Please note: this guide is for Amber customers taking part in the ARENA project, and early testers only. Amber will announce full support for zappi chargers for all customers in time. If you'd like to be involved in testing, email ev-support@amber.com.au.
Amber for EVs (A4EV) makes EV charging smarter and simpler. It helps you get the most from your own solar and from cheap grid prices. The technology is free for Amber customers.
With A4EV and your zappi you can:
- Charge from excess solar only, for free kilometres (if you have solar).
- Charge at the cheapest times, when grid energy is cheap and green. This helps if your solar falls short, or if you don't have solar.
- Coordinate with your home battery (if you have one).
This guide shows you how to link your zappi (or zappi GLO) to Amber.
We strongly recommend leaving your zappi powered on all the time. This keeps the connection to Amber stable.
Before you start
- Your zappi must be a version 2.1 or newer. Version 1 and version 2 zappis (serial number starting with 1) will not work with Amber.
- Your firmware must be v5.114 or later (released July 2023). We recommend keeping it up to date. myenergi has update instructions for the V2 and V2.1 zappi.
- You need a myenergi account, with your zappi registered to it.
- Amber needs to be your electricity retailer at this address.
- For solar charging only: a zappi CT clamp must be connected on your home's grid supply. A CT clamp on your solar inverter cable is optional. Most zappis at homes with solar are installed this way. If you've been using ECO or ECO+ mode, yours is set up correctly. If you're not sure, ask your installer.
Step 1: Create or check your myenergi account
1. Make sure your zappi is registered in the myenergi app
2. From a web browser, sign in to myaccount.myenergi.com.
If your zappi is registered to someone else, such as your installer, they need to release it before you can add it.
Step 2: Add your zappi in the Amber app
1. Open the Amber app.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Tap Add another device, then choose myenergi Zappi.
Step 3: Wait for Amber to become your retailer (if needed)
If you get stuck on a screen saying Amber isn't your retailer yet, wait about 2 business days for your transfer to finish. Then add your charger. If Amber is already your retailer, you won't see this screen.
Step 4: Accept the ARENA trial terms
Amber and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) developed this product together. You need to accept the related terms and conditions. The app has links to read them first.
Step 5: Tell Amber whether solar charging is set up
Answer the solar charging question.
- Choose Yes if CT clamps are installed and set up with your zappi.
- Choose No if you're unsure or don't have CT clamps. You can still link the charger now and turn solar charging on later.
Note: Enabling solar modes without CT clamps leads to a poor experience (charging may stop or run at minimum). We recommend leaving solar off until CTs are fitted.
Step 6: Copy your Chargebox ID into myenergi and finish linking
1. In the Amber app, copy or write down the Chargebox ID on the screen.
2. Log in to your myenergi account at myenergi.com/au/my-account.
3. Open your zappi and go to the OCPP settings.
4. Turn OCPP on.
5. Choose Amber as the EV management platform. The backend URL fills in by itself.
6. Paste the Chargebox ID into the Chargebox ID field. Leave the other fields blank.
7. Save.
8. Go back to the Amber app, wait 30 seconds, then tap Check connection.
The status changes to Linked when the connection works. It can take up to about 2 minutes.
How Amber charges your zappi
Amber switches your zappi between two modes for you: ECO+ (solar only) and FAST (full speed).
The zappi stays in ECO+ to use excess solar where possible. In this mode, charging pauses if the excess solar drops below the minimum charge rate. That's about 1.5 kW on single-phase and about 4.5 kW on three-phase. It restarts when the excess solar returns.
In some situations Amber overrides this, in this order of priority:
1. Charge Until Disconnected (manual override in Amber): FAST
2. Grid price falls below your Opportunity Charge Price: FAST
3. Inside a charge schedule window (and below your Max Price, if you set one): FAST
4. Feed-in price rises above your Maximum Feed-in (optional setting): STOP, so you can export instead
5. All other times: ECO+ (excess solar only)
Charging from the grid takes priority over solar-only charging.
When you first plug in, the zappi may start in FAST for a moment, left over from a previous session. Amber usually switches it to ECO+ within about 1 minute.
Amber supports ECO+ for automation. You can use ECO manually if you prefer, but you may have problems when also using Amber for EVs, because the two compete for control.
Troubleshooting
I can't see that my zappi is connected to Amber.
Check these in order:
1. You're with Amber at this address. In the Amber app, go to Settings and make sure the property shows Active, not Pending. Pending means Amber isn't your retailer yet, which needs to happen before we can connect to your zappi.
2. Your zappi is in your myenergi account. Sign in at myaccount.myenergi.com and go to myenergi Products. Your zappi should be listed. If it isn't, add it with the serial number and registration code (ask your installer if needed). If it's registered to someone else, such as your installer, they need to release it first.
3. OCPP is on and pointed at Amber. In myenergi Products, open the OCPP settings and turn OCPP on. Choose Amber in the dropdown, and enter the Chargebox ID from the Amber app. Allow up to about 2 minutes for the connection to be confirmed.
4. Restart the zappi and wait about 2 minutes. You can switch the power off and on, or reset it from the myenergi app.
5. Check your Wi-Fi. The zappi must be online for Amber to control it.
6. Check the model and firmware. Amber only supports zappi version 2 or newer, on firmware v5.114 or later.
My zappi charges the car when I plug it in.
There are two known causes:
- After a reset or a power outage, the zappi may go back to its default mode. To stop this, change the Default Mode in your zappi settings.
- Sometimes the zappi charges briefly after you plug in, then stops. Amber's system takes a short time to detect that charging has started. It should stop within 1 to 2 minutes.
Solar charging is causing unwanted exports.
Try these:
- DC-coupled battery: your Export Margin may be too low. Increase it a little (for example, to about 100 W).
- AC-coupled battery with CT clamps: set Avoid Drain or Avoid Both in the zappi's battery settings.
- CT clamps: check they're fitted, clipped on the right way round and set up for the correct circuits. If the CT clamps aren't set up right, ECO+ can't make good decisions, and spilling solar to the grid is common. Ask your installer for help.
Need more help?
- Amber settings, prices and account: Amber support.
- Your zappi, Wi-Fi or myenergi account: myenergi support.
Quick answers
Does this work with the zappi GLO?
Yes, the setup steps are the same.
Do I need solar?
No. Without solar, Amber can still charge your car when grid prices are cheap.
Sources: Amber help centre
myenergi zappi ARENA project, how the integration works