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Multi Inverter Setup

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Zakery edited this page Oct 4, 2025 · 1 revision

Multi-Inverter Setup

This guide covers the advanced features and management of multiple inverter configurations, including parallel inverters and GridBoss systems.

Overview

Monitor My Solar supports multiple inverter configurations with:

  • 🔄 Automatic synchronization of settings
  • 📊 Combined virtual sensors
  • 🎛️ Unified control interface
  • 📈 Aggregated monitoring
  • 🏗️ GridBoss distribution systems

Setup Types

The integration supports several multi-inverter configurations:

Setup Type Description Max Dongles Use Case
Parallel Inverters Multiple inverters working together 6 total (1 master + 5 slaves) Standard parallel setup
Single GridBoss One GridBoss with slave inverters 4 total (1 GridBoss + 3 slaves) GridBoss distribution
Dual GridBoss Two GridBoss units with slaves 8 total (2 GridBoss + 6 slaves) Large GridBoss systems

Initial Configuration

For initial setup instructions, see Initial Setup. This guide covers the advanced features available after setup.

Adding Inverters to Existing Installation

  1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services
  2. Find Monitor My Solar → Click Configure
  3. Select "Manage Dongles"
  4. Choose "Add new dongle"
  5. Enter the new dongle ID and IP
  6. System will test connectivity automatically
  7. Integration reloads automatically

Combined Entities

When multiple inverters are configured, the integration automatically creates combined entities that aggregate data and provide unified control.

Combined Sensors

These sensors aggregate values from all inverters in your setup:

Entity Description Calculation
sensor.combined_ppv Total solar power Sum of all ppv values
sensor.combined_pbat Total battery power Sum of all pbat values
sensor.combined_pgrid Total grid power Sum of all pgrid values
sensor.combined_pload Total load power Sum of all pload values
sensor.combined_epv_today Total solar energy today Sum of all epv_today values
sensor.combined_ebat_today Total battery throughput today Sum of all ebat_today values
sensor.combined_sync_status Synchronization status Shows sync state and conflicts

Combined Controls

Control all inverters simultaneously with these switches:

Entity Function Description
switch.combined_eps_enabled EPS Control Enable/disable EPS on all inverters
switch.combined_ac_charge_enabled AC Charging Control AC charging on all inverters
switch.combined_charge_priority Charge Priority Set charge priority for all inverters
switch.combined_forced_discharge Force Discharge Enable force discharge mode on all

Combined Settings

Unified number inputs that update all inverters simultaneously:

Entity Range Description
number.combined_ac_charge_power 0-6000W AC charge rate for all inverters
number.combined_charge_current_limit 0-200A Charge current limit for all
number.combined_discharge_current_limit 0-200A Discharge current limit for all
number.combined_discharge_cutoff_soc 10-100% Minimum SOC for all inverters

GridBoss Combined Entities

For GridBoss setups, additional combined entities are available:

Entity Description GridBoss Only
switch.combined_smartload1_enable SmartLoad 1 Control ✅
switch.combined_smartload2_enable SmartLoad 2 Control ✅
switch.combined_smartload3_enable SmartLoad 3 Control ✅
switch.combined_smartload4_enable SmartLoad 4 Control ✅

Synchronization Features

The integration provides automatic synchronization capabilities to keep all inverters in your setup operating with consistent settings.

How Synchronization Works

When you have multiple inverters configured:

  • Combined entities automatically update all inverters when changed
  • Sync status monitoring tracks which settings are synchronized
  • Automatic detection identifies out-of-sync conditions
  • Real-time updates ensure changes propagate quickly

Sync Status Monitoring

The sensor.combined_sync_status provides detailed synchronization information:

sensor.combined_sync_status:
  state: "2 settings out of sync"
  attributes:
    synced_settings_sample:
      - "ac_charge_enabled: ✅ All synced (on)"
      - "charge_current_limit: ✅ All synced (50.0)"
    out_of_sync_settings:
      - "discharge_cutoff_soc: ❌ dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ab: 20.0, dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ac: 25.0"
      - "ac_charge_power: ❌ dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ab: 3000, dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ac: 2500"
    last_sync_check: "2024-01-15 10:30:00"
    total_inverters: 2
    synced_count: 8
    out_of_sync_count: 2

Using Combined Entities

Combined entities automatically synchronize settings across all inverters:

Example: Setting AC Charge Power

service: number.set_value
target:
  entity_id: number.combined_ac_charge_power
data:
  value: 3000

This will set AC charge power to 3000W on all inverters simultaneously.

