a washing machine.
    • Energy monitoring (measure only): Only the power consumption of the device connected is to be measured.
    • Stiebel Eltron WWK 300 / WWP 300: The load connected is the Stiebel Eltron WWK 300 / WWP 300 heat pump. Some settings are blocked because they are not configurable for the device.
    • Tecalor TTA 300: The load connected is the Tecalor TTA 300 heat pump. Some settings are blocked because they are not configurable for the device.
    • Heating element: The load connected is a heating element.
Load is program-controlled State via the checkboxes whether the load can run programs or not (only selectable for the type of load Self-configured).
Name of Load With the load names you can identify the radio-controlled socket and the connected loads in Sunny Home Manager.
  • Enter a load name in the Name of Load text field, e.g. Washing machine basement.
    The load name can have a maximum of 24 characters.
Power Consumption The power consumption is the power typically required by a load for operation (see load manual).
  • Enter the power of the load connected in the Power Consumption text field.
Max. Program Operating Time Only for program-controlled loads
The maximum program operating time is the time that a program-controlled load requires for its longest program. The maximum program operating time defines the latest time at which a load must be switched on so that its longest program can be completed within the specified time limits.
  • Enter the maximum program operating time for the load connected in the Max. Program Operating Time text field (see the load manual).
Minimum Switch-on Time Only for loads that are not program-controlled
The minimum switch-on time is the minimum time that the load connected must remain switched on, for example, to complete its starting sequence or complete a work sequence.
  • Enter the minimum switch-on time in the Minimum Switch-on Time text field. Take into consideration any possible delays in starting the connected load.
Minimum Switch-off Time Only for loads that are not program-controlled
The minimum switch-off time is the minimum time the connected load must remain switched off, for example, to prevent overheating or enable restarting.
  • Enter the minimum switch-off time in the Minimum Switch-off Time text field.
Priority of the load This setting will only take effect if you have set the time period type to Load can be switched on.
The priority determines which load should be switched on preferentially in the event of conflicts.
In the case of the time period type Load must be switched on, the priority of the load does not have any effect, as the load is switched on in any event.
Example: Conflict between two loads
Two loads should only ever be switched on if surplus PV energy is available. As the amount of surplus PV energy is currently only sufficient for one load, however, the load with the higher priority is switched on. If both loads have the same priority, the load with the higher level of consumption is switched on first.
  • Set the slider to the desired level.
Radio-controlled socket Using the drop-down list, assign the load to the radio-controlled socket to which it is connected.
State of the radio-controlled socket after load operation Depending on the load type, the radio-controlled socket can either be switched on or switched off after load operation:
  • Load is program-controlled: switched on
  • Load is not program-controlled: switched off
The radio-controlled socket also switches into the respective state if the connection between the Sunny Home Manager and the radio-controlled socket is interrupted for more than 15 minutes. In this case, you must then reset the radio-controlled socket to the Automatic operating mode.
Measuring and switching Using the drop-down list, set the measuring- and switching behavior of the radio-controlled socket for this load:
  • Radio-controlled socket is to measure and switch (intelligent power consumption)
    The radio-controlled socket measures the power that the load typically consumes. With Sunny Home Manager, this information is incorporated into the planning for load control.
  • Radio-controlled socket is only to switch, not measure (fixed power consumption)
    The radio-controlled socket only switches the load in accordance with the configuration (time period) and the Sunny Home Manager specifications.
The radio-controlled socket also switches into the respective state if the connection between the Sunny Home Manager and the radio-controlled socket is interrupted for more than 15 minutes. In this case, you must then reset the radio-controlled socket to the Automatic operating mode.
Start-up detection Start-up detection can only be selected for the load types Dishwasher and self-configured, program-controlled. With other program-controlled loads, the power consumption after switch-on is too low for start-up detection.
With start-up detection, you no longer have to manually set the radio-controlled socket to the operating mode Automatic. This is an advantage, for example, if the SMA radio-controlled socket is difficult to access behind the dishwasher.
With start-up detection activated, the radio-controlled socket recognizes when you switch the dishwasher on and switches the dishwasher off again immediately. Then, the Sunny Home Manager can schedule the dishwasher into the load control accordingly and at the appropriate time switch the dishwasher back on automatically via the SMA radio-controlled socket.
Sunny Home Manager blocks start-up detection for the duration of the load's maximum program operating time in order that the program can run without interruption even with fluctuations in the power consumption of the load. You specify the maximum program operating time when configuring the load.
If you wish to start the load even though start-up detection is activated, you must set the operating mode of the SMA radio-controlled socket to Manual switch-on (e.g. by activating the touch key on the SMA radio-controlled socket, via the Sunny Portal mobile app or in Sunny Portal via the page Load Balance and Control, tab Current). This way, the load can start immediately and, in the SMA radio-controlled socket, the start-up detection is blocked again for the duration of the maximum program operating time so that the load program can run without being interrupted by the start-up detection.
In order that start-up detection can be activated, the radio-controlled socket must have at least the firmware version 12.12.110.R and be in the operating mode Manual switch-on.
  • In the field Start-up detection, activate the checkbox Active.
  • If required, in the text field Power threshold for detection, adjust the preset threshold for the power consumption of the load during start-up (refer to the load manual for information on power consumption during start-up).
  • If required, in the text field Detection time, adjust the preset time period over which the threshold of the power consumption must be exceeded before a start-up of the load is detected.
Load has internal automatic switching If the load has internal automatic switching, you must provide additional information in order that the SMA radio-controlled socket can detect whether the load is in operation or in standby mode. This ensures that premature disconnection of the load is avoided, so that it can also run for longer than the configured time period if necessary.
  • In the field Load has internal switch-off detection, activate the checkbox Yes.
  • If required, in the text field Threshold for switch-off detection, adjust the preset threshold for the power consumption in standby mode (refer to the load manual for information on power consumption during standby mode). Tip: Typically the threshold is approximately 50% of the average power consumption in operation.
  • If required, in the text field Detection time, adjust the preset time period over which the threshold of the power consumption must be under-stepped before a standby operation of the load is detected.
Status during communication disturbance Via the drop-down list, select which status the radio-controlled socket is to assume if the communication connection to Sunny Home Manager is disturbed.
Configuring the time period The time period determines during which times Sunny Home Manager can or must switch the load on. The configuration of time periods is only possible for loads that are connected to SMA radio-controlled sockets. You can set several time periods for each load. By default, a daily time period is set so that the load is switched on within the time period (load MUST be switched on). The time periods configured are shown as colored bars in the Time period overview:
  • Dark blue bar: MUST- time period
  • Light blue bar: CAN- time period
  • Red bar: Invalid time period configuration
    It is possible that the time period overlaps other, already configured time periods, or that the time period is too short for the entered minimum switch-on time of the load.

