System overview
The PLENTICORE G3 is a three-phase hybrid inverter, which can be used in three-phase grids.
The inverter can be used as follows.
As a PV inverter
If the inverter is used as a pure PV inverter, only PV generators are connected to the DC inputs. There must be at least one PV generator connected to the inverter.
The energy generated can be used for self-consumption in the house grid or is fed into the public grid.
1 | Communication connection to the inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication connection for the inverter via WLAN/WiFi |
3 | Inverter |
4 | PV generators |
5 | Circuit breaker Inverter |
6 | KEM or KSEM digital energy meter (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
7 | Main fuse for the house |
8 | Consumption and feed-in meter or smart meter (not available in all countries) |
9 | Public grid |
10 | Circuit breaker for electrical loads |
11 | Electrical loads |
Hybrid inverter (product upgrade required)
If the inverter is being used as a hybrid inverter, PV generators and a battery are connected to the inverter.
For the battery to be detected at the DC input for the battery, the battery function product upgrade must be activated in the inverter using an activation code.
The inverter is used to directly provide energy for self-consumption or to store surplus energy in the battery storage unit. The stored energy can be used for self-consumption in the house grid. Surplus energy that can no longer be stored is fed into the public grid.
In addition, energy from other AC energy suppliers (park controllers), e.g. PV systems, combined heat and power (CHP) units or small wind turbines, can be temporarily stored.
1 | Communication connection to the inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication link to inverter via WiFi/WLAN |
3 | Inverters |
4 | PV generators |
5 | Battery system connection (optional, following activation) |
6 | Communication link to battery management system |
7 | Circuit breaker Inverter |
8 | KEM or KSEM digital energy meter (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
9 | Main fuse for the house |
10 | Consumption and feed-in meter or smart meter (not available in all countries) |
11 | Public grid |
12 | Circuit breaker for electrical appliances |
13 | Electrical loads |
14 | Feed-in meter for AC energy supplier |
15 | Circuit breaker for AC energy supplier |
16 | AC energy supplier, e.g. combined heat and power (CHP) unit, or other generation systems (GSS), e.g. PV inverter (energy from the AC energy supplier can be temporarily stored in the battery) |
Battery inverter (product upgrade required)
If the inverter is used as a pure battery inverter, a battery can be connected to the last DC input (BAT).
For the battery to be detected at the DC input for the battery, the battery function product upgrade must be activated in the inverter using an activation code.
The inverter with connected battery storage is used to store energy from energy suppliers (park controllers) produced in the house grid, e.g., by other PV systems, combined heat and power (CHP) units or small wind turbines. The stored energy can then be used for self-consumption in the house grid.
There is the option to connect PV generators to the free DC inputs (hybrid inverter).
1 | Communication connection to the inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication link to the inverter via WiFi/WLAN |
3 | Inverter |
4 | Battery system connection |
5 | Communication link to battery management system (BMS) via RS485 |
6 | Circuit breaker for inverter |
7 | KEM or KSEM digital energy meter (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
8 | Main fuse, house |
9 | Consumption and feed-in meter or smart meter (not available in all countries) |
10 | Public grid |
11 | Circuit breaker – electricity consumption |
12 | Electricity consumption |
13 | Feed-in meter for AC energy supplier |
14 | Circuit breaker, AC energy supplier |
15 | AC energy supplier, e.g. CHP unit, or other generation systems (EZA), e.g. PV inverters (the energy from the AC energy supplier can be temporarily stored in the battery) |
Inverter with KOSTAL ENECTOR G1 wallbox via KSEM
If the inverter and a KOSTAL ENECTOR G1 wallbox with comfort function are installed in the system environment, a KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter (KSEM) must be used as the energy meter.
The KSEM is a three-phase energy meter that controls the wallbox and the inverter via an RS485 connection.
In this case, the entire system cannot be controlled via an MDC host inverter.
1 | Communication link for inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication link for inverter via WiFi/WLAN |
3 | Inverter |
4 | PV generators |
5 | Connection for battery system (available as option after activation) |
6 | Communication link for battery management system |
7 | Line circuit breaker for inverter |
8 | KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
9 | Main fuse for building |
10 | Procurement and feed meter or smart meter (not in all countries) |
11 | Public grid |
12 | Line circuit breaker for energy consumers |
13 | Energy consumers |
14 | Communication link for ENECTOR wallbox |
15 | Line circuit breaker for ENECTOR wallbox |
16 | ENECTOR wallbox |
Inverter with KOSTAL ENECTOR G2 Wallbox via KSEM G2
If the inverter and a KOSTAL ENECTOR G2 wallbox are installed in the system environment and control is to be carried out via the KSEM, a KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter G2 (KSEM G2) must be used as the energy meter.
The KSEM is a three-phase energy meter that controls the wallbox via a LAN connection and the inverter via an RS485 connection.
In this case, the entire system cannot be controlled via an MDC host inverter. Further information on controlling an ENECTOR G2 wallbox via MDC can be found here: System overview.
