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How to set up Export Limiting
Using the Fronius Smart Meter*
*Single phase or 3-phase Energy Meter
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Application Guide
© Fronius International, Training and Education
Version 4.0/2020
Fronius reserves all rights, in particular rights of reproduction, distribution and translation.
No part of this work may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of Fronius. It must not be saved, edited,
reproduced or distributed using any electrical or electronic system.
You are hereby reminded that the information published in this document, despite exercising the greatest of care in its
preparation, is subject to change and that neither the author nor Fronius can accept any legal liability
Gender-specific wording refers equally to female and male form.
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1. GENERAL
So called “export limiting” is where the Utility or network operator restricts the amount of energy from PV system
that goes into the grid. I.e. excess energy that is not consumed on the site. In order for the end user to gain the
maximum amount of energy from the system without exceeding the export limit, the inverter output needs to be
able to follow the site load.
With Fronius Datamanager 2.0 integrated SnapINverter and GEN24 inverter it is possible to limit the inverter
output power dynamically and therefore to control and limit the amount of energy which is exported into the grid
in accordance to the consumption of the loads.
The Datamanager Card 2.0 and the GEN24 inverter offer the following options to control the power output of the
inverter:
- Modbus RTU
- Modbus TCP
- digital inputs
- Dynamic Power Reduction using the Fronius Smart Meter
Therefore there are two possible ways to achieve export limiting with Fronius Inverters:
- Using the Fronius Smart Meter to allow the inbuilt Dynamic Power Reduction.
- 3rd party controller issuing commands to the inverter.
The simplest and most cost effective way to achieve export control with Fronius inverters is to use the Fronius
Smart Meter. The meter measures the amount of energy imported to or exported from the grid and the
Datamanager 2.0/GEN24 uses these values to calculate the appropriate output power of the inverter to limit the
export to the grid.
This document describes how to set up export control using the single phase or 3-phase Fronius Smart Meter.
1.1 Location of the Fronius Smart Meter
With the Fronius Smart Meter there are 2 possible energy paths / locations where it can be installed.
The feed-in point or the consumption path.
Feed-in point – bi-directional energy measurement possible. Feed-in of surplus energy/consumption from the
grid is measured.
Consumption path – single direction energy measurement. Load is measured directly.
Due to NET metering and the common way installations are done in some countries, in almost all cases, the
Fronius Smart Meter will be installed at the feed-in point. This is also the default setting on the inverter
WebInterface.
/ Feed-in point
In this position the solar & the loads are in parallel. The solar is connected to the “load” side of the Fronius
Smart Meter.
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/ Consumption path
In this position the solar & the loads are separated by the meter. The solar is connected to the “grid” side of the
Fronius Smart Meter.
1.2 Requirements
Important! The Fronius Datamanager 2.0 needs a software version of 3.16.x-x or greater. It can be
downloaded from the Fronius Website under Solar Energy / Info center / installer support or click here:
https://www.fronius.com/en/photovoltaics/infocentre/tech-support?
Within the Installer Support Area on the Fronius Website you can also find a more detailed document/guide on
how to update your Datamanager 2.0.
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Fronius Smart Meter
ModBus RTU
/ RS485
Fronius
SnapIN
verter
L1
Fronius Smart Meter 63A
-3
Fronius Smart Meter 63A
-1
Fronius Smart Meter
TS 65A-3
Fronius Smart Meter
TS 100
A-1 Fronius Smart Meter
TS
5kA-3
F
ronius Smart Meter 50kA
-3
2. EXPORT CONTROL USING A FRONIUS SMART METER
2.1 Smart Meter type overview
Fronius Smart Meters or the Fronius Smart Meters TS (single phase or 3-phase) are energy meters with
ModBus RTU / RS 485 communication. It is needed for measuring the load and energy fed into the grid.
The Smart Meter needs to be connected to the Fronius inverter. If a SnapINverter is used a Fronius
Datamanager 2.0 is necessary. This communication card comes built-in in SnapINverters Galvo, Primo, Symo
and Eco and can be retrofitted to all other Fronius inverters.
2.2 Schematics and Wiring
The following schematics shows the system configuration
with Datamanager 2.0
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N
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Fronius Smart Meter
L1
Fronius GEN24
Datamanager
Datamanager 2.0
inverter
N
Please note:
/ Cables of type CAT5 or a higher maybe used for data wiring between Meter and inverter.
/ Use a shielded twisted pair cable and connect the shield to ground on one side to avoid interference.
/ Use twisted cable pair for the data lines (D+ and D- or M1+ and M1-)
/ Maximum distance: 300 m (980 feet)
Meter connection on the inverter
The meter needs to be connected to the terminal block on the Datamanager 2.0/within the GEN24 inverter.
Wiring detail for Single Phase Fronius Smart Meter 63A-1
Inverter with
2.0
GEN24 – connection on the communication card
GEN24 inverter
* The 120 Ohm terminating
resistor is enclosed with the
meter
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Datamanager
Datamanager
Wiring detail for Single Phase Fronius Smart Meter TS 100A-1
Inverter with
2.0
Contact “T”: 120 Ohm terminating resistor has to be bridged at the end of the Modbus line.
