ePowerControl HFS series
Have questions on the product ? Wonder how to operate it ? Need documentation ? This page is for you.
Getting started
You’re new to ePowerControl HFS and need to learn more about it ? Please refer to the dedicated user manual to access detailed guidelines and in-depth explanation of the product, the use cases, the installation, configuration, and commissioning.
You’re interested in buying ePowerControl HFS and wish to have a quick overview of it ? Please refer to the product datasheet to learn more on its features, use cases and technical specifications. Or contact our sales team by clicking here.
Ready to start installing the product ? Jump to the Installation and commissioning process section.
Documentation ePowerControl HFS
Installation and commissioning process
Do you want to install ePowerControl HFS and not sure where to start ?
Check out the steps below for a quick guided procedure, or refer to the quick start guide for a more detailed one.
The following points need to be checked to have a successful, efficient, and quick commissioning.
- Carefully reading safety instructions on the product user manual.
- The power supply of all the devices used in the control needs to be taken from the load side. (applicable for the UPS as well)
- Modbus RTU :Shielded twisted cable must be used for RS485 wiring : The data+ and data- should be chosen from the same twisted pair in order to prevent electromagnetic interference. The ground should be chosen from another pair.
- Modbus TCP : RJ45 Ethernet cable for TCP wiring.
- RJ45 cable and a Computer with a configured Ethernet port in DHCP mode are needed to access the Elum configuration local interface (eConf).
Please, refer to the commissioning prerequisites document for more details.
ePowerControl HFS comes in a pre-erected Elum casing. Small steps are needed to finish up the installation:
The power connectors are wired to a single screw terminal block on the left side of the DIN Rail :
- Connect the phase wire to the red/brown wire,
- Connect the neutral wire to the blue wire,
- Connect the ground wire to the green/yellow wire,
- If a UPS was provided with the ePowerControl, connect the battery red/black wire to the transformer,
- Close the circuit breaker, the power LED will light up.
It takes about 30 seconds for the system to boot up.
Once the power supply is connected, the power LED will light up.
After 60 seconds, the operating system will be ready, and the power LED will turn solid green.
Modbus RTU :
Compatible RS485 devices can be connected to serial ports of the HFS Central Computing Unit using two shielded twisted pair connectors.
Please use a surge protection to avoid any issues on the communication ports.
Please refer to the connect & config guide for more details on how to connect and configure your device.
Modbus TCP :
Compatible Ethernet devices can be connected to the LAN port 1 of the HFS-S, and LAN port 1, 2 and 3 of the HFS-M & HFS-L using a RJ45 cable.
Please use a surge protection to avoid any issues on the communication ports.
Please refer to the connect & config guide for more details on how to connect and configure your device.
For both cases, please make sure to enable the dynamic power control of the PV inverters when applicable, and to set the Current transformer ratio, the voltage transformer ratio as well as the system type for the meters.
- Connect your laptop to the configuration port of the controller :
- LAN port 2 for the HFS-S
- LAN port 4 for the HFS-M and HFS-L
- Open your favorite browser, and login to eConf by entering the following IP address: 192.168.4.127
(the Ethernet port of your computer should be configured in DHCP mode.) - For the next steps, follow the instructions in the video below :
Refer to the troubleshooting section in the help center.
FAQ ePowerControl HFS
How does the PV / genset integration work ?
The PV production is automatically adjusted so as to have a maximum PV penetration while ensuring the gensets do not run below the minimum loading value.
What are the requirements for multiple gensets configuration ?
When using multiple gensets in your installation, some conditions must be met:
- synchronization (same frequency; voltage and phase angle)
- balanced loads.
Please note that in this case, the genset controllers must allow the parallel mode, in order to properly work with the Elum controller.
Do the HFS series include the zero export feature ?
Do the controllers include the ATS control ?
Our standard controllers do not manage ATS directly, but can be used in coordination with various systems controlling seamless transitions.
Please contact our sales for more information at sales@elum-energy.com.
How does the controller manage when there are multiple gensets configured but one of them is disconnected ?
If one of the gensets of the installation is not running, the controller bases the calculations on the rest of the gensets.
The genset meter or controller must be connected at all times, since their disconnection will trigger the fail safe mode of the controller, curtailing the PV production.
How does the limitation of export work ?
How is the curtailment done ?
The controllers curtail the PV production by sending setpoints to the PV inverters to control “Wmax”, which is the Modbus register of the inverters that allows remote control of the active power limit setpoint.
Depending on the installation and on the type of the EMS chosen by the user, the controller retrieves measurements from the slave devices, and dispatches the setpoints accordingly.
Does the solution include reverse power protection function ?
The controller includes the minimum genset loading feature which ensures a certain level of reverse power protection, but not entirely. It’s therefore important to install a Reverse power protection.
What are the fail safe policies?
The fail safe mode describes the behavior of the controller when the communication with one of the critical elements composing the installation is lost, and the usual observations of the control strategy are therefore uncertain. The PV production is ramped down to 0 as long as the communication is lost.
The critical elements are : grid meters, PV inverters, BESS inverters, genset meters and genset controllers.
