SMA eCharger

The SMA eCharger has been delivered to SMA trading partners since the end of August 2024.

HTW Berlin tests wallboxes in stand-alone operation – without the system integration that distinguishes the SMA eCharger in everyday use. Our approach: System optimization rather than fast response.

In conjunction with the Sunny Home Manager and a home storage system, the SMA eCharger charges proactively and evenly. This protects the technology and increases efficiency.

Three conscious system decisions:

• 1-minute control algorithm: Smoothes peak loads and optimizes the charging process throughout the day → more stability and efficiency.

• Phase switching with 2-minute charging break: Protects vehicle components, increases service life and ensures broad compatibility.

• Graduated control speed: If the battery storage system and the wallbox were to react equally fast, oscillation effects would occur – inefficient and stressful for the overall system.

This strategy ensures more solar power use, longer service life and high comfort – benefits that matter in everyday life, even if they cannot be fully replicated in isolated lab tests.

The SMA Solar Academy offers extensive practical seminars and webinars on the SMA Home Energy Solution. Of course including SMA eCharger.

Our trainers will be happy to answer all of your technical or general questions.

Training sessions - Seminars and webinars

SMA Online Service Center

As a homeowner, you can submit your request via the SMA solar power professional search at link. We will forward it to selected SMA Solar partners near you so that they can prepare an offer for you.

Professional solar power companies receive an offer for all SMA Home Energy Solution components from their trade partner. You can find an overview of our trading partners at the SMA trading partner overview.

Many federal states and municipalities, but also the federal government, have their own incentive programs for PV systems in general and charging stations in particular. Here is an overview of incentive programs available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Yes, most PV systems can be retrofitted with an SMA eCharger to take advantage of the benefits of PV-optimized charging. The prerequisite is that either a Sunny Home Manager 2.0 exists or was retrofitted or an SMA device with integrated System Manager is already present in the system. In this case, the SMA eCharger can be directly integrated.

Existing systems with Sunny Home Manager 2.0 can also be converted to the energy management powered by ennexOS with Energy Planner and Energy Maximizer by integrating an SMA eCharger. In this constellation, the SMA eCharger is configured as System Manager and can manage up to five additional subordinate devices. The Sunny Home Manager 2.0 remains in the system as an energy meter. Please note the energy management functions supported by the respective systems.

Yes. The SMA eCharger can be flexibly used in various system concepts. The following configurations are possible:

1. SMA eCharger as System Manager

If there is no other System Manager in the system, the SMA eCharger can be operated in the configuration System Manager. In this operating mode, the SMA eCharger takes over the energy management of the system.

Advantages:

• No Sunny Home Manager 2.0 required

• Intelligent charging of electric vehicle possible

• Use of surplus PV energy for charging

• Direct integration of compatible SMA devices powered by ennexOS

• Visualization in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS and in the SMA Energy App

This operating mode is especially suitable for new systems or systems without a System Manager already installed.

2. SMA eCharger as subordinate charging station connected to a System Manager

If the system already includes an SMA inverter or another SMA product powered by ennexOS, which serves as the System Manager, the SMA eCharger can be operated in the configuration Subordinate charging station and integrated into the existing energy management.

Advantages:

• Easy integration into existing SMA energy management systems

• Intelligent charging and PV surplus charging available

• Central control via the existing System Manager

• Visualization and monitoring via Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS

3. SMA eCharger as subordinate charging station connected to a Sunny Home Manager 2.0

If there is a Sunny Home Manager 2.0 present in the system, the SMA eCharger can be operated in the configuration Subordinate charging station (Sunny Home Manager).

Advantages:

• Seamless integration into existing systems with Sunny Home Manager 2.0

• Use of intelligent charging functions and PV surplus charging

• Central energy control for the entire system

• Display of all energy flows in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS and in the SMA Energy App

Use without Sunny Home Manager 2.0

The SMA eCharger can be used as a wallbox even without the Sunny Home Manager 2.0. For this, the SMA eCharger can be operated in the configuration System Manager. Charging processes are already visualized in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS or in the SMA Energy App. For setting up a PV system, compatible SMA inverters can later be connected directly to the SMA eCharger. Subsequent extension to include additional SMA devices or the integration into an energy management system is possible at any time.

Yes, but the following distinctions must be made here based on the system topology:

• In systems with Sunny Home Manager 2.0 as main device, up to three SMA eChargers can be operated.

• In systems with System Manager, the number of supported SMA eChargers depends on the maximum number of subordinate devices. These include inverters, energy meters and charging stations, for example. The exact maximum number of subordinate devices depends on the System Manager or device type used. Please refer to the information in the respective user manual.

Example

1 Sunny Tripower Hybrid X + 1 E-Meter

→ 2 of 9 devices are already assigned.

→ 7 SMA eChargers can still be integrated.

