Quick start#

A step-by-step guide on how to set up GbbOptimizer for your photovoltaic installation.

1. Create an account and add an installation#

Go to the GbbOptimizer website and create an account. Then add a new installation by selecting the appropriate option depending on your inverter:

If you have Deye inverters in a Master-Slave setup, select “Installation with Solarman” and add Master as the primary inverter and Slave as an additional one in the installation parameters.

Each installation receives a unique PlantId and PlantToken.

2. Fill in the installation data#

Fill in all fields (at least those marked with an asterisk *) in the installation form. After filling in, press “Save and continue in Quick Setup”.

FastSetup will guide you through the basic configuration:

• Adding PV planes
• Selecting the PV forecast source
• Basic battery parameters

After filling in all fields, press “Save changes”.

3. Configure prices#

In the Prices module:

1. Click “Select distributor and energy supplier tariff”
2. Select your distribution tariff and energy supplier tariff
3. Press “Import selected tariffs”

Alternatively, manually configure purchase and sale prices.

Remember to set transport (transmission) costs for purchase prices. Without them, the optimizer will not correctly calculate the profitability of grid charging.

4. Configure the consumption profile#

In the Consumption profiles module you have two options:

• Manual entry — enter estimated consumption for each hour
• Import from installation — wait ~one week for the program to collect data from the inverter and calculate average consumption

If you don’t want to enter the consumption profile manually, wait a week — the program will automatically collect data and calculate the profile. In the meantime, Test Mode should still be running.

5. Check the PV forecast#

Verify in the Battery Forecast module that the PV forecast is close to actual production. If not, try changing the PV forecast source in the installation parameters.

Correction Factor auto-calibrates over approximately one week of operation.

6. Wait in test mode#

A new installation starts in Test Mode — the optimizer performs calculations but does not send commands to the inverter.

During the first week:

• The consumption profile will be updated (if automatic import is enabled)
• Correction Factor for the PV forecast calibrates itself
• You can observe what the optimizer plans to do, without risk

7. Disable test mode#

After ~one week, once you have confirmed that:

• Prices are correct (with all transport costs)
• PV forecast is close to reality
• Consumption profile is reasonable

…disable Test Mode in the Battery Forecast module. From this point on, the optimizer will start sending commands to the inverter.

Instructional videos#

• Adding a Victron system to GbbOptimizer
• Adding a Deye inverter via Solarman
• Configuring purchase and sale prices

EV charging optimization only (without PV)#

If you want to optimize only electric vehicle charging, without a PV installation:

1. Add a new installation of type Home Assistant
2. Fill in the fields:
   • Name
   • Grid connection power — import
   • Grid connection power — export → enter 0
   • Battery capacity kWh → enter 0
3. Press “Save and continue in Quick Setup”, on this page:
   • Uncheck “Add first PV Plane”
   • Check “EV: Automatically import data from EV chargers every hour”
4. Press “Save” — you will be taken to the Prices menu:
   • Select the distributor and energy supplier tariff
   • Press “Import selected tariffs”
5. Go to the Extra Consumption / EV module:
   • In the “EV Charging” section, add your charger
   • In the “EV AutoCharging” section, configure charging conditions (e.g. in “Conditions” select “Price” → 3 lowest purchase prices)

What’s next?#

• Best practices — tips on getting the most out of the system
• Charging — configuring charging schedules
• Discharge — configuring battery discharge
• Battery Forecast — the central optimizer module