Intelligent Octopus Q's

[Rolfe]

@Rolfe : "Home Battery Discharging - when not wanted": I forgot to say, I accidently discovered that if you set a charging schedule on the MG4 between 23:30 - 05:30 (it remembers this every time, so you only need to do this once), then it will force IOG to only work during these periods. I discovered this a few weeks ago, when couldn't get IOG to initiate during the day. I dont know if this affects DC charging when away from home though!

That's handy to know. So you get brownie points for a smart charge, but it won't charge outwith the off-peak period? Excellent.

 

[Tig170]

That's handy to know. So you get brownie points for a smart charge, but it won't charge outwith the off-peak period? Excellent.

Not sure, just plodding along, to see what happens overnight

 

[rkjm30]

Hello
I have a slightly different question of you other Intelligent Octopus Go (IOG) /MG users.

I have just switched to using a MG BEV with my Hypervolt 3.0Pro from a IOG compatible car (Cupra Born). So my IOG is now linked to the charger instead of the car.

All seemed to be going well, but last evening I plugged in with 27% charge and set the Octopus app to charge an extra 60%. The MG is set to a charge limit of 80%.

The charge slots were determined in the Octopus app and the first one started immediately, until 1900, then the next one from 2300-0530.

The MG started charging (in slow charge mode-I assume to balance the cells) and the charge stopped at 1900, as determined by Octopus. However, when the 2330 slot started the MG did not accept the charge so no charge occurred.

The next morning I set octopus to uplift 50% by 0830 and it published a slot from 0614-0830, the hypervolt changed to boost, but the MG did not accept the charge until I pressed “Start Charge” in the iSMART app.

I did not expect to have to tell the car to start charging every time the charger turns on, has anyone found a work around to this?

 

[Akleman]

Hello
I have a slightly different question of you other Intelligent Octopus Go (IOG) /MG users.

I have just switched to using a MG BEV with my Hypervolt 3.0Pro from a IOG compatible car (Cupra Born). So my IOG is now linked to the charger instead of the car.

All seemed to be going well, but last evening I plugged in with 27% charge and set the Octopus app to charge an extra 60%. The MG is set to a charge limit of 80%.

The charge slots were determined in the Octopus app and the first one started immediately, until 1900, then the next one from 2300-0530.

The MG started charging (in slow charge mode-I assume to balance the cells) and the charge stopped at 1900, as determined by Octopus. However, when the 2330 slot started the MG did not accept the charge so no charge occurred.

The next morning I set octopus to uplift 50% by 0830 and it published a slot from 0614-0830, the hypervolt changed to boost, but the MG did not accept the charge until I pressed “Start Charge” in the iSMART app.

I did not expect to have to tell the car to start charging every time the charger turns on, has anyone found a work around to this?

This is not standard behaviour - we have a MG on IOG and our charger does all the controlling. The setup means that just like if you arrive at a normal charger as soon as the charge indicates it is ready to provide charge the car will accept charge as long as it is it at or above the state of charge limit set on the vehicle - which you’ve already explained isn’t the issue in your case. All the users I know just get home, plug the car in and the rest is done automatically.

Most likely it is an inconsistent connection between the charger and the OIG server - check your internet connection is stable. Then test the connection by plugging the car in, check the app is showing “Smart Control ready:

This should just take a few seconds- if it remains on this:

Then there is a communication issue between the charger and IOG server. As you can see we use a first gen zappi but the setup is essentially the same.

If you don’t get it up and running then contact octopus support - I had issues with combining the zappi, IOG and GivEnergy battery storage and they were very helpful.

 

[rkjm30]

This is not standard behaviour - we have a MG on IOG and our charger does all the controlling. The setup means that just like if you arrive at a normal charger as soon as the charge indicates it is ready to provide charge the car will accept charge as long as it is it at or above the state of charge limit set on the vehicle - which you’ve already explained isn’t the issue in your case. All the users I know just get home, plug the car in and the rest is done automatically.

Most likely it is an inconsistent connection between the charger and the OIG server - check your internet connection is stable. Then test the connection by plugging the car in, check the app is showing “Smart Control ready:View attachment 37206

This should just take a few seconds- if it remains on this:
View attachment 37207
Then there is a communication issue between the charger and IOG server. As you can see we use a first gen zappi but the setup is essentially the same.

If you don’t get it up and running then contact octopus support - I had issues with combining the zappi, IOG and GivEnergy battery storage and they were very helpful.

Thank you very much for providing this detailed answer to the issue I have just experienced. I have been through all the items you mention and checked each one. They are all working correctly, as you say:
The charge limit was above the charge level by about 50%.
The Octopus app said “Smart Control Ready”
The Hypervolt app showed it would switch to Boost mode at 0000hrs.
I checked on the home assistant logs and it did switch modes to boost.

Thanks again for all the suggestions it has progressed the problem solving and so I’m fairly sure it was something I must have done to the car. So, I have not approached Octopus yet.

It seems the problem was that the car was behaving as off the Stop Charging button had been pressed and required the Start Charging button to be pressed before it would start the charge, however, I didn’t at any point press the stop charge button.

I don’t know what it was that I must have done to cause it to behave as if the stop charge button had been pressed. Is it possible that opening the door and activating the car by sitting on the seat during an earlier charge window might have caused that?

Thanks again for replies or suggestions.

