Amber Trial
How long after I register and set up my device will it start curtailing?
Once you have connected your inverter with the LinkZB or LinkPro device, it will enter a reboot sequence, which could take up to 1minute. Furthermore, your we use an API to fetch your Amber price signal every 5 minutes, so in theory, it could take a ...
Does the LinkZB/LinkPro curtail solar completely when the consumption price is negative?
The LinkZB and LinkPro have the ability to switch off solar in the inverter completely when Amber's general price for consuming power is negative. In this scenario, the FiT price is negative as well as the consumption / buy price is negative. The ...
How does AirFlex 'Aircon for Amber' actually work?
The 'Aircon for Amber' automation plan adjusts your split system reverse-cycle air conditioner temperature based on your Amber buy price. The temperature movements are within the range that you nominate so you are never outside your comfort zone. ...
How much does it cost to run my aircon during a price spike?
Please note: Every device is different, the estimates in this article are just a general guide. Several variables can affect the power consumption of a given device. Air-conditioners are the most energy hungry appliances in a home, and thus, one of ...
How much latency is in the control loop? For example, I switch on my aircon which adds 3kw of load. How quickly will the smart plug respond to ramp up solar to meet the additional load?
The response is nearly instantaneous, i.e. within seconds.
How quickly will the system respond to grid pricing changes? How often does the LinkZB/LinkPro send updates to my inverter?
The inverter is curtailed based on your Amber price, with a new price published every 5 minutes. The inverter responds within seconds of receiving the 5-minute price signal. The 'Solar for Amber' automation plan retrieves the Amber price every 5 ...
As a user, will I be able to see via an app whether curtailment is in progress?
The Village Energy app will send a notification when curtailment occurs. Alternatively, you can track your solar production in the inverter manufacturer's mobile app.
Can Village Energy access my Tesla data to monitor consumption instead of me having to install an extra piece of hardware?
This is an area we're investigating and may be possible without additional hardware above the LinkZB / LinkPro.
Will this prevent my EV from charging when I have excess solar?
If you use software such as Charge HQ, Myenergi Zappi or the Fronius Wattpilot EV charger to charge your EV from excess solar, the LinkZB / LinkPro device may interfere with this. This is because Charge HQ looks for excess solar being exported in ...
What do you use to connect to / control my solar PV?
We have two smart devices called a LinkZB / LinkPro. It is a small device that plugs into a wall socket and that connects to your solar inverter via Modbus using WiFi. You set this up yourself using our Voltello app that we also provide you.
Why are Village Energy and Amber partnering?
One of the issues affecting solar homes across Australia at the moment is negative feed-in tariffs for solar exports at times. This is a price signal from the market as a result of solar doing such a good job at generating large amounts of energy ...