Maturity status | Stable |
This article explains what IO devices are, and how to configure them in the XENON Dashboard.
What are IO devices?
IO devices are hardware components that connect external signals — such as alarm inputs or grid relay signals — to the Energy Management System (EMS). When an input channel activates, the EMS applies a configured action, such as setting a hard limit at the Grid Connection Point (GCP).
IO devices are supported on sites running with the EMS and load management activated.
How do IO device input channels work?
Each input channel has two configurable properties:
Activation
Defines whether the channel activates on input value 0 or input value 1
Example: a fire alarm returns 0 in normal state and 1 when the alarm is active
Action
Set GCP limit — the EMS applies a hard power limit at the GCP when the channel activates
Example: set the GCP limit to 0 kW when the fire alarm activates
Currently, Set GCP limit is the only supported action.
When the input returns to its default value, the hard GCP limit is removed. EVs that were at zero power remain subject to the zero-power lock before resuming.
How quickly does the EMS react to an IO device input?
The total reaction time from trigger received to setpoint sent to the EV charging station (EVCS) is below 15 seconds with default settings.
What are the hardware requirements for IO devices?
At least one IO device is installed at the site
How do I configure IO devices in XENON?
In XENON, go to the Assets tab for the site
Select the IO device
For each input channel, set the Activation condition and the Action to apply
What are the limitations of IO devices?
IO devices can only set limits at the GCP level — setting limits for individual clusters is not supported as a standard configuration. If your site requires cluster-level limiting via IO devices, contact gridX to discuss a custom setup.