Example: Enabling EPS Mode

service: switch.turn_on
target:
  entity_id: switch.combined_eps_enabled

This will enable EPS mode on all inverters at once.

Sync Status Interpretation

Status Meaning Action Required
"All settings synchronized" ✅ Perfect sync None
"X settings out of sync" ⚠️ Some differences Use combined entities to sync
"Sync check failed" ❌ Error occurred Check connectivity

Best Practices for Synchronization

  1. Use Combined Entities: Always use combined entities for settings that should be the same across all inverters
  2. Monitor Sync Status: Check sync status regularly to catch drift
  3. Avoid Individual Changes: Don't change individual inverter settings if you want them synchronized
  4. Test After Changes: Verify sync status after making changes

Configuration Examples

Basic Monitoring Dashboard

type: vertical-stack
cards:
  - type: entities
    title: Combined System Status
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.combined_ppv
        name: Total Solar Power
      - entity: sensor.combined_pbat
        name: Total Battery Power
      - entity: sensor.combined_pgrid
        name: Grid Power
      - entity: sensor.combined_pload
        name: Load Power
      - entity: sensor.combined_sync_status
        name: Sync Status
      
  - type: horizontal-stack
    cards:
      - type: entity
        entity: sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc
        name: Inverter 1 SOC
      - type: entity
        entity: sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc
        name: Inverter 2 SOC

Individual Inverter Cards

type: grid
columns: 2
cards:
  - type: entities
    title: Inverter 1 (dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ab)
    entities:
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_ppv
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_pbat
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_tbat
      
  - type: entities
    title: Inverter 2 (dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ac)
    entities:
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_ppv
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_pbat
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc
      - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_tbat

Combined Control Panel

type: entities
title: Combined System Control
entities:
  - entity: sensor.combined_sync_status
    name: Sync Status
  - type: divider
  - entity: switch.combined_eps_enabled
    name: EPS Mode (All)
  - entity: switch.combined_ac_charge_enabled
    name: AC Charging (All)
  - entity: number.combined_ac_charge_power
    name: AC Charge Rate (All)
  - entity: number.combined_discharge_cutoff_soc
    name: Min SOC (All)

GridBoss Control Panel

For GridBoss setups, you can control SmartLoads across all inverters:

type: entities
title: GridBoss SmartLoad Control
entities:
  - entity: switch.combined_smartload1_enable
    name: SmartLoad 1 (All)
  - entity: switch.combined_smartload2_enable
    name: SmartLoad 2 (All)
  - entity: switch.combined_smartload3_enable
    name: SmartLoad 3 (All)
  - entity: switch.combined_smartload4_enable
    name: SmartLoad 4 (All)

Automation Examples

Balance Battery SOC

Keep batteries balanced within 5%:

automation:
  - alias: "Balance battery SOC"
    trigger:
      - platform: time_pattern
        minutes: "/10"
    condition:
      - condition: template
        value_template: >
          {% set soc1 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc')|float %}
          {% set soc2 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc')|float %}
          {{ (soc1 - soc2)|abs > 5 }}
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Battery imbalance detected: SOC difference > 5%"

Coordinated Charging

Enable AC charging when all batteries are low:

automation:
  - alias: "Enable AC charging on low SOC"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: 
          - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc
          - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc
        below: 20
    condition:
      - condition: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc
        below: 20
      - condition: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc
        below: 20
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        entity_id: switch.combined_ac_charge_enabled

Sync Status Monitoring

Alert when inverters go out of sync:

automation:
  - alias: "Alert on sync issues"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.combined_sync_status
    condition:
      - condition: template
        value_template: >
          {{ not trigger.to_state.state.startswith('All settings') }}
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Inverter sync issue: {{ trigger.to_state.state }}"

GridBoss SmartLoad Automation

Control SmartLoads based on battery SOC:

automation:
  - alias: "Disable SmartLoads on low SOC"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.combined_soc
        below: 20
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.combined_smartload1_enable
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.combined_smartload2_enable
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.combined_smartload3_enable
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.combined_smartload4_enable

Best Practices

1. Battery Management

  • Monitor SOC Balance: Keep batteries at similar SOC levels across all inverters
  • Use Combined Controls: Use combined charging/discharging controls for consistency
  • Temperature Monitoring: Monitor individual battery temperatures
  • Load Distribution: Distribute loads evenly across inverters

