What does smart control mean?
Smart control means that electricity use can be adjusted in response to a signal or a limit. For example, the combined load may be kept below a certain level while an EV is charging.
For control to work, the right measurement, equipment, and connections between systems are needed. Not every charger, heating system, or other appliance can be controlled in the same way.
It is therefore more accurate to talk about controlling compatible equipment than about a home where all electricity use is controlled automatically.
Load balancing: when charging adapts
Load balancing is used to manage the home's total electrical load. If other electricity use increases, charging for a compatible EV can be adjusted. When the load decreases, charging can be adjusted again, within the conditions that apply to the solution and the charging equipment.
The point is that charging does not have to use the same available capacity as the home's other loads at that moment.
Power Hub can provide the measurement needed to see the home's consumption in real time. Through the connected app, you can also see historical data and alerts. When compatible EV charging is included, load balancing can adjust the charging rate.
This is a specific use case: the car is connected, the home needs electricity for other things, and charging needs to account for the total load.
A demand charge and demand control are different questions
A demand charge concerns how the utility bills you under its tariff. Household demand peaks may affect the cost, but the agreement determines how the charge is calculated.
EV load balancing and control intended to manage a demand charge can therefore be related, but they are not the same thing.
Load balancing by itself may therefore not change a demand charge. Nor can we promise savings without knowing the tariff, the equipment, and how the household uses electricity.
Frequently asked questions
Is load balancing the same as smart control?
Load balancing is one form of control. In this context, it means adjusting compatible EV charging based on the home's current load. Smart control can be a broader term, but it does not automatically apply to every piece of equipment in the home.
Is load balancing the same as demand control?
No. Load balancing describes how charging can be adjusted based on the load. Demand control may involve keeping usage below a defined limit or following a signal. Which type of control is possible depends on the measurement, systems, and compatible equipment.
Can load balancing help me get a lower demand charge?
We cannot promise that. Load balancing can adjust compatible EV charging, but the effect on any demand charge depends on the utility's tariff and on the household's other electricity use.
Do I need Power Hub to use load balancing?
Yes. Power Hub is Bitvis's HAN-port real-time monitor and can be part of a solution for load balancing compatible EV charging. Always check the compatibility of the specific charger and system.
Kan Power Hub styra värmepumpen eller alla apparater hemma?
Power Hub kan i dagsläget kopplas till NGenic för att styra förbrukning, visa förbrukning, historik och varningar. Det går att koppla Power Hub till Home Assistant för att läsa av mer detaljerad förbrukning.
Do I need an EV to benefit from Power Hub?
No. Power Hub can show your home's real-time consumption, historical data, and alerts even when the question is not related to EV charging. If you later want to use load balancing, compatibility needs to be checked.