How can I set a maximum grid capacity?

EV Charging · Smart charging
Maximum grid capacity
Avoid peak-consumption costs by capping your total grid power.

In some countries, your grid operator charges extra costs, or sets a hard limit, if you draw too much power from the grid at peak moments. With Maximum grid capacity, you set a cap (in kW) on your total home or building consumption. When you're close to that cap, for example because the oven, heat pump, and EV charger are all running together, the charging station slows down first, and pauses if that's not enough.

This setting is always active, whether or not you're using smart charging.

i Not the same as the overload limit ("Maximum current")In the app, you'll find both settings on the same Grid screen, right above each other. Maximum current is the required setting matching your main breaker rating How does overload protection work?). Maximum capacity, below it, is this optional extra cap for avoiding peak-tariff costs.
Things to check before setting a capacity

An EV always needs a minimum charging power to start: 1.4 kW for single-phase charging, or ~4.2 kW for three-phase charging (6A per phase). Set your Maximum grid capacity comfortably above the minimum your charging setup actually needs, otherwise charging can never start.

Example What happens
Good Three-phase charging, Maximum grid capacity set to 7 kW Comfortably above the ~4.2 kW three-phase minimum. Charging starts normally and only slows down or pauses once total household consumption gets close to 7 kW.
Bad Three-phase charging, Maximum grid capacity set to 3 kW Below the ~4.2 kW three-phase minimum. The session pauses immediately, every time, the charger can never satisfy a limit that's lower than what the EV needs just to start.

Also note: if your charging station loses its internet connection and offline charging is enabled, it falls back to its failsafe current and Maximum grid capacity may no longer be respected. Keep your failsafe current set to a low value (e.g. 6A).

Setting it up in the app
  1. Go to Settings > Smappee monitors
  2. Tap your energy monitor (e.g. Genius Flex) > Circuit configuration
  3. Tap Grid
  4. Scroll down to Maximum capacity (just below Maximum current) and toggle it on
  5. Enter your desired capacity threshold in kW
i Tip: contact your energy supplier for your average 15-minute consumption peak, that's usually the figure your grid operator bases peak-tariff costs on.
 
Setting it up via the Dashboard

Go to the Load configuration card, then click the pencil icon on the Grid row to edit the Maximum capacity.

Load configuration card in the Smappee Dashboard Editing Maximum capacity in the Smappee Dashboard

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