1 | Communication connection to the inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication connection to the inverter via WiFi/WLAN |
3 | Inverters |
4 | PV generators |
5 | Battery system connection (optional after activation) |
6 | Communication connection to the battery management system via RS485 |
7 | Circuit breaker Inverter |
8 | KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter G2 (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
9 | Main fuse for the house |
10 | Consumption and feed-in meter or smart meter (not available in all countries) |
11 | Public grid |
12 | Circuit breaker for electrical loads |
13 | Electrical loads |
14 | Communication connection to ENECTOR G2 wallbox via LAN or WLAN |
15 | Circuit breaker for the ENECTOR G2 wallbox |
16 | ENECTOR wallbox |
Controlling inverters via Multi Device Control (MDC)
This function is available from PLENTICORE G3 SW 3.06.10 onwards.
Further information on configuration and wiring can be found in the supplementary document Wiring and setting up multiple KOSTAL inverters via MDC.
Multi Device Control (MDC) enables the centralised monitoring and control of MDC-compatible inverters and other MDC-compatible devices within the same home network. The control function is handled by a PLENTICORE G3 inverter configured as an MDC host. The MDC host inverter can operate both without a battery and with a battery connected. If a battery is used within the MDC system, it must be connected to the MDC host inverter. If several batteries are used, the battery with the largest usable capacity must be connected to the MDC host.
If several PLENTICORE G3 inverters with batteries have been installed in the domestic grid (max. 3), these are controlled via an MDC host. To do this, the ‘Multi Battery Control’ product extension / add-on option (subject to a charge) must be activated on the MDC host inverter. If several batteries have been installed in the MDC system network, the battery with the largest capacity must be connected to the MDC host inverter.
Without the Multi Battery Control product extension, only one battery can be connected to and controlled by the MDC host inverter.
The control and regulation of other MDC client inverters is also possible without the product extension if only one battery storage unit is used in the MDC system.
An energy meter (KEM) can be used as the energy meter in this configuration. A KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter (KSEM) is not strictly necessary.
Inverters configured as MDC client inverters can be added via the device manager in the MDC host inverter. These devices are then displayed in the power flow diagram under ‘Instantaneous values’ on the MDC host inverter.
INFO
If non-MDC-compatible devices are present in the same home network alongside MDC-compatible devices and need to be controlled together, this can only be done via a KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter and not via an MDC host inverter.
This is the case, for example, if a PLENTICORE G3 and a PLENTICORE plus G1, or an ENECTOR G1 wallbox with comfort function controlled via Modbus RTU (RS485), have been installed on the domestic network.
PLENTICORE G3 inverter with MDC and KOSTAL ENECTOR G2 wallbox.
If the inverter and a KOSTAL ENECTOR G2 wallbox are installed in the system environment, the wallbox can be controlled via a PLENTICORE G3 that has been configured as an MDC host.
1 | Communication connection to inverter via LAN |
2 | Communication link to inverter via WiFi/WLAN |
3 | PLENTICORE G3 inverter with MDC |
4 | PV generators |
5 | Battery system connection (optional, subject to activation) |
6 | Communication link to the battery management system |
7 | Circuit-breaker Inverter |
8 | KOSTAL Smart Energy Meter or KOSTAL Energy Meter (Modbus RTU) at the grid connection point |
9 | Main fuse in the house |
10 | Consumption and feed-in meter or Smart Meter (not available in all countries) |
11 | Public grid |
12 | Circuit breaker for electrical loads |
13 | Electrical loads |
14 | Communication connection to ENECTOR G2 wallbox via LAN or WLAN |
15 | Circuit breaker for wallbox |
16 | ENECTOR G2 wallbox |
Product extensions
Product extensions can be activated using activation codes. PLENTICOINs are required for this.
The PLENTICOIN is a single-purpose voucher for product extensions. The PLENTICOIN can be redeemed in the KOSTAL Solar Webshop for the required activation code (e.g. battery extension). The PLENTICOIN is purchased from specialist wholesalers.
The following product extensions are available and can be accessed at KOSTAL Solar Webshop using the PLENTICOIN:
The product upgrades can then be activated using the KOSTAL Solar App, the inverter display or the inverter Webserver by going to Additional options and entering the activation code.
- Battery upgrade
Allows a battery to be connected to the DC input for the battery. - Power upgrade
Increases the inverter’s basic power by up to two levels - Control of multiple batteries (Multi Battery Control)
Enables the control of multiple batteries within an MDC system network. A maximum of 3 inverters with batteries can be controlled within the MDC system network. The Multi Battery Control product extension only needs to be activated on the MDC-HOST.
Power classes
The inverter is available in three sizes, S, M and L, with a basic power level of 4.0 to 20 kW.
The basic power level can be increased by two levels using an optional product upgrade (power upgrade) to make system planning as flexible as possible.
The power upgrade can also be done later, without having to replace the inverter.
The power activated in the inverter can be marked on the type plate. The activated power is also shown in the inverter's parameter report, available from the Webserver, and on the inverter's display.
Size | Basic power | Level 1 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
PLENTICORE S G3 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 7.0 |
PLENTICORE M G3 | 8.5 | 10 | 12.5 |
PLENTICORE L G3 | 15 | 17.5 | 20 |
Further information can be found at Technical data