API doco - what is the sense of each value

Solar Inverters
1

Hi, I’m trying to send information to the API. I’ve confused myself about the sense for each flow. I found this:
consumption_kw = production_kw + net_import_kw [ + battery_discharge_kw ]
but it doesn’t tell me enough. Can someone confirm the signs for flows? Here is what I think:

production_kw Net solar production will be negative. ( I struggle to see how this is ever positive)
net_import_kw Power into the property is positive, power being ‘sold to the grid’ is negative
battery_discharge_kw battery discharge is positive

Consumption_kw will be positive for what the house is consuming and negative when production exceeds consumption (and so is exported)

These seems like trivial question(s), but I can’t seem to get correct data sent into the API and avoid the “power values are inconsistent” error, hence delving deeper.

2

Hi,

  • production_kw is always positive or zero. It’s the amount of solar power being generated.
  • net_import_kw is positive when importing from the grid, negative when exporting to the grid, and zero when there is no power flowing on the grid connection
  • consumption_kw is normally positive (except see below). It’s the power being consumed by all house loads including the EV (if the EV is included in the consumption monitoring).

consumption_kw can be negative if there is unmonitored solar generation, eg:
actual solar generation = 4 kW (but not monitored)
actual household consumption = 1 kW
grid export = 3 kW
production_kw = 0 (because it’s not monitored)
net_import_kw = -3
consumption_kw = production_kw + net_import_kw = -3 kW

3

Thanks, this is very helpful

Brian