Configure Smart Charging and Dynamic Load Balancing

Set a site’s maximum power limit, choose a load balancing strategy, view real-time power allocation across chargers, and trigger manual rebalancing.

Smart charging prevents a site from exceeding its grid connection capacity by continuously distributing available power across all active chargers. When a driver plugs in or unplugs, the system automatically recalculates how much power each charger should draw — no manual intervention required.

This guide shows you how to configure smart charging for a site, inspect the current allocation, and trigger a manual rebalance when needed.

Smart charging requires at least one charge point to be linked to the site and in an Available or Charging OCPP state before you configure it. Complete charge point commissioning first.

Set the site load configuration

Define the maximum power the site can draw and the strategy the scheduler should use to distribute it.

curl -X PUT https://api.dynamo-csms.com/api/v1/smart-charging/sites/site_01HXMNOPQR34567890/config \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "max_power_kw": 100,
    "strategy": "equal",
    "min_charge_rate_kw": 3.7,
    "reserve_kw": 10
  }'

Response:

{
  "site_id": "site_01HXMNOPQR34567890",
  "max_power_kw": 100,
  "strategy": "equal",
  "min_charge_rate_kw": 3.7,
  "reserve_kw": 10,
  "updated_at": "2026-05-01T12:00:00Z"
}

Strategy options

Strategy	Description
equal	Divide available power equally across all active sessions
first_come_first_served	Earlier sessions get full power; remaining power goes to later sessions
priority	Distribute power according to per-charger priority weights you define
max_throughput	Maximise total energy delivered across the site

The reserve_kw field keeps a buffer of grid headroom for non-EV loads (lighting, HVAC, etc.) so the EV chargers never consume the full max_power_kw allowance.

Retrieve the current load configuration

curl -X GET https://api.dynamo-csms.com/api/v1/smart-charging/sites/site_01HXMNOPQR34567890/config \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Response:

{
  "site_id": "site_01HXMNOPQR34567890",
  "max_power_kw": 100,
  "strategy": "equal",
  "min_charge_rate_kw": 3.7,
  "reserve_kw": 10,
  "updated_at": "2026-05-01T12:00:00Z"
}

View the current power allocation

Check how power is currently distributed across all chargers at the site. This reflects the live OCPP charging profiles that have been pushed to each charge point.

curl -X GET https://api.dynamo-csms.com/api/v1/smart-charging/sites/site_01HXMNOPQR34567890/allocation \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Response:

{
  "site_id": "site_01HXMNOPQR34567890",
  "total_capacity_kw": 100,
  "reserved_kw": 10,
  "available_kw": 90,
  "allocated_kw": 66,
  "idle_kw": 24,
  "chargers": [
    {
      "charge_point_id": "cp_01HX5P2QRSTUVWXYZ0",
      "connector_id": 1,
      "status": "Charging",
      "allocated_kw": 22,
      "actual_draw_kw": 19.4,
      "session_id": "ses_01HXGHIJKL23456789"
    },
    {
      "charge_point_id": "cp_01HX5P2RSTUVWXYZ1",
      "connector_id": 1,
      "status": "Charging",
      "allocated_kw": 22,
      "actual_draw_kw": 21.8,
      "session_id": "ses_01HXOPQRST89012345"
    },
    {
      "charge_point_id": "cp_01HX5P2RSTUVWXYZ2",
      "connector_id": 1,
      "status": "Charging",
      "allocated_kw": 22,
      "actual_draw_kw": 22.0,
      "session_id": "ses_01HXUVWXYZ90123456"
    },
    {
      "charge_point_id": "cp_01HX5P2RSTUVWXYZ3",
      "connector_id": 1,
      "status": "Available",
      "allocated_kw": 0,
      "actual_draw_kw": 0,
      "session_id": null
    }
  ],
  "calculated_at": "2026-05-01T12:05:30Z"
}

The allocated_kw is the limit pushed to the charger via an OCPP SetChargingProfile command. actual_draw_kw is the real-time meter value reported back by the charger.

View allocation history

Retrieve historical allocation snapshots to analyse load patterns over time.

curl -X GET "https://api.dynamo-csms.com/api/v1/smart-charging/sites/site_01HXMNOPQR34567890/allocation/history?from=2026-05-01T00:00:00Z&to=2026-05-01T12:00:00Z&interval=15m" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Response:

{
  "site_id": "site_01HXMNOPQR34567890",
  "interval": "15m",
  "snapshots": [
    {
      "timestamp": "2026-05-01T08:00:00Z",
      "allocated_kw": 44,
      "actual_draw_kw": 41.2,
      "active_sessions": 2
    },
    {
      "timestamp": "2026-05-01T08:15:00Z",
      "allocated_kw": 66,
      "actual_draw_kw": 63.2,
      "active_sessions": 3
    }
  ]
}

Trigger a manual rebalance

The scheduler rebalances automatically when sessions start or end. Use the manual rebalance endpoint if you need to force an immediate recalculation — for example, after changing the site’s max_power_kw or strategy.

curl -X POST https://api.dynamo-csms.com/api/v1/smart-charging/sites/site_01HXMNOPQR34567890/rebalance \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "reason": "Manual config update — increased site capacity to 100 kW"
  }'

Response:

{
  "site_id": "site_01HXMNOPQR34567890",
  "rebalance_id": "reb_01HXABCDEFGH1234567",
  "status": "completed",
  "chargers_updated": 3,
  "triggered_at": "2026-05-01T12:07:00Z",
  "completed_at": "2026-05-01T12:07:02Z"
}

chargers_updated shows how many chargers received a new SetChargingProfile OCPP command as a result of the rebalance.

Triggering frequent manual rebalances can cause rapid oscillation in charge rates, which may be noticeable to drivers. Reserve manual rebalancing for configuration changes rather than routine operations.