Using controlbox to apply LPP to an SHM2.0 with firmware 2.18.5.R

[wimleers]

Hi!

Summer is coming. Tomorrow there will be very negative electricity prices. Time to finally get my SMA Home Manager 2.0 automatically set to "zero export" when prices are negative.

I started with Modbus. But then literally as I was figuring that out, it updated to 2.18.5.R, which includes:

• Integration of remote controllability via intelligent metering systems (iMSys) in accordance with Section 9 of the EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act, Solarspitzengesetz 2025)
  • Support for the EEBUS use case LPP from the FNN control box to Sunny Home Manager as a HEMS for the dynamic control of SMA inverters
• Integration of controllable consumption devices in accordance with Section 14a of the EnWG (German Energy Industry Act)
  • Support for the EEBUS use case LPC from Sunny Home Manager as a HEMS to controllable consumption devices

So … I should be able to use LPP, right?

Some searching later, and I found this project — perfect!

I followed the docs in #1, and got it up and running quickly:

… but unfortunately it says "zero use cases".

Is that because of hardcoded metadata in controlbox? (Which I contributed to a little bit in your https://github.com/enbility/devices project! 😊) Or is it because the information returned by the SHM2.0 claims to support zero use cases, which would contradict its release notes?

[wimleers]

Same thing with my Vaillant VR921 for controlling my heatpump … until I trusted the control box from the Vaillant app! Then I got to see this:

Which led me to discover https://support.gridx.de/hc/en-us/articles/29036980739602-Vaillant-heat-pump-via-internet-module-for-EEBus-use-cases-Commissioning — which appears to be a thing for the German market.

(This data seems to be missing from https://github.com/enbility/devices, would you like a PR? enbility/devices#6 sounds close. But looking at the PR, it seems quite a bit has changed since then. OTOH, this post from 2024 seems to contain similar data: enbility/devices#2 (comment).)

EDIT: wow, @CiNcH83 even managed to apply LPC to his Vaillant heat pump using andig/controlbox according to enbility/eebus-go#166 (reply in thread)? 🤯

[CiNcH83]

Yes. Just did it again yesterday, even with evcc in between, also see here. But the whole EEBUS is pretty flaky.

[CiNcH83]

Seems like you are not getting the required actors with associated use-cases for Vaillant:

BTW... this is a screenshot with working MPC.

[CiNcH83]

It may also be that your Vaillant system is outdated for MPC/LPC. The serial of your gateway suggests that it is from 2022? Mine is too but my heatpump got replaced with one from 2024. According to a Vaillant sheet, LPC has only been added in a later FW (which cannot be updated without changing the logic board):

You should still see other actors/use-cases though.

[wimleers]

But the whole EEBUS is pretty flaky.

😬

The serial of your gateway suggests that it is from 2022?

I got mine in April 2023 (and have been trying to use + contribute to @andig's EEBus work ever since then: enbility/devices#2), so a 2022 production date is very plausible.

(which cannot be updated without changing the logic board):

I know. Absurd, isn't it?

but my heatpump got replaced with one from 2024.

Why? Under warranty?

---

I'm actually less interested in controlling my heatpump. The SMA Home Manager's (proprietary?) connection to the Vaillant heatpump already does what I need. (Although all this would definitely provide more interesting options.)

I'm more interested in connecting with my SMA Home Manager, to use LPP to limit production to zero export at times of negative prices.

[wimleers]

Would there be interest from you, @CiNcH83, to collaborate on adding a "dump all the information available in EEBus" UI?

[CiNcH83]

Why? Under warranty?

It has dramatically been oversized (double the required size), resulting in lots of on/off cycles. No real planning has been done beforehand.

I know. Absurd, isn't it?

Not 100% sure. A heating device is a critical 24/7 one. I don't know whether it is a good idea to mess with it. It is quite low level. You just can't update firmware via eBus. I don't actually know why LPC depends on the heat pump firmware. I guess controller power has always been possible over eBus. It only requires an EEBUS adaptation inside the gateway which in fact can be updated.

I'm more interested ... to use LPP

Also experimenting on that front, see here.