 

[GaryMG4]

My Zappi/MG4 occasionally does something similar. If I get in the car when it is charging it will pause the charge other times it tells the Zappi charge complete and the smart charge doesn't restart.

 

[JohnV6]

Never had that with my Ohme Home Pro

 

[Jonknee]

Like others, I have a OHME home pro charger, am with OVO, and have been informed that come July, I can only charge at standard rates, not at 7p. I used to work night shifts but luckily do not anymore else this would become much more expensive.

Looking to change to either Eon Next Drive or IOG. Currently, I normally add about 40-50% to the car, topping up to 80% battery by 6am about three times a week with the occasional full charge to 100%; more come winter.

Did anyone confirm, especially as a potential new customer, that if IOG does decide to charge outside of the off-peak time, the whole house benefits from the low rate? And how frequently does charging outside of the off-peak time occur, the intelligent bit I presume?

Normally plug in around 6-8pm depending when I finish work and traffic.

Thanks.

 

[rkjm30]

Regarding the IOG prices, I have been using IOG for over 2 years now and I check my bills carefully each month. I can confirm that whenever the Octopus App publishes charging windows all of the electricity consumed in those windows is charged at the (currently) 7p rate regardless whether it is consumed by the house or the car charger. So yes the house gets the 7p rate too.

Regarding the additional windows (outside the 2330-0530) these can be generated by the Octopus AI system from when you plug in until the time you have stated you want the car charged. The IOG system seems to always find enough extra windows to achieve the requested charge level (or charge to add) provided there is physically enough time to put that level of charge into the car. Note that you can only dictate a ready by time in the window of 0400-1100.

I hope this helps.

 

[Archev]

Regarding the IOG prices, I have been using IOG for over 2 years now and I check my bills carefully each month. I can confirm that whenever the Octopus App publishes charging windows all of the electricity consumed in those windows is charged at the (currently) 7p rate regardless whether it is consumed by the house or the car charger. So yes the house gets the 7p rate too.

Regarding the additional windows (outside the 2330-0530) these can be generated by the Octopus AI system from when you plug in until the time you have stated you want the car charged. The IOG system seems to always find enough extra windows to achieve the reqooluested charge level (or charge to add) provided there is physically enough time to put that level of charge into the car. Note that you can only dictate a ready by time in the window of 0400-1100.

I hope this helps.

Th at about what they told me except I thought it was 7.5 p. Whatever. So I’ll have overnight charges, overnight washing machine and water heating along with my bread machine

 

[Jonknee]

Regarding the IOG prices, I have been using IOG for over 2 years now and I check my bills carefully each month. I can confirm that whenever the Octopus App publishes charging windows all of the electricity consumed in those windows is charged at the (currently) 7p rate regardless whether it is consumed by the house or the car charger. So yes the house gets the 7p rate too.

Regarding the additional windows (outside the 2330-0530) these can be generated by the Octopus AI system from when you plug in until the time you have stated you want the car charged. The IOG system seems to always find enough extra windows to achieve the requested charge level (or charge to add) provided there is physically enough time to put that level of charge into the car. Note that you can only dictate a ready by time in the window of 0400-1100.

I hope this helps.

Thanks!

 

[JohnV6]

Same here it charges the car when they have power to spare and the whole house benefits so long as you use the Ohme app and let it schedule the charge. You set the % and when you need the car the following day.

 

[Jonknee]

So adding about 50% to the battery for 6am, having plugged in the evening before, would mean IOG always uses the off-peak time with the OHME providing close to maximum delivery as it would achieve this within the off-peak hours? Or would you still get early evening cheaper rates at the whim of IOG? If I just set 100% to add by 6am but let the car limit it to 80% maximum, would IOG know and need to start charging earlier putting the whole house on a lower tariff even though the car doesn’t require 100% to be added?
If it does just charge in the off-peak times as per my usual charging scenario then the Eon tariff seems better. Only advantage for IOG being the chance of cheaper peak time electricity which may not be guaranteed. Or am I completely misunderstanding this? I’m really annoyed with OVO as I knew that I could plug in anytime and get a cheap rate for the car only as long as the requested charge and ready time were feasible.

 

[GaryMG4]

50% of 64kW is 32, IOG off-peak slot can supply 6x6.4 kW so you are covered anyway. If I allow a smart charge I normally get a few extra 7p slots which apply to the whole house sometimes even around 6pm.These can sometimes be just 30 minute slots and occasionally the schedule of them changes so you can't rely on them to say charge your house battery.

 

[Grith]

I have only been using IOG since January, but have found that whatever time of day I plug in Octopus come up with a schedule. These vary as to time of day and can be for as little as 30 minutes but aim to complete the charge by 6:30am
If the car is fully charged before the scheduling has finished I just get messages stating “unable to control your device”
I do not know if this instantly reverts then to standard rate or not during the day but is 7p from 11:30-6:30.
I queried the 7-7.5p rate and was informed that it depends on your area as to which applies.

 

[Grith]

Hi GaryMG4,
I’ve found that they use my house battery as well to charge the car prior to 11:30 so I have my system set to recharge the battery through the night, if it’s then full sell back surplus power at 15p

 

[GaryMG4]

Hi GaryMG4,
I’ve found that they use my house battery as well to charge the car prior to 11:30 so I have my system set to recharge the battery through the night, if it’s then full sell back surplus power at 15p

Hi, No battery here yet but something to aware of if I do get one.