Frequently asked Questions | CATCH Power
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Homeowner - Green CATCH

How Does Green CATCH work?

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it is installed in your meter box by a licensed electrician. The device includes a current transformer that detects when energy is leaving your property and with it's sophisticated algorithms can deliver precise amounts of energy to the hot water tank.

Why Do I need Green CATCH? What is the difference between a Timer and a Green CATCH?

Without intervention your electric hot water system will stay on a Control Load or Off Peak tariff. This is traditionally heated from 11pm-3am. It is a common misconception that your hot water system will automatically be covered with your solar but this is not the case. 

The traditional way to change this was to installer a timer. Timers just shift the time your hot water tank heats and will turn on at full capacity between say 11am -2pm. They do not have the ability to detect how much available solar you have at the time. This means that if your system only has 1 kW of surplus solar and your hot water systems turns on with a 3.6 kW element you will be importing the remaining 2.6kW's from the grid at peak electricity prices. This can end up costing you more than if you left your tank on a standard control load/ off peak tariff. 

With Green CATCH, if your solar system has 500w's of surplus solar, then it will send just 500w's of energy to the hot water system. This makes it our most efficient method of heating hot water. Green CATCH also has the ability to hard wire the Control Load/Off Peak circuit directly into the device it allows for any boosting to be done on the cheaper tariff. *Some state exclusions do apply*  

What happens if there is not enough solar to heat my hot water?

Under our Learning Solar Only * Light Solid* Green CATCH is constantly looking for thermostatic cut off, If cut off temperature has not been met, then Green CATCH will allow for Off Peak to come in that night and take your tank to cut off temperature that night. If there is no Off Peak available this heating will occur between 11pm-3am. 

What if my Off Peak comes on during the day?

Green CATCH is smart enough to know that it can do the job throughout the day, then it will block out the Off Peak signal and continue to divert throughout sunlight hours.

Does Green CATCH work with Amber Electric? 

We do not currently recommend Green CATCH with Amber Electric or other wholesale energy plans. If a signal is sent to discharge your batteries, based on price. Green CATCH can not determine that this is due to pricing signals and will see this as export and use this energy to heat your hot water. This will affect the financial returns of discharging your batteries. For homeowners wanting to participate with Amber, we recommend CATCH Control. You can learn more about this here 

How do I turn Green CATCH off? 

Green CATCH is hardwired into your hot water circuit, so turning it off will result in no hot water. This is fine if you are going on an extended holiday but if your experimenting with wholesale energy rates a longer term solution maybe needed. Please contact your installer to have them bypass the device. 

Can I use an EV smart charger with my existing Green CATCH Power for solar-only charging?

Yes, but there are a few key points to consider:

 

  1. Power Activation: The Green CATCH diverts energy with 500W, but the EV charger needs around 1400W in solar mode for stable charging.
     

  2. CT Placement: Prioritising the EV CT will allow it to start charging once 1400W is reached.
    Placing Green’s CT first will delay EV charging until the hot water reaches cut off temperature.

What is the difference between Green CATCH and the CATCH Solar Relay

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it can send precise amounts of energy to the hot water system. It is limited to resistive loads (Underfloor Heating, some heat banks and Standard Electric Hot) Green CATCH has a dual input which means that you can hard wire Off Peak/Control Load into the unit for any boosting that may be needed. 

CATCH Solar Relay is a smart switch. It has the ability to control both conductive and resistive loads (some exclusions still apply) We do not divert but turn on and off, at the fully rated output. i.e. a 3.6 kW Element will run at 3.6 kW's. The CATCH Solar Relay also works as the energy meter for a range of inverter brands making it an easy addition to any solar system. The CATCH Solar Relay is connected to the internet and has a monitoring platform. You can find out more about the CATCH Solar Relay here

Can I keep my off Peak?

Yes, Green CATCH has a dedicated terminal so your Off Peak can be hard wired into the device, this allows any boosting to happen from Off Peak. Exclusions apply for QLD.

Does Green work with batteries?

Yes, Green CATCH works with hybrid sites, however to avoid the battery seeing Green CATCH as a load, there is a different installation. This can be found here. Please note we do not recommend Green for use on 3phase Hybrid sites. 

What is I don't have Off - Peak? How does Green boosting work without Off- Peak?

If Off-Peak is not physically connected to your Green CATCH Power any boosting will happen between 11pm-3am when cheaper energy rates are often available. 

What happens if I use more than a tank of hot water per day?

With Green CATCH you can have up to two heating cycles, by pressing the boost button twice, so the light flashes. This will lock in a secondary heating cycle. One from the Solar and another from mains overnight. 

I ran out of Hot Water what do I do?

If you have extra guests at your property and you run out of hot water, you press the 'Heat Now' button. This will take your tank to cut off temperature from what ever power source is available at the time, this could be a mix of Solar and Mains. Once the tank reaches cut off temperature the device will revert back, to the previous selected settings.

How Does Green CATCH work?

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it is installed in your meter box by a licensed electrician. The device includes a current transformer that detects when energy is leaving your property and with it's sophisticated algorithms can deliver precise amounts of energy to the hot water tank.

What happens if I have extra visitors and we use more hot water than usual?

