Start with a suitable home charging installation. Then decide when to charge, how to use solar surplus and how to share available power with the household. These controls have different jobs and must all stay within the installation’s current limit.

The same amount of energy can cost different amounts depending on when you charge. If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, moving charging into a lower-rate window can reduce the energy portion of your bill.

Start with your actual tariff

In SmartApp 2.0, open Settings → Rate Plan. Enter the prices and periods from your utility contract, including both weekdays and weekends. Select and confirm the plan you want active.

Then tell the charger when to run

Open Settings → Smart Schedule. Add an ON event inside a lower-rate window, choose a permitted current and add an OFF event. Save both weekday and weekend settings. On Home, select Scheduled mode and confirm the saved schedule.

One scheduler is usually easier

If both the car and charger have schedules, charging only happens when the windows overlap. The supplied SmartApp guide recommends using one scheduler to avoid missed sessions.

Know what the number means

The calculator on this site estimates the difference between two energy rates for the energy you move. It does not predict your utility bill, include fixed charges or promise a particular saving. App estimates also depend on the entered rate data.

Try your own rates ↗

Based on SmartApp 2.0 User Manual, pages 6–7. General background: U.S. Department of Energy — Smart charge management ↗.

Use more of the solar you already make

On supported configurations, Solar Only uses readings from a specified smart meter to favor surplus solar energy. The meter must measure the home’s main incoming supply, not only the solar circuit. Availability depends on the charger, firmware and feature activation.

Solar Only should not be interpreted as a guarantee of zero grid import or free charging. Surplus changes with clouds and home demand, and the supplied guide describes permitted grid draw before the mode stops.

Give household demand room to change

Dynamic Load Balancing adjusts EV charging current as household demand changes. A correctly installed, compatible meter and properly configured site limit are required. It does not replace wiring, circuit protection or an electrician’s installation assessment.

Choose the right meter

The catalog distinguishes two systems. SDM01-12TS is the specified app-integrated smart meter for Solar Only and app-based DLB. DLB-A1 is a standalone 433 MHz load-balancing monitor and cannot be managed through SmartApp 2.0. Confirm compatibility with the exact charger before ordering.

What about live electricity prices?

The September 2026 manual describes Dynamic Rate as a paid subscription feature available to selected beta testers. Country, provider, account and product support are required. It is different from entering a fixed time-of-use plan and creating a schedule.

Based on SmartApp 2.0 User Manual, pages 8–10, and Sinotek catalog, page 25. Feature availability varies by final configuration.