Wiring detail for 3-Phase Fronius Smart Meter 63A-3
GEN24 inverter
Wiring detail for 3-Phase Fronius Smart Meter TS 65A-3
Inverter with
Datamanager
2.0
Inverter with
2.0
GEN24 inverter
* The 120 Ohm terminating
resistor is enclosed with the
meter
GEN24 inverter
Contact T: 120 Ohm terminating resistor has to be bridged at the end of the Modbus line.
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Datamanager
meter
Datamanager
Wiring detail for 3-Phase Fronius Smart Meter 50kA-3
Wiring detail for 3-Phase Fronius Smart Meter TS 5kA-3
Inverter with
2.0
GEN24
inverter
* The 120 Ohm terminating
resistor is enclosed with the
Inverter with
2.0
GEN24 inverter
Contact T: 120 Ohm terminating resistor has to be bridged at the end of the Modbus line.
Modbus termination on the inverter
The internal bus termination 120-Ohm resistance (for Modbus RTU) must be switched ON at the first and last
device in an RS-485 bus connection.
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CT ratio programming on the Fronius Smart Meter 50kA-3
E.g. If your CT ratio is 20 you need to set “Ct 0020”
CT ratio programming on the Fronius Smart Meter TS 5kA-3
(1) Press and hold “Enter” for 2 seconds long.
(2) Go to Page P1 with “Up” or “Down” buttons.
(3) Enter the password “2633” with “Up” and “Down” and confirm
every single value with “Enter”.
(4) Note the password.
Important! Password can not be reset.
(1) Go to Page P4 with “Up” or “Down” buttons.
(2) Press and hold “Enter” for 2 seconds long.
(3) Set the correct Ct ratio and confirm every single value with “Enter”.
(4) Go to Page P18 with “Up”. Press and hold “Enter” for 2 seconds
long to save and leave the settings.
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2.3 Activating the Fronius Smart Meter on the inverter
2.3.1 Meter activation on the Datamanager 2.0 Web interface
The Datamanager Web interface can be accessed in two ways:
1. Via the Wi-Fi Access Point:
- Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point on the Datamanager card (inverter) or Datamanager Box 2.0
- Connect your computer/table/smart phone to the ,,Fronius_240.XXXXXX” Wi-Fi network
- Open a web browser and go to http://192.168.250.181.
2. Via the LAN Port:
- Connect your computer to the Datamanager via LAN cable
- Switch the Datamanager IP Switch to Position ‘A’
- Open a web browser and go to http://169.254.0.180
For information of how to set up the Fronius Datamanager please see the manual of the Fronius inverter or the
Fronius Datamanager (for Fronius Galvo/Symo/Primo/Eco):
http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xbcr/SID-791F32018338B17C/fronius_international/42_0426_0191_EA_388899_snapshot.pdf
Go to ‘Settings’.
Before it is possible to enter the METER settings a service password is required. If no service password has
been set, it needs to be created first!
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If no service password has
been set: Choose a service
password under PASSWORDS.
Go to ‘METER’ to do the
relevant settings.
Choose the type of meter.
Select ‘Fronius Smart Meter’
Choose location.
For further explanations on feed-in point and consumption path see chapter 1.1 Location of the energy meter
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Select whether the meter is
located at the feed-in point or in
the consumption path
The meter is activated once you get the following message.
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2.3.2 Activation on the GEN24 Web interface
The Web interface of GEN24 inverters can be accessed in two ways:
1. Via the Wi-Fi Access Point:
- Open access point with one quick push on the inverter
- Connect to the inverter network
o Name: FRONIUS_Pilot serial number
o Password: 12345678
- Enter IP-adress 192.168.250.181 into the address bar of your browser
2. Via the LAN Port:
- Connect to inverter via network cable
o Use LAN 1 - interface on the pilot
- Enter IP-adress 169.254.0.180 into the address bar of your browser
Entering the Dashboard you have to unlock the submenus with the Technician password if you haven’t done
this in the commissioning yet.
Enter the Submenu “Device Configuration” and go to “Components”. There you are able to “add a component”.
Select whether the meter is
located at the feed-in point or in
the consumption path
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2.4 Set up Limit Export on the inverter
2.4.1 Set up Limit Export on Datamanager 2.0
Dynamic power reduction has the capability to control the inverter’s output power according to the site’s load
and the export limitation. The export limit can be set on the web interface of the Fronius Datamanager as shown
in the following picture.
Go to the tab ‘DNO EDITOR’ under the Datamanager’s settings.
Go to ‘DNO Editor’.
Activate power reduction by
choosing ‘limit for entire system’
Fill in the total DC Power of the
connected PV generator in Watt
peak.
Fill-in the max power what’s
allowed to be fed into the grid
either in Watts or in %
Important: Select ‘Dynamic
power reduction’ as No.1 priority
Once you saved your settings by selecting the in the Dynamic power reduction field, the set-up of the export
limit is completed.
If the system comprises multiple inverters, all inverters which are connected in the SolarNet ring to the
Datamanager will be equally power limited to achieve the set output limit.
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2.4.2 Set up Limit Export on GEN24 inverter
Entering the Dashboard you have to unlock the submenus with the Technician password if you haven’t done
this in the commissioning yet.
Enter the submenu “Safety and Grid Regulations”
Enter “Export Limitation” and set the parameters “Total DC power of the entire system” and “maximum allowed
feed-in power of the inverter” in % or Watt.
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Activate power reduction
Fill in the total DC Power of the
connected PV generator in Watt
peak.
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Fill-in the max power what’s
allowed to be fed into the grid
either in Watts or in %
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