If your home already measures solar generation, adding EV charging seems natural. The connection improves your day when it also makes a decision for you—for example, matching charging to solar left after household use while a chosen external controller also respects your departure need.
First state in one sentence what you want the system to do. Then choose a Zaptec connection method and external energy controller and test the everyday operation.
Start with a day when the car is at home
Our example is a solar-equipped home. You work from home on Tuesday and the car stays on the drive from morning to evening. You want charging to use surplus left after the household where possible while also recognising that you must leave in the evening.
The two parts belong together: generation fluctuates while departure approaches. An energy chart shows the data, but changing timing and charging current requires control.
Ask a provider to demonstrate precisely this operation. The external solution must manage departure time and any grid top-up; verify that it genuinely can.
Three participants work towards one objective
The home's metering shows generation and other consumption. Energy management combines that data with your requirement to decide how the car should charge. The charging system delivers energy within the allowance it receives.
Zaptec's Go and Go 2 integration guide describes API current control and OCPP 1.6J solar integration (Zaptec solar integration). A compatible external system can build on that documented interface.
Confirm that the meter reports surplus remaining after household use. Total inverter generation is not the amount freely available to the car.
How Tuesday should work
At midday, surplus remains after household demand and the controller matches charging to it. Later, a large appliance starts or cloud cover reduces generation; the controller adjusts its request to the charger.
| Situation | Task given to the system | What you verify |
|---|---|---|
| Sufficient surplus | Match charging to the measured allowance | The chosen charging mode operates |
| Free generation falls | Respond under the predefined rule | The reason for slowing or waiting is visible |
| Departure moves earlier | Have the designated controller process the new need | The manual change has a visible effect |
The table states what we expect in this example, not default features of every controller. Demonstrate all three situations with the selected equipment.
If successful, you spend less time watching generation and manually adjusting charging. The benefit is automating that task; monetary savings cannot be stated without your own energy prices and usage data.
The API provides the connection; you define the objective
An API is a documented software interface through which an integrator can read data and perform permitted actions. Access through the Zaptec API follows permissions assigned in Zaptec Portal (Integrating with the Zaptec API).
For solar API control, Zaptec requires an online charger in Default Charging mode. On a three-phase Go 2 installation, the documentation also allows control of one- or three-phase operation. It must work with your car and exact configuration.
Know where you set your requirement and who maintains the integration. Grant only the access needed for the task; let the integrator manage technical identity and configuration.
An external charge manager changes the division of roles
OCPP is used for communication between a charger and an operator system. With direct OCPP 1.6J, the external central system controls charging; Zaptec's own advanced load and phase management is not supported in that mode.
With OCPP Cloud, Zaptec energy management remains active while the external provider mainly connects for authentication and session management (Zaptec's two OCPP options).
Agree the task and connection method with the provider. Where several automations influence charging, define which controls when, avoiding contradictory requests. Verify exact model and firmware support.
Accept the completed system in three situations
Test normal solar charging, then change departure time and intervene manually. Finally discuss a lost connection and system recovery.
By handover, know which measurement drives the system, where you give instructions and who provides support. You can then adapt automation to your routine using interoperability documented by the manufacturer and tested on site.
Choosing a Zaptec charger for your solar home?
On our contact page, give your inverter and energy-management system, the Zaptec model considered and one sentence describing what you want automated. We can discuss the suitable product and integration.
