EV chargers integration
Alfen under smart control
Alfen chargers on the NG9 platform are a staple at businesses and fleets. Voltmasters EMS connects to them through Active Load Balancing, distributes the available power and plans charging at the cheapest moments.
Alfen
Supported devices
- NG9
The chargers on the Alfen NG9 platform, in one-socket and two-socket versions. The unit needs firmware 4.2.0 or higher, and Active Load Balancing has to be unlocked, because that is the channel the EMS steers through.
What the EMS gets out of your Alfen installation
- Load balancing within the limit of the grid connection
- Charge at the cheapest moments, including negative prices
- Priorities per charge point, the fleet comes first
- Interplay with battery and PV for extra charging power
- Monitoring of every charging session
Why installers combine Alfen and Voltmasters
Alfen brings the charging infrastructure, Voltmasters brings the control across the whole site. The EMS distributes power across the charge points, the battery and the PV, keeps the main connection within its limit and charges preferably when electricity is cheap or even negatively priced. The Voltmaster Controller takes the Modbus master role.
The technical bit, in short
- Modbus TCP on port 502, on the same local network as the controller
- Unlock Active Load Balancing and select Energy Management System as the data source
- Give the charger a fixed IP address, or make sure mDNS works; IPv6 is not supported
How it works
How your Alfen connects to the EMS
Voltmaster Controller in the cabinet
The industrial DIN-rail controller sits next to the installation and runs the optimisation locally, even without internet.
Connect over the local network
You connect the device following the step-by-step guide in our documentation. We assist with commissioning on your first project.
Configure and go live
The installation appears in the platform: dashboards, control and monitoring are active right away.
Other ev chargers we control
All integrations →FAQ
Questions about the Alfen integration
Which Alfen chargers does Voltmasters support?
The chargers on the NG9 platform, with one or two sockets. They need firmware 4.2.0 or higher.
Do I need to buy anything extra from Alfen for this to work?
Yes. Active Load Balancing is a paid feature that has to be unlocked on the charger with a licence key. Without it the EMS cannot steer the charging power.
What happens if the connection to the EMS drops?
The charger falls back to the safe current you configure yourself. By default that happens after 60 seconds without an update, and that validity time is adjustable.
Does this work together with hardware from another brand?
Yes, the EMS is brand-independent. A battery, PV inverter, EV chargers and meters from different manufacturers are controlled together as one optimised system.
How do I connect a Alfen charger to the EMS?
The Voltmaster Controller connects to the device over the local network. The step-by-step instructions are in our documentation, and as a certified partner we guide your first commissioning from start to finish.
Ready to make your first project pay off?
Tell us about your next installation. We will show you the platform, help you build the business case and guide you from first quote to certification.