2. Synchronization

  • Use Combined Entities: Always use combined entities for settings that should be synchronized
  • Monitor Sync Status: Check sensor.combined_sync_status regularly
  • Address Drift: Use combined entities to correct out-of-sync conditions
  • Avoid Individual Changes: Don't change individual inverter settings if you want them synchronized

3. GridBoss Management

  • SmartLoad Coordination: Use combined SmartLoad controls for consistent behavior
  • Conditional Entities: Understand how Conditional Entity System affects availability
  • Load Prioritization: Set up proper SmartLoad priorities based on your needs

4. Firmware Updates

  • Consistent Versions: Keep all inverters on the same firmware version
  • Staggered Updates: Update one inverter at a time to maintain system stability
  • Test After Updates: Verify all functionality after firmware updates

Troubleshooting

Inverter Not Responding

Symptoms: One or more inverters show as unavailable

Solutions:

  1. Use Check Status in integration options to test connectivity
  2. Verify MQTT broker can reach the dongle
  3. Check dongle web interface shows "Connected"
  4. Restart the specific dongle if needed
  5. Use Manage Dongles to remove and re-add problematic dongles

Settings Not Syncing

Symptoms: Inverters have different settings despite using combined entities

Solutions:

  1. Check sensor.combined_sync_status for detailed sync information
  2. Use combined entities to set the desired values
  3. Verify all inverters have compatible firmware versions
  4. Check for connectivity issues with individual dongles

Combined Sensors Show Wrong Values

Symptoms: Combined sensors show incorrect or missing data

Solutions:

  1. Check individual sensors for "unavailable" states
  2. Verify all dongles are reporting data via MQTT
  3. Ensure firmware codes are compatible
  4. Restart the integration if needed

GridBoss Issues

Symptoms: GridBoss features not working or missing entities

Solutions:

  1. Verify GridBoss setup type was selected correctly
  2. Check GridBoss dongle connectivity using Check Status
  3. Ensure slave dongles are properly configured
  4. Review Conditional Entity System documentation

Different Firmware Versions

Symptoms: Some features missing or inconsistent behavior

Solutions:

  • Combined entities only show features available on all inverters
  • Individual entities show all features for each inverter
  • Update all inverters to the same firmware version for consistency
  • Check firmware compatibility in the Supported Entities documentation

Advanced Configuration

Custom Combined Sensors

Create your own combined sensors using Home Assistant templates:

template:
  - sensor:
      - name: "Average Battery SOC"
        unit_of_measurement: "%"
        state: >
          {% set soc1 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_soc')|float(0) %}
          {% set soc2 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_soc')|float(0) %}
          {{ ((soc1 + soc2) / 2)|round(1) }}
          
      - name: "Total Battery Capacity"
        unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
        state: >
          {% set v1 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_vbat')|float(0) %}
          {% set v2 = states('sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_vbat')|float(0) %}
          {% set ah = 200 %}  # Battery Ah per inverter
          {{ ((v1 + v2) * ah / 1000)|round(2) }}
          
      - name: "System Efficiency"
        unit_of_measurement: "%"
        state: >
          {% set solar = states('sensor.combined_ppv')|float(0) %}
          {% set load = states('sensor.combined_pload')|float(0) %}
          {% if solar > 0 %}
            {{ ((load / solar) * 100)|round(1) }}
          {% else %}
            0
          {% endif %}

Per-Inverter Automations

Control inverters individually based on conditions:

automation:
  - alias: "Disable inverter 2 on low load"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.combined_pload
        below: 2000
        for: "00:10:00"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_eps_enabled

Energy Dashboard Integration

Configure the Energy Dashboard for multi-inverter setups:

# In Configuration → Energy → Individual Devices
Grid Consumption:
  - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ab_pgrid
  - sensor.dongle_12_34_56_78_90_ac_pgrid

Solar Production:
  - sensor.combined_ppv

Battery:
  - sensor.combined_pbat

Dongle Management

For adding, removing, or updating dongles, use the integration options:

  1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services
  2. Click on your Monitor My Solar integration
  3. Click Configure (gear icon)
  4. Choose "Manage Dongles"

Available Options:

  • Add new dongle: Add additional dongles to your setup
  • Remove existing dongle: Remove dongles (minimum 1 required)
  • Update dongle IPs: Change IP addresses for firmware updates

Related Documentation

Support

For multi-inverter issues, include:

  1. All dongle IDs in your setup
  2. Which specific dongles are affected
  3. Sync status information from sensor.combined_sync_status
  4. Current states of combined entities
  5. Setup type (parallel, single GridBoss, dual GridBoss)

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