NOTICE

Shorter service life of the radio-controlled socket through the frequent switching of loads
The more often the radio-controlled socket switches loads on and off, the shorter the service life of the radio-controlled socket.
  • When setting time periods and device operating times, ensure that the radio-controlled socket does not have to switch loads on and off unnecessarily often.
Changing the time period
  1. Select Configuration > Load Overview in the page- and menu selection.
  2. In the desired load row, select the gear-wheel icon in the Configuration column.
  3. In the tab "Name of Load", select the button [Edit].
  4. Select [Configure time period].
  5. In the window Configure time period, make the desired changes for the time period.
  6. Select [Accept].

 

Select the time period type "Load can be switched on" or "Load must be switched on"
This setting determines whether the load will definitely be switched on during the time period or only if certain conditions have been met.
The Load must be switched on option is selected as standard.
When you select the Load Can be Switched On option, you must subsequently configure the conditions for switching on the load.

 

Configure time period type "Load can be switched on"
The Sunny Home Manager can switch on the load depending on the proportion of PV energy or depending on the maximum permissible energy costs.

 

CAN time period: In some cases, the load is not switched on
If the set proportion of PV energy is not attained or the energy costs do not fall below the maximum permitted, it is possible that the load is not apportioned any energy in the optional time period and the SMA radio-controlled socket is not switched on.

 

Proportion of the PV energy
You can set the load to be switched on only if a certain minimum proportion of PV energy is available to operate the load. If the Limiting of the active power feed-in function is activated, you can also set how high the proportion of surplus PV energy must be that would otherwise be throttled.

 

Maximum permitted energy costs
You can set a maximum amount for the energy costs for operating the load. The price range of the slider is based on the highest and the lowest possible energy costs, e.g. the highest energy costs for operation exclusively with line current and the lowest energy costs for operation exclusively with PV energy, the cost of which is calculated based on the feed-in tariff less the self-consumption tariff. In addition, if the function Limitation of active power feed-in is activated, surplus PV energy can be taken into account that is free, as it would otherwise be throttled.
Example: Operate load exclusively with free energy
A pond pump should only be switched on if there is more PV energy available than may be fed into the utility grid.
  • Set the slider to 0 Euro/kWh. If enough surplus PV energy is available, the pond pump is switched on.
  1. Select Configuration > Load Overview in the page- and menu selection.
  2. In the desired load row, select the gear-wheel icon in the Configuration column.
  3. In the tab "Name of Load", select the button [Edit].
  4. Select [Configure time period].
  5. Select the time period type Load can be switched on.
  6. The area Load will be switched on depending on is displayed.
  7. Select the Maximum permitted energy costs option or the Proportion of the PV energy option and set the slider to the desired value.
  8. Select [Accept].

 

Adding an additional time period
If a load is not to run throughout the day, but rather at predefined intervals (e.g. pond pump), you must add several consecutive time periods for this day. Here, the number of time periods equates to the number of intervals in which the load is to run.
  1. Select Configuration > Load Overview in the page- and menu selection.
  2. In the desired load row, select the gear-wheel icon in the Configuration column.
  3. In the tab "Name of Load", select the button [Edit].
  4. Select [Configure time period].
  5. Select Add time period.
  6. A new time period with the corresponding number will be displayed in the Time period overview.
  7. Make the desired settings.
  8. Select [Accept].

 

Deleting a time period
You can not delete all time periods for a load. At least one time period must be configured for each load. If no SMA radio-controlled socket is assigned to the load, however, the time period has no effect on the operation of the load.
  1. Select Configuration > Load Overview in the page- and menu selection.
  2. In the desired load row, select the gear-wheel icon in the Configuration column.
  3. In the tab "Name of Load", select the button [Edit].
  4. Select [Configure time period].
  5. Select for the desired time period.
  6. Select [Accept].