Types of Loads

A load is a device in a household that is operated with electrical energy.

The goal of the open-loop control is to have the Sunny Home Manager switch the load so that PV energy is mostly used, if possible, and thereby, or by selecting a suitable time window, minimize the energy costs for operating the load.

Loads suitable for control by the Sunny Home Manager are those that are to be switched on and operated for a defined period of time (e.g. washing machine) or have a flexible time of use (e.g. heat pump, charging station for electric vehicles).

Loads that are only switched on when they are needed immediately afterwards (e.g. television, toaster, lamp, or vacuum cleaner) are not suited for being controlled by the Sunny Home Manager.

A distinction is made between the following types of loads that are suited for being controlled by the Sunny Home Manager:

• Indirectly communicating loads that are integrated via switching devices:

  • Program-controlled loads

  • Non-program-controlled loads

• Directly communicating "intelligent" loads

Loads controlled by switching devices

Program-controlled loads

A program-controlled load runs through a preset program during operation. The program is typically selected by the user prior to operation and started by pressing the start button on the load. Once the program has started, the load should no longer be switched off.

Sunny Home Manager can only control a program-controlled load if, after an interruption in the power supply, the load's program picks up at the point where the power supply was interrupted.

Typical program-controlled loads include washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers.

Non-program-controlled loads

The load must be able to switch on and off as needed and have a flexible switch-on time.

The Sunny Home Manager can select one or more periods within the user-defined time frame in which it can switch the load on or off.

Typical non-program-controlled loads include heating rods in hot water storage tanks, pool pumps, or charging stations for electric vehicles.

Directly communicating loads

Directly communicating loads exchange their data directly with the Sunny Home Manager via an SEMP or EEBus interface. The exchanged data can change several times a day depending on the needs of the load. In comparison to a self-configured indirectly communicating load, directly communicating loads offer you better system efficiency and a higher potential for savings.

The load connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi sends the Sunny Home Manager information about the load type, the planned energy requirement, and the preferred operating time period. The Sunny Home Manager factors this information into its load planning, takes the configured optimization targets for the load control into account, and sends the appropriate start and stop signals to the load.

As soon as this load has been added to your Sunny Home Manager system and configured once, you do not need to make any further settings.