Green CATCH has the ability to heat your hot water at any time of day with the 'Heat Now' button. This will pull from what ever energy source is available at the time, this could be a mixture of solar and mains power. 

CATCH Control

Can I have more than one device at my property?

Yes, you can have multiple devices at your property, priority is given by the load size and CT placement. 

 

Each CATCH Control has the ability to control your inverter, batteries, one load via a contactor, an integrated EV Charger. Our 6- Channel device also has an inbuilt DRM control.

How many loads can I control with one device

What if I don't have Wi-Fi

Dynamic and Flexible sites require a stable Wi-Fi connection.
Wholesale energy markets require a stable Wi-Fi connection. 

Wi-Fi is required for monitoring. 
Under normal operations Wi-Fi is not required for load control (like Hot Water) is done from a CT measurement and a lack of Wi-Fi will not affect this operation. 

 

What type of loads can I control with CATCH Power

CATCH Control can control any dedicated circuit
Green CATCH ONLY works with resistive loads; Electric Hot Water and Under Floor Heating

This depends on what you are hoping to achieve and your system size. Typically, if your solar system is 6.6 kW's and below, we recommend Green CATCH for hot water heating.  
If you would like a system that is smart and has the ability to grow with your needs than CATCH Control is the product you

Which product suits me best?

What if I don't have Wi-Fi

Dynamic and Flexible sites require a stable Wi-Fi connection.
Wholesale energy markets require a stable Wi-Fi connection. 

Wi-Fi is required for monitoring. 
Under normal operations Wi-Fi is not required for load control (like Hot Water) is done from a CT measurement and a lack of Wi-Fi will not affect this operation. 

CATCH Control - Amber

How does CATCH Control integrate with Amber Electric?

Amber Electric is the Energy Retailer and CATCH Control integrates with via Amber's API to manage your energy usage based on real-time 5-Minute wholesale prices set by AEMO, allowing you to optimise your energy consumption and save money by taking advantage of volatile periods.

With CATCH Control, you can access wholesale energy markets with a larger range of Consumer Energy Resource's (CER) CATCH Control has 18 inverter partners and with our hardware in place all of these inverters can use Amber. If your site has multiple inverters on site, or even different brand inverters it can still work. You can also control household loads, like your hot water system or your EV based on the wholesale market, when connected with our CATCH Control device. 

What is the benefit of using CATCH Control with Amber Electric?

What Inverters integrate with CATCH Control and Amber? 

For a full list of integrated inverter brands please visit our TECH Doc's page for the latest lists. 

By monitoring live pricing, CATCH Control allows you to manage heavy loads like hot water systems and EV chargers when energy prices are low, ensuring significant savings on your energy bill.

How does CATCH Control help with energy savings in wholesale markets?

Yes, while Amber’s Smart Shift uses 30-minute intervals for price predictions, CATCH Control works in 5-minute blocks, making decisions in real-time to optimise energy use based on live data. Due to CATCH Control physically being connected to inverters and loads on site, it can act swifty from pricing signals.

Does CATCH Control work independently of Amber’s Smart Shift?

If the wholesale prices do not meet your 'Emergency' pricing threshold, CATCH Control continues operating in self-consumption mode, ensuring you maximise the use of your own solar energy instead of relying on the grid.

What happens if the wholesale energy prices don’t drop as expected?

Absolutely! CATCH Control ensures that your solar, batteries, and loads (such as EVs or hot water systems) are managed dynamically, using both your solar energy and the best wholesale energy rates provided by Amber Electric.

Is CATCH Control compatible with Amber for households with solar and batteries?

Yes, with CATCH Control you can set the price you want loads to charge or discharge. You can set individual pricing thresholds for each connected energy resource e.g.  Inverters, Batteries, Loads, EV Charger.

Can I decide the threshold on which my batteries dishcharge?

CATCH Control - EVSE

What is CATCH Control EVSE?

CATCH Control EVSE is an integrated solution for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging, giving you full control over charging times and energy sources.

Yes, CATCH Control EV integration allows your EV Charger to act on signals from your solar. This allows you to charge your EV using surplus solar energy, maximising your self-consumption and reducing reliance on mains power. You can set additional schedules to take advantage of cheaper energy prices.

Can I charge my EV using solar power with CATCH Control?

Can I prioritise solar charging for my EV with CATCH Control?

Yes, With CATCH Control there are a number of ways you can control your EV Charging. This can be done from just surplus solar, a percentage of solar production, timing schedules or even pricing signals in a wholesale market.

Can I control multiple loads and EV charging at the same time?

Yes, the CATCH Control 6-Channel device allows for managing multiple loads like hot water systems and EV chargers simultaneously.

Yes, CATCH Control provides real-time monitoring of your energy usage, including EV charging, helping you manage your energy consumption more efficiently.

Can I monitor my EV charging usage?

Yes, When you are using CATCH Control and an integrated EV Charger, you automatically comply with Dynamic Import regulations and can charge at the full 7 kW load. 

Does CATCH Control EVSE work with dynamic Imports?

What are Dynamic Imports? 

Dynamic Charging adjusts the power supplied to your EV charger based on real-time conditions, such as grid demand or renewable energy availability, to manage energy consumption efficiently.

What is Dynamic Charging for EVs?

How does Dynamic Charging benefit the electricity grid?

It helps reduce peak demand and strain on the grid by adjusting the charging rate during high-demand periods, protecting infrastructure and reducing the need for grid upgrades.

What is the minimum power limit for Dynamic Charging?

The minimum limit is set based on grid conditions, but typically it will not drop below 1.5 kW's. 

What happens if I don't comply? 

If you your system does not comply with Dynamic Imports, you can not charge above 20amps. If the system is above 20amps a ripple control device must be installed, and your charging could be shut down without notice. Ripple control is used by energy providers to manage demand on the grid, and can remotely control your charger, turning it off during peak periods to avoid strain. Failure to follow these requirements might lead to disconnection from the program or penalties,

Questions on Sunspec

SunSpec is a communication standard used in the solar industry to enable interoperability between devices like inverters, batteries, and monitoring systems. It allows various solar equipment from different manufacturers to communicate effectively over a shared protocol, simplifying the integration and control of these systems. By using SunSpec, installers can easily monitor, manage, and control multiple devices, often without the need for additional hardware like current transformers (CTs), as data is directly sourced from the inverters over the same network.

What is Sunspec?

Can multiple inverters be linked via SunSpec for monitoring?

Yes, multiple inverters like Fronius and SMA can be linked through SunSpec, and no CT is required for solar monitoring as data is retrieved directly from the inverters.

How does SunSpec enable export control over distances? 

SunSpec allows for export control even over long distances, such as solar on a shed and the meter on a pole.

What is required for SunSpec communication across networks? 

Inverters must be on the same network. If they aren’t, additional devices will be required.

Yes, with SunSpec, a 6-Channel device can control both a 3-phase Fronius and a single-phase SMA on a 3-phase property.

Can a single 6-Channel device control a mix of 3-phase and single-phase inverters?

If you have changed your Wi-Fi details please follow these steps to reconnect your device. 
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar.

https://youtu.be/Z74J9YjnclI?si=BIy_U4X-vTvg6Dm0

How to reconnect my Wi-Fi? I have changed internet providers how do I reconnect?

If you have forgotten your password please follow these steps to reset your password.
or copy and paste the URL into your search bar.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9M7QyA_xUWs?si=2qLorF4SJK8ICOBI

I forgot my password. How do I change my password?

New to CATCH Power? Follow these steps to register your account
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar.

https://youtu.be/_WAmK0lIf1M?si=lWBSaYzfgZyqUHS8

How do I register my account? I never received my activation codes?

New to CATCH Power? Follow these steps to register your account
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar

https://youtu.be/_WAmK0lIf1M?si=lWBSaYzfgZyqUHS8

How do I register my account? I never received my activation codes?

You can find all the installation manuals on our website under the Tech Docs page 
Tech Docs | CATCH Power

Where do I find the installation manuals?

Green CATCH does not have a Wi-Fi connection and is controlled by the control panel on the front of the device. 
You can find details on how to control your CATCH Control via Bluetooth here

I don't have Wi-Fi how can I control my device?

CATCH Power are not pursuing the application of the Control range beyond the capacity of the CTs that are shipped with the product (100A).  CATCH Power are targeting systems that are large residential or small commercial as a maximum.  Control is not a C&I product.

 

This situation may change in the future, but this is the case for the medium term.

Can I use 6-Channel CATCH Control on my large commercial site? 

The Monocle is currently only set up as an app however with our integration with Solar Analytics you can gain access to a desk top version. 
 

While Solar Analytics can be accessed through an automatic handshake between the platforms, we do not share passwords between CATCH Power and Solar Analytics for security reasons.

To access Solar Analytics, visit www.solaranalytics.com.au, enter your email, and click ‘Forgot Password’. This will allow you to set a new password and log in from your computer.

Can I monitor my system from my Computer?

CATCH Control

What is CATCH Control?

CATCH Control is an Australian-made energy-management device that replaces inverter consumption meters. It integrates with most major inverter brands and supports hot-water, EV-charger, pool-pump, and battery scheduling allowing you to use more of your solar and control loads based on surplus solar.

How is CATCH Control different from a standard solar-inverter meter?
A standard inverter meter only measures site consumption and enforces basic export limits. CATCH Control both measures and controls: it can switch loads on or off with surplus solar, optimise battery charge/discharge, run tariff-aware schedules, and keep the site within DNSP dynamic-export rules. This lets homeowners automate hot-water, EV charging, pool heating, and more—turning raw data into real energy savings.

Does CATCH Control work with both new and legacy inverters?

Yes. The device speaks Modbus and SunSpec protocols, letting a legacy string inverter share data with a new hybrid or battery inverter. This means installers can expand older systems without ripping out working hardware.
 

What does CATCH Control actually do for my solar system?
CATCH Control is an Australian-made energy-management hub. It replaces the inverter’s consumption meter, measures solar production + house load in real time, and can switch up to independent circuits (hot water, EV, pool pump, etc.) on or off based on surplus solar, tariff signals, or grid-export limits—unlocking more savings than basic monitoring alone.


How does CATCH Control connect to my existing inverter and battery?
The DIN-rail unit clips into the switchboard, uses CT clamps for live power data, and talks to most inverters via Modbus / SunSpec over RS-485 or Ethernet. No extra gateway is required; batteries are controlled through the inverter’s own API or charge-discharge set-points.


Will CATCH Control stop my battery from draining into high-draw loads like an EV charger?
Yes. You can create “battery-exclusion zones” so high-demand appliances run only on surplus solar or cheap grid power, preserving battery cycles and extending warranty life.

How do I stop my battery from discharging into my EV? 
Yes, with CATCH Control You can create “battery-exclusion zones” this allows CATCH Control to stop any 'Visible' load from draining your battery. This could be a compatible ev charger over OCPP or an individual load that has a CT around the circuit. This stops high-demand loads from draining your battery preserving battery cycles and extending warranty life.

Can CATCH Control help me comply with my DNSP’s zero-export rules?
Absolutely. The device enforces dynamic or zero-export caps in real time and keeps AC-coupled batteries charging on allowable surplus without breaching the limit

Why doesn't my battery charge during zero exports and can CATCH Control help?
A/C couple batteries need to see surplus solar in order to charge. When the network triggers a zero export this means there is no spare energy for the battery to see. With CATCH Control on site, it can see the solar potential and the battery state of charge to determine how much energy can be sent to the battery while ensuring compliance with zero export rules. 

Does CATCH Control work on split-phase properties with only one battery?
Yes. You will need a 6 Channel CATCH Control to monitor both phases and can discharge a single battery on Phase A into loads on Phase B while maintaining a single site-wide export limit—avoiding the cost of a second battery or inverter.
 

How long does a typical CATCH Control installation take?
Installation of CATCH Control is similar to installing a standard inverter energy meter. Times can vary depending on the complexity of the installation. 
 

Is there a subscription fee to use CATCH Control’s monitoring features?
No. Core monitoring and control are included in the purchase price, and a Solar Analytics licence (with Plan Optimiser) is bundled free of charge.
 

Can CATCH Control heat my electric hot-water tank using surplus solar?
Yes. CATCH Control can switch the tank element whenever export is detected, typically offsetting $400 of grid-powered heating each year. Sophisticated algorithms allow for weather forecasting, historical data and more to help determine the best way to heat homeowners water. 
 

What brands of inverters are compatible with CATCH Control?
CATCH Control works with most inverters on the market, these include Alpha, ecactus, esy sun homes, Fimer, Fronius, Goodwe, SMA, Ge, Growatt, SolaX, istore, Solis, Sig, SAJ, Sofar, SAJ, Solis, solplanet, Sungrow. For a full list of integrated inverters 
 

How much money can a typical household save each year with CATCH Control?
Most homes see around $1,000 annual benefit: $400 from solar-heated water, $396 from Plan Optimiser tariff switching, and $135 from EV smart-charging, plus battery-life gains.


How can I run my hot-water system on free solar instead of grid power?
Install CATCH Control (or Green CATCH). It senses export and sends energy directly to the storage tank, cutting water-heating costs by up to 90%.

 

Will CATCH Power work with my tank?
CATCH Power works with all standard electric tanks. Green CATCH does not work with Heat Pumps, but CATCH Control is a suitable alternative. If you have a dual element tank we recommend disconnecting the top element. 

What’s the easiest way to smart-charge an EV from surplus rooftop solar?
Integrated OCPP Ev chargers connect to CATCH Control over Wi-Fi and can charge only when surplus is detected and pauses when solar drops. Multiple charging schedules can be set to work with special EV energy plans. 
 

How do I keep my battery charging when the network enforces zero export?
CATCH Control measures onsite surplus before export is clipped and commands the AC-coupled battery to absorb it, so the pack still charges while net export stays at zero.
 

Can I make a single-phase inverter power loads on both phases of my house?
Yes. 6 Channel CATCH Control tracks consumption on each leg and routes battery discharge or solar diversion across phases to balance the site without extra inverters.
 

How do I protect my battery from high-demand appliances that shorten its life?
Use CATCH Control’s load-shielding feature to exclude EV chargers, pool pumps or resistive heaters from battery discharge, preserving cycle life and warranty.

What device lets me automate loads based on live wholesale prices from Amber Electric?
CATCH Control integrates with Amber; it schedules solar, batteries and loads to charge when prices are low or negative and pauses them when prices spike, adding $300–$500 to annual savings.

I have multiple inverters on my house, how can I participate in Amber Electric? 
Installing CATCH Control will allow all inverters on site to act independently and act on prices from the wholesale network. 

How can I control my Ev or Hot Water system on Amber Electric? 

CATCH control is a great way to program additional loads other than just your solar and batteries on wholesale energy markets. 

Is there a way to combine legacy string inverters with a new hybrid inverter without replacing everything?
CATCH Control speaks Modbus and SunSpec, allowing legacy and new inverters to share data and stay under one export limit, so you can expand the system without rip-and-replace.

How can I have all the inverters on my site communicate to one another? 
CATCH Control speaks Modbus and SunSpec, allowing legacy and new inverters to share data and stay under one export limit, so you can expand the system without rip-and-replace.

How do I get dynamic export-limit compliance without installing extra meters?
CATCH Control doubles as the site meter and export-limiting device, eliminating OEM meters while satisfying DNSP dynamic-export requirements.
 

What’s the most cost-effective upgrade to squeeze an extra $1,000 a year out of my solar system?
Adding CATCH Control is typically the quickest ROI: it diverts surplus to hot water, optimises battery and EV charging, and finds the best tariff plan—all without adding more panels or a bigger battery.
 

How can I get my electric hot-water system to run on free solar instead of grid power?
Install CATCH Control. It senses surplus solar and diverts it to your hot-water element automatically, cutting water-heating costs by up to 90 percent without timers or manual switches.
 

My feed-in tariff is only a few cents—how do I use that power at home instead?
CATCH Control turns low-value exports into on-site savings by smart-charging your EV, heating water, and topping up batteries whenever excess solar is available.
 

Can CATCH Control extend my battery’s life?
Yes. It shields the battery from high-draw loads (EVs, pool pumps) and schedules gentle, shallow cycles—reducing wear and helping you stay within the warranty throughput.
 

How do I stop paying peak-time rates for my EV charging?
Connect the charger to CATCH Control. The unit waits for surplus solar or off-peak/wholesale price windows, then automatically starts charging—no daily timer resets.
 

What’s the easiest way to comply with my DNSP’s zero-export rule?
CATCH Control measures real-time surplus, adjusts inverter output, and still charges your battery—keeping net export at zero while maximising self-consumption. Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, QLD, Vic, SA
 

I have an old string inverter—can I add a hybrid inverter and one battery without ripping everything out?
Yes. CATCH Control speaks Modbus/SunSpec, so your legacy string inverter and new hybrid share data, stay under one export limit, and work as one system.
 

Can I save more by following live wholesale prices like Amber Electric?
CATCH Control integrates directly with Amber. It charges batteries and runs loads when prices drop (or go negative) and pauses them when prices spike allowing you to take advantage of wholesale energy prices. 
 

My home is split-phase but I only want one battery. Will that work?
With 6 Channel CATCH Control, yes. It monitors both phases and can discharge a single battery on Phase A into loads on Phase B while keeping the whole site within one export limit.
 

How do I know if I’m on the cheapest electricity plan for my solar home?
CATCH Control includes free Solar Analytics Plan Optimiser. It compares your actual energy data against hundreds of tariffs and recommends the lowest-cost plan—no spreadsheets or call centers. 

 

Virtual Power Plant & Tariff Optimisation

 Is CATCH Control VPP-ready?

Yes. It meets the Australian Government’s Battery Incentive Program requirements for remote command, API data sharing, and secure control. An official compliance statement is available for rebate applications. You can read our VPP statement here 
 

Can CATCH Control optimise loads against wholesale electricity prices?

Through its Amber Electric integration, CATCH Control schedules batteries and controllable loads to charge during negative or low prices and discharge or switch off when prices spike

Does CATCH Control reduce call outs for electricians?

Yes. Remote firmware updates, hot-water alerts, and cloud-based load scheduling let installers fix most issues without site visits, reducing the need for unnecessary callouts. 
 

What warranty does CATCH Control carry?

All CATCH Power products, Green CATCH, CATCH Control, 6 Channel CATCH Control all come with a standard 5 year warranty.

 

How much money can homeowners save with CATCH Control?

Typical annual savings are around $1,000: ~$400 from hot-water solar diversion, ~$396 from plan optimisation, and ~$135 from EV charging on surplus solar. Actual savings depend on location, tariff, and load sizes.
 

 Does CATCH Control require a subscription?

No. Core monitoring and control are included in the purchase price. Optional premium analytics may be offered later, but all essential functions remain subscription-free.
 

How Does Green CATCH work?

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it is installed in your meter box by a licensed electrician. The device includes a current transformer that detects when energy is leaving your property and with it's sophisticated algorithms can deliver precise amounts of energy to the hot water tank.


Why Do I need Green CATCH? What is the difference between a Timer and a Green CATCH?

Without intervention your electric hot water system will stay on a Control Load or Off Peak tariff. This is traditionally heated from 11pm-3am. It is a common misconception that your hot water system will automatically be covered with your solar but this is not the case. 

The traditional way to change this was to installer a timer. Timers just shift the time your hot water tank heats and will turn on at full capacity between say 11am -2pm. They do not have the ability to detect how much available solar you have at the time. This means that if your system only has 1 kW of surplus solar and your hot water systems turns on with a 3.6 kW element you will be importing the remaining 2.6kW's from the grid at peak electricity prices. This can end up costing you more than if you left your tank on a standard control load/ off peak tariff. 

With Green CATCH, if your solar system has 500w's of surplus solar, then it will send just 500w's of energy to the hot water system. This makes it our most efficient method of heating hot water. Green CATCH also has the ability to hard wire the Control Load/Off Peak circuit directly into the device it allows for any boosting to be done on the cheaper tariff. *Some state exclusions do apply*  

What happens if there is not enough solar to heat my hot water?

Under our Learning Solar Only * Light Solid* Green CATCH is constantly looking for thermostatic cut off, If cut off temperature has not been met, then Green CATCH will allow for Off Peak to come in that night and take your tank to cut off temperature that night. If there is no Off Peak available this heating will occur between 11pm-3am. 
 

What if my Off Peak comes on during the day?

Green CATCH is smart enough to know that it can do the job throughout the day, then it will block out the Off Peak signal and continue to divert throughout sunlight hours.
 

Does Green CATCH work with Amber Electric? 

If a signal is sent to discharge your batteries, Green CATCH will see this as export and use this energy to heat your hot water. This will affect the financial returns of discharging your batteries. 
 

How do I turn Green CATCH off? 

Green CATCH is hardwired into your hot water circuit, so turning it off will result in no hot water. This is fine if you are going on an extended holiday but if your experimenting with wholesale energy rates a longer term solution maybe needed. Please contact your installer to have them bypass the device. 
 

Can I use an EV smart charger with my existing Green CATCH Power for solar-only charging?

Yes, but there are a few key points to consider:
 

  1. Power Activation: The Green CATCH diverts energy with 500W, but the EV charger needs around 1400W in solar mode for stable charging.
     

  2. CT Placement: Prioritising the EV CT will allow it to start charging once 1400W is reached.
    Placing Green’s CT first will delay EV charging until the hot water reaches cut off temperature.
     

What is the difference between Green CATCH and the CATCH Solar Relay

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it can send precise amounts of energy to the hot water system. It is limited to resistive loads (Underfloor Heating, some heat banks and Standard Electric Hot) Green CATCH has a dual input which means that you can hard wire Off Peak/Control Load into the unit for any boosting that may be needed. 

CATCH Solar Relay is a smart switch. It has the ability to control both conductive and resistive loads (some exclusions still apply) We do not divert but turn on and off, at the fully rated output. i.e. a 3.6 kW Element will run at 3.6 kW's. The CATCH Solar Relay also works as the energy meter for a range of inverter brands making it an easy addition to any solar system. The CATCH Solar Relay is connected to the internet and has a monitoring platform. You can find out more about the CATCH Solar Relay here
 

Can I keep my off Peak?

Yes, Green CATCH has a dedicated terminal so your Off Peak can be hard wired into the device, this allows any boosting to happen from Off Peak. Exclusions apply for QLD.
 

Does Green work with batteries?

Yes, Green CATCH works with hybrid sites, however to avoid the battery seeing Green CATCH as a load, there is a different installation. This can be found here. Please note we do not recommend Green for use on 3phase Hybrid sites. 
 

What if I don't have Off - Peak? How does Green boosting work without Off- Peak?

If Off-Peak is not physically connected to your Green CATCH Power any boosting will happen between 11pm-3am when cheaper energy rates are often available. 
 

What happens if I use more than a tank of hot water per day?

With Green CATCH you can have up to two heating cycles, by pressing the boost button twice, so the light flashes. This will lock in a secondary heating cycle. One from the Solar and another from mains overnight. 
 

I ran out of Hot Water what do I do?

If you have extra guests at your property and you run out of hot water, you press the 'Heat Now' button. This will take your tank to cut off temperature from what ever power source is available at the time, this could be a mix of Solar and Mains. Once the tank reaches cut off temperature the device will revert back, to the previous selected settings.
 

How Does Green CATCH work?

Green CATCH is a hot water diverter, it is installed in your meter box by a licensed electrician. The device includes a current transformer that detects when energy is leaving your property and with it's sophisticated algorithms can deliver precise amounts of energy to the hot water tank.

What happens if I have extra visitors and we use more hot water than usual?

Green CATCH has the ability to heat your hot water at any time of day with the 'Heat Now' button. This will pull from what ever energy source is available at the time, this could be a mixture of solar and mains power. 
 

CATCH Control

Can I have more than one device at my property?

Yes, you can have multiple devices at your property, priority is given by the load size and CT placement. 

 

Each CATCH Control has the ability to control your inverter, batteries, one load via a contactor, an integrated EV Charger. Our 6- Channel device also has an inbuilt DRM control.

How many loads can I control with one device
 

What if I don't have Wi-Fi

Dynamic and Flexible sites require a stable Wi-Fi connection.
Wholesale energy markets require a stable Wi-Fi connection. 
Wi-Fi is required for monitoring. 
Under normal operations Wi-Fi is not required for load control (like Hot Water) is done from a CT measurement and a lack of Wi-Fi will not affect this operation. 

 

What type of loads can I control with CATCH Power

CATCH Control can control any dedicated circuit
Green CATCH ONLY works with resistive loads; Electric Hot Water and Under Floor Heating

This depends on what you are hoping to achieve and your system size. Typically, if your solar system is 6.6 kW's and below, we recommend Green CATCH for hot water heating.  
If you would like a system that is smart and has the ability to grow with your needs than CATCH Control is the product you
 

CATCH Control - Amber

How does CATCH Control integrate with Amber Electric?

Amber Electric is the Energy Retailer and CATCH Control integrates with via Amber's API to manage your energy usage based on real-time 5-Minute wholesale prices set by AEMO, allowing you to optimise your energy consumption and save money by taking advantage of volatile periods.

With CATCH Control, you can access wholesale energy markets with a larger range of Consumer Energy Resource's (CER) CATCH Control has 18 inverter partners and with our hardware in place all of these inverters can use Amber. If your site has multiple inverters on site, or even different brand inverters it can still work. You can also control household loads, like your hot water system or your EV based on the wholesale market, when connected with our CATCH Control device. 

What is the benefit of using CATCH Control with Amber Electric?
Pairing CATCH Control with Amber Electric lets your home follow live wholesale electricity prices automatically. The device schedules battery charging, hot-water heating, EV charging, and other controllable loads to run when prices drop—or even turn negative—and pauses them when prices spike. This maximises the value of your solar and battery,

How does CATCH Control help with energy savings in wholesale markets?

Yes, while Amber’s Smart Shift uses 30-minute intervals for price predictions, CATCH Control works in 5-minute blocks, making decisions in real-time to optimise energy use based on live data. Due to CATCH Control physically being connected to inverters and loads on site, it can act swifty from pricing signals.
 

Does CATCH Control work independently of Amber’s Smart Shift?

Yes, Amber's Smart Shift typically works on historical data, deciding the best way to run solar and batteries based on past data. CATCH Control uses the live price of energy based on AEMO's pricing. It makes decisions every 5 minutes as pricing is updated. 
 

What happens if the wholesale energy prices don’t drop as expected?
If the wholesale prices do not meet your 'Emergency' pricing threshold, CATCH Control continues operating in self-consumption mode, ensuring you maximise the use of your own solar energy instead of relying on the grid.

CATCH Control ensures that your solar, batteries, and loads (such as EVs or hot water systems) are managed dynamically, using both your solar energy and the best wholesale energy rates provided by Amber Electric.
 

How does Amber Electric’s pricing work day-to-day?

Amber passes through the live wholesale market price (updated every five minutes) plus a fixed retail margin. You see prices that can vary from negative (you’re paid to use power) up to peak levels during supply constraints.
 

Will my bill go up if wholesale prices spike?

Short spikes are possible, but Amber’s historical data shows most households save overall—especially if they shift flexible loads or use battery/solar. CATCH Control automates that shifting to minimise exposure.
 

Do I still get a feed-in tariff for my solar exports?

Yes. Amber passes through the wholesale feed-in price, which can be higher or lower than flat FITs offered by other retailers. During daylight low-demand periods, export prices are often similar to standard FITs; during rare high-demand events, they can spike much higher.


Does Amber charge a monthly subscription fee?

Amber’s standard plan includes a flat monthly membership fee (currently about $19), which funds their wholesale market access. All wholesale passthrough savings accrue on top of that.
 

How can I protect myself from very high price events?

With CATCH Control (or battery automation), you can:

  • Pre-charge the battery when prices are low or negative.

  • Earn money when prices are negative and be paid to heat your hot water, or charge your car. 

  • Pause non-essential loads during price spikes.

  • Discharge the battery or export power if allowed.
     

Can I automate my hot-water or EV charging based on live prices?

Yes. CATCH Control integrates directly with Amber’s price feed. You set a target price (or use the default), and the device runs the water heater or EV charger only when prices fall below that threshold.

Will Amber still be cheaper if I don’t have a battery?

Households without batteries still benefit by running hot-water, pool pumps, dishwashers, and EVs in low-price windows. Customers on time-of-use or demand tariffs often see savings even without storage.
 

What happens if the internet drops—do prices freeze?

If Amber’s app can’t fetch live prices, they revert to a safe fallback schedule (e.g., standard off-peak hours) until the connection is restored, so you’re not left exposed to unknown spikes.
 

Is Amber available Australia-wide?

Amber currently services all NEM states (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA). WA and NT are outside the National Electricity Market and therefore not yet covered.
 

How quickly can I switch to Amber?

Sign-up is online and usually takes 5–10 minutes. The actual transfer occurs on your next meter read (or within a few business days for smart meters). Your power supply is uninterrupted during the switch.

How can I make sure my battery always charges at Amber’s lowest wholesale prices?
Pair Amber Electric with CATCH Control. The unit reads the live Amber price feed and automatically starts battery charging whenever prices fall below your target.
 

How do I earn money when Amber’s prices go negative?
CATCH Control detects negative wholesale periods and diverts power into hot-water heating, EV charging, or battery charging—so you get paid to use energy instead of exporting for cents.
 

What’s the simplest way to run my hot-water tank on live Amber prices?
Wire the hot-water circuit through a CATCH Control channel. The device heats only during low-price windows or when surplus solar is available, slashing grid costs.
 

Does CATCH Control boost Amber savings even if I don’t have a battery?
Absolutely. By shifting hot water, pool pumps, dishwashers, and EV charging into low-price windows, CATCH Control increases Amber savings for homes without storage.
 

Can I stay within DNSP zero-export limits while following Amber prices?
Yes. CATCH Control applies export capping first, then price optimisation—so you remain compliant even when the network imposes zero export. Queensland, South Australia, Victoria
 

How do I automate EV charging around Amber’s price signals?
Assign the EV charger to a CATCH Control load channel and set a price threshold in the app. Charging begins only when the Amber price drops below that level or when surplus solar is available. You can override these settings if needed. 
 

My inverter isn’t on Amber’s compatible list—can I still join?
Yes. CATCH Control is inverter-agnostic; it measures site power directly and sends the right commands to your loads and battery. If your inverter works with CATCH Control, you can use Amber.
 

What if I have multiple inverters on the same site?
CATCH Control coordinates legacy string inverters, new hybrids, and batteries under a single export limit and a single Amber price signal, so the entire system optimises as one.

