The Emaldo application contains a feature which allows customers to see the State of Charge, or SOC, of each of the individual battery units which make up their system. It shows how charged each battery is as a percentage.
My battery units are showing different charge levels, is that correct?
Yes, this is perfectly normal. Each of Emaldo’s batteries are optimised with their own individual ‘Battery Management System’, or BMS, to keep them performing efficiently. For example the BMS balances individual battery cells to keep them operating at the same voltage, monitors cell temperatures, ensures safety limits on aspects such as voltage and current, as well as temperature, are adhered too and provides reporting to the app.
It is not unusual for the state of charge levels of battery units to differ as the BMS for each unit is optimising to that individual battery’s circumstances.
My expansion cabinet SOC percentages differ significantly from ‘cabinet 1’, why?
If you have an expansion cabinet you may notice that the SOC percentage difference between those battery units, and the units in cabinet 1 are significantly wider than between the units within the same cabinet. This could be down to a couple of factors.
- The expansion cabinet was installed later, and the batteries are newer so the BMS will not behave the same way as the original battery units installed
- The expansion cabinet does not contain an inverter, therefore heat comes from the heat pads alone. As such the way the BMS will manage the battery will differ as the cell temperatures will differ from those in the units contained in cabinet
This is normal and nothing to worry about, the Emaldo AI which manages the overall system is optimising the units alongside the system strategy.
How do the units BMS and Emaldo AI align?
If you are in AI mode, the whole system (cabinet 1 plus any further expansion cabinets) is then optimised by the Emaldo AI in line with the Grid Rewards scheme you have signed up too.
As well as maximising your earning potential the AI ensures all the individual battery units are cycled in an optimal way to manage battery life and efficiency of each unit across the whole system. The AI and individual BMS’s operate as ‘virtual partners’ to operate the system and each battery unit in the most efficient and optimal way.
It is recommended that SOC doesn’t drop below 15%, why does this happen sometimes?
We aim to ensure that the units do not drop below 15%, however on some occasions you might notice the percentage temporarily drop under 15%.
When this happens it is likely down to the unit having discharged, but then not charging as the AI has determined it is not financially beneficial to do so at that moment. Because the unit still self-consumes a small amount (see our help guide on self consumption here: What is the self-consumption of the Emaldo unit?) the SOC may drop slightly under the recommended amount.
This is temporary and if it happens it is not a cause for concern - the units will soon charge back up again.