Installation summary

Please see the sections below for how to achieve each step. This is just a checklist of things:

1. Before you start, its recommended that you watch the step by step installation videos, see the video guides section for those and other videos
2. Make sure the right inverter control module is installed and running
3. Install a file editor (either the File editor or Studio Code Server add-on) to enable you to edit configuration files if you haven't already - Editing configuration files
4. Install Predbat, either:
   • a) Install the Predbat add-on - Predbat add-on install, or
   • b) Complete the separate installation steps:
     • i) Install HACS if you haven't already - HACS install
     • ii) Install AppDaemon if you haven't already - AppDaemon install
     • iii) Install Predbat using HACS - Predbat install
5. Register for a Solcast hobbyist account if you haven't already Solcast install and either:
   • a) Configure Predbat to call Solcast for the Solar forecast, or
   • b) Install and configure the Solcast integration, create an automation to update Solcast a times a day, and check that you see the Solcast data in Home Assistant
6. Follow the Energy Rates instructions to tell Predbat what your import and export energy rates are. If you use Octopus Energy then this includes installing the Octopus Energy integration (if you haven't already) - Octopus Energy
7. Edit Predbat's apps.yaml configuration file to to match your system - apps.yaml settings
   The apps.yaml file will be in either the directory /addon_configs/6adb4f0d_predbat or /config/appdaemon/apps/predbat/config/ depending on which Predbat install method you used.
   • Inverter settings match the names in GivTCP - should be automatic (but if you have 2 names you will have to edit apps.yaml)
     • You have set the right number of inverters (num_inverters)
     • Adjust your inverter_limit and export_limit as required
   • You have your energy rates set correctly either using Octopus Energy integration or entered manually
   • That the Solcast integration (if being used) is matching the configuration correctly - should be automatic
   • If you have an electric car you have setup the Car Charging configuration
8. Add the Predbat entities to your dashboard - Output data
9. Follow the Configuration Guide to set 'standard' Predbat configuration settings depending on your import and export tariffs
10. The detailed Customisation Guide lists all Predbat's controls and settings in Home Assistant that can be tuned for your system
11. Set up the Predbat Plan card so you can check what Predbat is planning to do - Create the Predbat Plan card
12. Set up the Apex Charts for other views on what Predbat is doing - Creating the charts
13. Then check Predbat is working correctly:
    • Look at the Predbat AppDaemon log file and make sure you have no errors or warnings that are unexpected
    • Comment out or delete the 'template: True' line in apps.yaml when you are ready to start Predbat
    • The predbat.status in Home Assistant should be 'Idle' (if there are any errors then they are reported here too)
    • Start with select.predbat_mode set to 'Monitor' but remember to change it later to enable Predbat to control your inverter
14. Look at the FAQ for help

Overview of the key configuration elements: