Homeassistant E3DC Integration - Git Version

This integration will interface with the E3DC Storage systems supprting the RCSP protocol. It is based on python-e3dc. This repository delivers the latest features via HACS. You can use it for testing until I can get the integration accepted to HA core (no timeline for that, sorry).

If you encounter problems, please file an issue at the integrations issue tracker. If possible, add a diagnostics dump always. This is important also for enhancements if they target new data or information to be retrieved from the unit to see what it has to offer. Always check that dump if you want to further redact information in it. The MACs and the units serial number are redacted already, but check for yourself! If you find information in the dump that you consider private, please file a bug request so that I can update the anonymizing code.

• Disclaimer
• Installation
  • HACS Installation
  • Manual Installation
• Configuration
  • RSCP configuration
  • Probable causes of connection problems
    • Password limitations
    • Network restriction
  • Unsupported features configuration schemes
• Services
  • Set power limits
  • Clear current power limits
  • Initate manual battery charging
• Upstream source

Disclaimer

This integration is provided without any warranty or support by E3DC (unfortunately). I do not take responsibility for any problems it may cause in all cases. Use it at your own risk.

Installation

The recommend way to install this extension is using HACS. If you want more control, use the manual installation method.

HACS Installation

1. Go to HACS -> Integrations
2. Click the Triple-Dot menu on the top right and select Custom Repositories
3. Set https://github.com/torbennehmer/hacs-e3dc.git as repository name for the category Integrations
4. Open the repository (it will be displayed by default), select Download and confirm it
5. Restart Home Assistant
6. In the HA UI go to Configuration -> Integrations click "+" and search for "E3DC Remote Storage Control Protocol (Git)"

Manual Installation

1. Using the tool of choice open the directory (folder) for your HA configuration (where you find configuration.yaml).
2. If you do not have a custom_components directory (folder) there, you need to create it.
3. In the custom_components directory (folder) create a new folder called e3dc_rscp.
4. Download all the files from the custom_components/e3dc_rscp/ directory (folder) in this repository.
5. Place the files you downloaded in the new directory (folder) you created.
6. Restart Home Assistant
7. In the HA UI go to Configuration -> Integrations click "+" and search for "E3DC Remote Storage Control Protocol (Git)"

Configuration

Once you add the integration, you'll be asked to authenticate yourself for a local connection to your E3DC.

• Username: Your E3DC portal user name
• Password: Your E3DC portal password
• Hostname: The Hostname or IP address of the E3/DC system
• RSCP Password: This is the encryption key used in RSCP communications. You have to set on the device under Main Page -> Personalize -> User profile -> RSCP password.

RSCP configuration

Right now, the integration will use the default configuration provided by pye3dc. Additional PVIs, powermeters or batteries not covered yet by an option flow. You can find details about these options at the pye3dc readme. I will plan to add options to configure this in the long run. Please file an issue if you need changes here, as I will need ral life examples to get these things running.

Probable causes of connection problems

Based from my current experience, there may be a various problems when connecting to an E3DC unit. Please be aware that it is not an exthaustive list, also different E3DC types may behave slightly differently. I'll try to collect the information I can deduce here and - if possible - forward them to the pye3dc base lib where sensible.

Password limitations

According to bug reports, the usable characters of an RSCP key seem to be limited. A user had problems when using a dot as a key element. If you get strange authentication problems, try to start with a simple alphanumeric ASCII based RSCP key, this is known to work in all cases.

Network restriction

E3DC units seem to listen only for connections on the same TCP/IP subnet. Access from the outside must be proxied by a host on the local net. Connections from other IP addresses will be blocked, even if, for example, you connect through an VPN coming from other private networks.

A temporary solution, e.g. for testing, could be a simple SSH forward. However, if you need a permanent solution, I would recommend using a Traefik Reverse Proxy on the E3DC net to act as an intermediate. It will allow for a more detailed security setup.

A sample setup for Traefik might look like this (without any warranty), I use this for my VPN setup:

# Static config
entryPoints:
  e3dc.rscp:
    # External Port reachable through Traefik
    address: "10.11.12.10:5033/tcp"

# Dynamic config
tcp:
  routers:
    e3dc.rscp:
      entrypoints:
        - e3dc.rscp
      service: e3dc.rscp
      rule: "ClientIP(`10.0.0.0/8`)"
  services:
    e3dc.rscp:
      loadbalancer:
        servers:
          # E3DC Target IP
          - address: "10.11.12.15:5033"

Unsupported features configuration schemes

Currently, the following features of pye3dc are not supported:

• Web Connections
• Local connections when offline, using the backup user.

Services

The integration currently provides these services to initiate more complex commands to the E3DC unit:

Set power limits

Use the service set_power_limits to limit the maximum charging or discharging rates of the battery system. Both values can be controlled individually, each call replaces the settings made by the last. It will not allow you to change the system defined minimum discharge rate at the moment, as I am not sure if this is actually a sensible thing to do.

Clear current power limits

clear_power_limits will drop any active power limit. It will not emit an error if none has been set. Prefer this to use set_power_limits and setting the values to the system defined maximum.

Initate manual battery charging

The service manual_charge will start charging the specified amount of energy into the battery, taking it from the grid if neccessary. The idea behind this is to take advantage of dynamic electricity providers like Tibber. Charge your battery when electricity is cheap even if you have no solar power available, for example in windy winter nights/days.

Read the following before using this functionality on your own risk:

• Calls to this operation are rate-limited, your E3DC probaby will not accept more than one call every few hours. One unit reported to me had a wait time of two hours, apparently. The website mentions that this operation can only be called once a day and limits the charge amount to 3 kWh. This, again, is unconfirmed, so your milage may vary.
• Important from a monetary point of view: You will have losses from two AC/DC conversions (load and unload), as opposed to one when charging from the PV. A single conversion will probably cost you 10-15% in stored power. So, charging 10 kWh from the Grid will approximate only 7-8 kWh when using it. Also, the wear on the battery should be considered. Following that, you'll want significant savings, not just a few cents.
• Check if your local laws and regulations do allow you to charge your battery from the grid for consuming power later in the first place.
• Check the impact on any warranty from E3DC you may have.

To stress this once more: Use this feature at your own risk.

Upstream source

The extension is based on Python E3DC library from @fsantini. The general considerations mentioned in his project do apply to this integration.

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