What is CATCH Control EVSE?

​CATCH Control EVSE is an integrated solution for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging, giving you full control over charging times and energy sources  
 

Can I charge my EV using solar power with CATCH Control?
Yes, CATCH Control EV integration allows your EV Charger to act on signals from your solar. This allows you to charge your EV using surplus solar energy, maximising your self-consumption and reducing reliance on mains power. You can set additional schedules to take advantage of cheaper energy prices.
 

Can I prioritise solar charging for my EV with CATCH Control?

Yes, With CATCH Control there are a number of ways you can control your EV Charging. This can be done from just surplus solar, a percentage of solar production, timing schedules or even pricing signals in a wholesale market.
 

Can I control multiple loads and EV charging at the same time?

​Yes, the CATCH Control 6-Channel device allows for managing multiple loads like hot water systems and EV chargers simultaneously.

Multiple OCPP EV chargers can be connected to the one CATCH Control device. 

 

Can I monitor my EV charging usage?
Yes, CATCH Control provides real-time monitoring of your energy usage, including EV charging, helping you manage your energy consumption more efficiently.

Does CATCH Control EVSE work with dynamic Imports?

Yes, When you are using CATCH Control and an integrated EV Charger, you automatically comply with Dynamic Import regulations and can charge at the full 7 kW load. 

What are Dynamic Imports? 

​Dynamic Charging adjusts the power supplied to your EV charger based on real-time conditions, such as grid demand or renewable energy availability, to manage energy consumption efficiently.
 

How does Dynamic Charging benefit the electricity grid?

It helps reduce peak demand and strain on the grid by adjusting the charging rate during high-demand periods, protecting infrastructure and reducing the need for grid upgrades.
 

What is the minimum power limit for Dynamic Charging?

The minimum limit is set based on grid conditions, but typically it will not drop below 1.5 kW's. 
 

What happens if I don't comply? 

If you your system does not comply with Dynamic Imports, you can not charge above 20amps. If the system is above 20amps a ripple control device must be installed, and your charging could be shut down without notice. Ripple control is used by energy providers to manage demand on the grid, and can remotely control your charger, turning it off during peak periods to avoid strain. Failure to follow these requirements might lead to disconnection from the program or penalties,
 

Questions on Sunspec
What is Sunspec?

SunSpec is a communication standard used in the solar industry to enable interoperability between devices like inverters, batteries, and monitoring systems. It allows various solar equipment from different manufacturers to communicate effectively over a shared protocol, simplifying the integration and control of these systems. By using SunSpec, installers can easily monitor, manage, and control multiple devices, often without the need for additional hardware like current transformers (CTs), as data is directly sourced from the inverters over the same network.

Can multiple inverters be linked via SunSpec for monitoring?

Yes, multiple inverters like Fronius and SMA can be linked through SunSpec, and no CT is required for solar monitoring as data is retrieved directly from the inverters.
 

How does SunSpec enable export control over distances? 

SunSpec allows for export control even over long distances, such as solar on a shed and the meter on a pole.
 

What is required for SunSpec communication across networks? 

Inverters must be on the same network. If they aren’t, additional devices will be required.

How to reconnect my Wi-Fi? I have changed internet providers how do I reconnect?

If you have changed your Wi-Fi details please follow these steps to reconnect your device. 
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar.
https://youtu.be/Z74J9YjnclI?si=BIy_U4X-vTvg6Dm0

If you have forgotten your password please follow these steps to reset your password.
or copy and paste the URL into your search bar.
https://youtube.com/shorts/9M7QyA_xUWs?si=2qLorF4SJK8ICOBI
 

I forgot my password. How do I change my password?

New to CATCH Power? Follow these steps to register your account
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar.

https://youtu.be/_WAmK0lIf1M?si=lWBSaYzfgZyqUHS8
 

How do I register my account? I never received my activation codes?

New to CATCH Power? Follow these steps to register your account
or copy and paste this URL into your search bar

https://youtu.be/_WAmK0lIf1M?si=lWBSaYzfgZyqUHS8
 

Where do I find the installation manuals?

You can find all the installation manuals on our website under the Tech Docs page 
Tech Docs | CATCH Power

Does CATCH Control replace the inverter’s consumption meter?
Yes. It covers the inverter-meter requirement and adds six controllable load channels, export control, and battery / EV scheduling—so you avoid extra hardware and switchboard clutter.
 

Can it handle split-phase sites with only one battery?
Yes. CATCH Control measures both legs and can discharge a single battery on Phase A to loads on Phase B while keeping the entire site inside one export limit.

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Get in Touch

CATCH Power is an Australian manufacturer of energy management devices.

Our goal is to match household loads with surplus solar, to help homeowners take control of their energy usage. We do this by providing installers with devices to make installations easier while providing complete site control and better customer outcomes. 

We operate 

8:30-5:00 pm
Monday - Friday.
(02) 5700 5717
 

support@catchpower.com.au

sales@catchpower.com.au
 

www.catchpower.com.au

180 Dumaresq Street, Glen Innes, NSW 2370

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Compatible with Fronius, GoodWe, Solis, Alpha ESS, Solplanet, ESYSUNHOME, SAJ, and GE inverters, including multi-brand and re

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