diff --git a/.changeset/fuse-phase-direction.md b/.changeset/fuse-phase-direction.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0bb7201
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fuse-phase-direction.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"ftw": patch
+---
+
+A car can now start and rise while the house exports. Fuse protection read each phase's current as a magnitude, so 20 A of solar export counted as 20 A of import and the car never started. A phase now takes its direction from the same phase's power in the meter reading, and new load on an exporting phase has more room, not less. When a meter reports no phase power, its current still counts as import.
diff --git a/go/internal/control/ev_battery_headroom.go b/go/internal/control/ev_battery_headroom.go
index 12a867c6..59347614 100644
--- a/go/internal/control/ev_battery_headroom.go
+++ b/go/internal/control/ev_battery_headroom.go
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ func clampEVBatteryHeadroom(targets []DispatchTarget, store *telemetry.Store, st
 	// Battery charge stays under the level the EV may rise to.
 	spare := state.importRiseCeilingW(fuseMaxW) - meter.RawW - needW
 	// During measured export overflow, the existing fuse pipeline may
-	// require charge to reduce export. Magnitudes alone cannot label that
-	// worst phase as import; leave this direction to the existing guard.
+	// require charge to reduce export; leave that direction to it. The
+	// phases carry their direction (phaseCurrentsA): the worst phase is the
+	// one importing most, and an exporting phase leaves the charge more room.
 	if meter.RawW >= -state.effectiveExportCeilingW(fuseMaxW) && state.SiteFuseVoltage > 0 {
 		if phaseSpare, known := evBatteryPhaseSpareW(meter, state, needW/(state.SiteFuseVoltage*phases)); known {
 			spare = math.Min(spare, phaseSpare)
diff --git a/go/internal/control/ev_fuse_budget.go b/go/internal/control/ev_fuse_budget.go
index 2ffb42a5..f62fda44 100644
--- a/go/internal/control/ev_fuse_budget.go
+++ b/go/internal/control/ev_fuse_budget.go
@@ -185,8 +185,9 @@ func (s *State) offerPhaseA(w float64, phases int) float64 {
 }
 
 // EVFusePhaseRoomA is the current the chargers may still add on the
-// busiest phase: below the fuse less its margin, the last reading's
-// current or heat, and every charger's offers that reading may not show.
+// busiest phase: below the fuse less its margin, the last reading's level
+// (see fuseHeat.levelA), and every charger's offers that reading may not
+// show.
 // false when the site meter reports no phase currents.
 func EVFusePhaseRoomA(state *State) (float64, bool) {
 	if state == nil || !state.evLimit.set || !state.evLimit.phaseRoomKnown {
@@ -379,7 +380,7 @@ func (s *State) stepEVIdleStart(r evMeterRoom, gridW float64, pool evPool, first
 // evMeterRoom is the measured room in EV watts. The fuse's part holds on
 // every reading. The import ceiling's parts are +Inf while it is off.
 type evMeterRoom struct {
-	fuseW          float64 // below the fuse less its margin and the worst phase, read or heat, and what we sent; rises and starts
+	fuseW          float64 // below the fuse less its margin and the highest phase level, and what we sent; rises and starts
 	fuseCutW       float64 // what the fuse needs cut now, negative; see fuseHeat
 	limitW         float64 // below the hour's import limit; negative is an overage
 	riseW          float64 // below the level an increase may reach, less what we sent
@@ -387,7 +388,7 @@ type evMeterRoom struct {
 	hourly         bool    // the hour's import is measured, so a short overage may wait
 	measured       bool    // false when the meter reports phase currents that cannot be read
 	worstA         float64
-	phaseRoomA     float64 // below the working limit on the busiest phase, read or heat
+	phaseRoomA     float64 // below the working limit on the highest phase level
 	phaseRoomKnown bool    // the meter reports phase currents
 }
 
@@ -420,8 +421,10 @@ func (s *State) evMeterRoom(meter *telemetry.DerReading, gridW, phases, fuseMaxW
 	return r
 }
 
-// worstPhaseA reads the site's configured phases. present is false when the
-// meter reports no phase currents; valid is false when they cannot be used.
+// worstPhaseA is the highest import on the site's configured phases, with
+// direction (phaseCurrentsA), and 0 when every phase exports. present is
+// false when the meter reports no phase currents; valid is false when they
+// cannot be used.
 func worstPhaseA(meter *telemetry.DerReading, state *State) (worstA float64, present, valid bool) {
 	amps, present, valid := phaseCurrentsA(meter, state)
 	for _, a := range amps {
diff --git a/go/internal/control/fuse_heat.go b/go/internal/control/fuse_heat.go
index 305d9f5a..d982b6bf 100644
--- a/go/internal/control/fuse_heat.go
+++ b/go/internal/control/fuse_heat.go
@@ -57,9 +57,10 @@ func (h *fuseHeat) step(at time.Time, amps []float64) {
 	copy(h.amps[:], amps)
 }
 
-// overA is how far the phases the budget no longer covers sit above limitA
-// on this reading: a phase whose filtered current is over limitA, or one
-// above instantA. Zero while the budget covers every phase.
+// overA is how far the importing phases the budget no longer covers sit
+// above limitA on this reading: a phase whose filtered current is over
+// limitA, or one above instantA. Zero while the budget covers every phase.
+// An exporting phase is never over: less EV load would raise its export.
 func (h *fuseHeat) overA(amps []float64, limitA, instantA float64) float64 {
 	over := 0.0
 	for i, a := range amps {
@@ -70,14 +71,19 @@ func (h *fuseHeat) overA(amps []float64, limitA, instantA float64) float64 {
 	return over
 }
 