Rule of thumb: All devices that are managed by the SMA System Manager count towards the maximum number of subordinate devices. The more inverters or other SMA devices already exist in the system, the fewer additional devices can be integrated.

The options vary depending on the system topology:

In systems with Sunny Home Manager 2.0, mixed operation of SMA eCharger and SMA EV Charger 7.4/22 is possible. In total, up to three SMA charging stations are supported in multi-EVC operation.

In systems with System Manager a mixed operation of SMA eCharger and SMA EV Charger 7.4/22 is currently not possible since the SMA EV Charger 7.4/22 is currently not supported by the SMA System Manager and therefore cannot be integrated into the energy management.

However, mixed operation of SMA eCharger and SMA EV Charger Business is possible. Each charging point of the SMA EV Charger Business counts as a subordinate device. An SMA EV Charger Business is therefore treated as two subordinate devices.

1 Sunny Tripower Hybrid X + 1 E-Meter

→ 2 of 10 devices are already assigned.

→ 4 SMA EV Charger Business can still be incorporated.

At market launch, the SMA eCharger supports unidirectional AC charging of electric vehicles in accordance with IEC 61851-1. The international standard ISO 151118-20 for bidirectional AC charging of electric vehicles is currently being finalized. Subject to the final standardization and regulatory framework, SMA plans to offer a chargeable eProduct for the SMA eCharger in the future in order to use the discharge of the vehicle battery for V2X applications in combination with compatible electric vehicles.

Yes, the SMA eCharger can be used with dynamic electricity tariffs of various providers.

Combined with a Sunny Home Manager 2.0 or a System Manager, the current electricity rates can be automatically taken into account. This shifts the charging of the electric vehicle to times when electricity rates are particularly low.

In addition, a charging target can be defined. The system then automatically calculates the optimal charging times to charge the vehicle to the desired level at the desired time as cost-effective as possible.

At market launch, the SMA eCharger supports charging in accordance with IEC 61851-1 Mode 3. All electric vehicles that have implemented this standard can be charged with the SMA eCharger. This applies to most vehicles available in Europe.

The SMA Limited Factory Warranty period for the SMA eCharger is five years.

Yes, instead of a switch as with the SMA EV Charger 7.4/22, fast charging with the SMA eCharger is activated locally by tapping twice on the interaction surface on the device and visualized on the integrated display. In addition, the charging mode can be changed via the SMA Energy App. In contrast to the SMA EV Charger 7.4/22, it is possible to switch from any charging mode to any charging mode without restrictions.

TechTip: How to switch between the charging modes of the SMA eCharger

SMA offers type 2 mobile AC charging cables in lengths of 5.0 m, 7.5 m and 10.0 m as accessories. Of course, the type 2 charging cable supplied with the vehicle can also be used for charging.

With the type 2 charging outlet, you benefit from maximum flexibility. The charging cable can also be permanently locked/connected to the SMA eCharger via the SMA Energy App and thus behaves like a permanently connected charging cable. You can also swap the charging cable independently if, for example, a vehicle with a type 1 charging connection is to be charged or the situation requires a longer charging cable.

TechTip: Connecting the charging cable to the SMA eCharger

At market launch, the SMA eCharger does not have an MID meter compliant with calibration law. The SMA eCharger has an integrated energy meter. The measuring accuracy is +/- 1 %. If your application requires an MID-compliant energy meter, you can also integrate one into the wallbox supply line.

SMA is planning a new hardware version of the SMA eCharger with certified MID/calibration law compliance of the wallbox. In addition, there will be a software update for all SMA eChargers that enables integration into the SMA eMobility Portal using the OCPP protocol.

For the optimal operation of the SMA eCharger with a Sunny Home Manager 2.0 or System Manager, a complete and correct system configuration in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS is required.

This includes:

• System location

• PV modules in the system

• Feed-in tariff

• Electricity tariff

• Other system-relevant settings

Missing or incorrect information may prevent the energy management from optimally calculating self-consumption and the use of surplus PV power. An incorrectly stored electricity rate, for example, may lead to grid power being preferred over solar power.

Important: The charging mode Charging with surplus PV energy in combination with the Sunny Home Manager 2.0 as well as the charging mode Solar in systems with System Manager require a correct system configuration.

Therefore, carefully check the settings in your system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS. The checklist in the blog post "How forecast-based charging works" is also helpful.

If needed, the option Charging stability through grid-supplied power can also be enabled. This prevents the charging process from being completely interrupted when the PV power is too low.

The SMA eCharger has an integrated RFID card reader. You have the option of using the access management function to train RFID cards/tags to authorize charging processes on the device - such as the RFID cards included in the scope of delivery. In this case, the SMA eCharger is blocked when an electric vehicle is connected. Charging only takes place after successful authorization with a previously trained RFID card on the interaction surface of the device.

TechTip: Register RFID cards on the SMA eCharger and authorize the charging process