When we talk about Smappee chargers, we always talk about the chargers being smart. 
But what is this smartness exactly and how can you use it?

Set tariffs

In the Smappee app you have the possibility to enter the prices you pay for your electricity. If you wish to be smart about your electricity usage and how this will affect your monthly bill, this step is essential.

Where to find?
Smappee app → Settings → Tariffs

How to correctly set up my tariffs in the app. – Support

Maximum grid capacity

Maximum grid capacity can be used to avoid peaks in your consumption when charging your car. 
When your house consumption increases (for example: oven + heat pump + shower), the charger will:

• First slow down charging

• Then pause charging if needed

To make sure that the total consumption does not exceed your maximum set capacity, we take a margin of 10%; so we can guarantee the system has enough time to react.

When activating this, take into account that the charging station needs at least 1,4kW per phase to be able to start a charging session. 
 

Where to find?
Smappee app → Settings → Smappee Monitors → Load Configuration → Grid → Maximum Capacity → Move slider to the right + set the capacity threshold in kW

How can I set a maximum grid capacity? – Support

Surplus only

If you have solar panels, you can let your car charge only with excess solar power.

This means your charger will use the energy your home doesn’t consume and would otherwise send back to the grid.

You control this with a slider:

• 100% → The car charges only when enough solar surplus is available

• 0% → The car always charges at a minimum speed from the grid (1.4 kW per phase) and uses extra solar when available

In summer, when solar production is high, setting it closer to 100% maximizes self-consumption.

Serial numbers starting with 622, 612, 652, 651, 6230, 6231 can automatically switch between 1-phase and 3-phase charging for better solar usage. (This works only works when the charger is set on surplus only)

Smart charging - Surplus only – Support

Schedules

To use your electricity smart and economic, you can also use schedules to plan your charging session. 
Why is this interesting? 

• Plan when your car will be charging, this helps avoiding a peak in the grid
• Charge your car when the electricity is cheap

The key best practices of using schedules?

• Set your electricity tariffs in the app (see above)
• Use a realistic schedule

When using a realistic schedule the charging session will pause when electricity rates are high and will charge when the prices are low.

When you set an unrealistic schedule, the session will not pause and will start charging immediately to make sure the requested kilometres are charged and if needed even exceed the set end time.
 

Example of a GOOD schedule

• Battery at start: 75%

• Charging window: 9 PM – 7 AM (10 hours)

• Requested range: 200 km

Energy needed:
200 km × 0.2 kWh/km = 40 kWh

This is realistic within the available time (3-phase charging), so:

• The car reaches the requested charge, within the requested time

• The charger can pause during high-price periods

Example of a BAD schedule

• Battery at start: 75%

• Charging window: 11 PM – 6 AM (7 hours)

• Requested range: 500 km

Energy needed:
500 km × 0.2 kWh/km = 100 kWh

This is not realistic in that timeframe (3-phase charging), so:

• The car will not reach the requested charge in time

• Charging will continue after the schedule

• The charger cannot pause during expensive tariff periods

How does smart charging - schedules only work? – Support