What is Solar Mode🌞🔌
How to Enable Solar Mode
In the Indra App:
- Go to Settings
- Select Electricity Supply
- Set Solar Panels = Yes
- Turn 'Use Solar' = On
How Solar mode works 🌞⚡
When Does Charging Start?
When the charger detects an export of more than 1.4kW (≈6A) for over 1 minute, it will start charging your car using that excess energy.
Export of >1.4kW (6A) must be maintained for >1 min for a charge to start.
The CT measures export, not generation—This means your solar generation must exceed your home’s demand by at least 1.4kW for charging to begin.
Important Notes:
- The 1.4kW limit is set by the EV charging standard BS 61851 and cannot be adjusted.
- Indra has no control over this requirement.
Boost Mode 🔋
If you press Boost during a solar charge:
- The charger will override Solar Mode and charge at maximum power until Boost is turned off, or the car is full.
CT placement for Solar 🌞
Please refer to the below page for guidance on CT placement.
External Current Transformer (CT)
Battery Issues🔋
For issues regarding batteries please refer to the below page
Solar and Tariff Integrations
If you’re using a charger integrated smart tariff (like Octopus Intelligent Go, EDF Smart Charging Bolt On or OVO Charge Anytime):
- Solar charging will still work alongside tariff-controlled charging.
- Example: If you’re generating 2kW solar and Octopus requests a 7kW charge, your car will use 2kW solar + 5kW from the grid.
- You’ll only pay for the grid energy, not the solar.
If you have got a vehicle integration with a smart tariff the charger can't tell what energy came from solar and what came from the grid; your car is in charge of when to charge so it will not match excess solar when it's available.