-// levelA is the highest phase current, taking each phase at the higher of
-// the reading and its heat, plus what we sent that it may not show yet.
-// Rises and starts read it, so a rise never spends heat the last minute has
-// already used, nor room an earlier rise will take.
+// levelA is the highest phase current, with its direction, plus what we
+// sent that it may not show yet. An importing phase counts at the higher of
+// the reading and its heat, so a rise never spends heat the last minute has
+// already used. An exporting phase counts at its reading: new load lowers
+// its current. Rises and starts read it, so a rise never takes room an
+// earlier rise will take either.
 func (h *fuseHeat) levelA(amps []float64, pendingA [3]float64) float64 {
-	level := 0.0
+	level := math.Inf(-1)
 	for i, a := range amps {
-		level = math.Max(level, math.Max(a, math.Sqrt(h.sq[i]))+pendingA[i])
+		if a >= 0 {
+			a = math.Max(a, math.Sqrt(h.sq[i]))
+		}
+		level = math.Max(level, a+pendingA[i])
 	}
 	return level
 }
@@ -98,15 +104,20 @@ func (s *State) stepFuseHeat(meter *telemetry.DerReading) {
 	}
 }
 
-// phaseCurrentsA reads the site's configured phases as magnitudes. present
-// is false when the meter reports no phase currents; valid is false when
-// they cannot be used.
+// phaseCurrentsA reads the site's configured phases, import positive. A
+// phase's direction is its power's sign in the same reading: P1 and many
+// meters report current as a magnitude. Without that phase's power the
+// current counts as import, the safe side. present is false when the meter
+// reports no phase currents; valid is false when they cannot be used.
 func phaseCurrentsA(meter *telemetry.DerReading, state *State) (amps []float64, present, valid bool) {
 	// DER data uses snake case; separate fields retain absent-vs-zero.
 	var data struct {
-		L1 *float64 `json:"l1_a"`
-		L2 *float64 `json:"l2_a"`
-		L3 *float64 `json:"l3_a"`
+		L1  *float64 `json:"l1_a"`
+		L2  *float64 `json:"l2_a"`
+		L3  *float64 `json:"l3_a"`
+		L1W *float64 `json:"l1_w"`
+		L2W *float64 `json:"l2_w"`
+		L3W *float64 `json:"l3_w"`
 	}
 	if json.Unmarshal(meter.Data, &data) != nil || (data.L1 == nil && data.L2 == nil && data.L3 == nil) {
 		return nil, false, false
@@ -114,11 +125,16 @@ func phaseCurrentsA(meter *telemetry.DerReading, state *State) (amps []float64,
 	if !finiteFuseValue(state.SiteFuseAmps) || !finiteFuseValue(state.SiteFuseVoltage) || state.SiteFuseAmps <= 0 || state.SiteFuseVoltage <= 0 || state.SiteFusePhases < 1 || state.SiteFusePhases > 3 {
 		return nil, true, false
 	}
-	for _, a := range []*float64{data.L1, data.L2, data.L3}[:state.SiteFusePhases] {
+	powers := []*float64{data.L1W, data.L2W, data.L3W}
+	for i, a := range []*float64{data.L1, data.L2, data.L3}[:state.SiteFusePhases] {
 		if a == nil || !finiteFuseValue(*a) {
 			return nil, true, false
 		}
-		amps = append(amps, math.Abs(*a))
+		signed := math.Abs(*a)
+		if w := powers[i]; w != nil && finiteFuseValue(*w) && *w < 0 {
+			signed = -signed
+		}
+		amps = append(amps, signed)
 	}
 	return amps, true, true
 }
diff --git a/go/internal/control/fuse_heat_test.go b/go/internal/control/fuse_heat_test.go
index df4af1ab..69b0bb1b 100644
--- a/go/internal/control/fuse_heat_test.go
+++ b/go/internal/control/fuse_heat_test.go
@@ -68,6 +68,28 @@ func meterAt(store *telemetry.Store, at time.Time, phaseA [3]float64) *telemetry
 	return r
 }
 
+// A phase's current takes its direction from the same phase's power: P1
+// reports current as a magnitude, Pixii signs it. Without the power the
+// current counts as import.
+func TestPhaseCurrentsTakeDirectionFromPhasePower(t *testing.T) {
+	_, state := fuseHeatState()
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name string
+		data map[string]float64
+		want []float64
+	}{
+		{"p1", map[string]float64{"l1_a": 20, "l2_a": 3, "l3_a": 5, "l1_w": -4600, "l2_w": 690, "l3_w": 0}, []float64{-20, 3, 5}},
+		{"signed", map[string]float64{"l1_a": -20, "l2_a": -3, "l3_a": 5, "l1_w": -4600, "l2_w": -690, "l3_w": 1150}, []float64{-20, -3, 5}},
+		{"no phase power", map[string]float64{"l1_a": -20, "l2_a": 3, "l3_a": 5}, []float64{20, 3, 5}},
+	} {
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(tc.data)
+		amps, present, valid := phaseCurrentsA(&telemetry.DerReading{Data: raw}, state)
+		if !present || !valid || len(amps) != 3 || amps[0] != tc.want[0] || amps[1] != tc.want[1] || amps[2] != tc.want[2] {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %v (present %v, valid %v), want %v", tc.name, amps, present, valid, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // While the meter is silent the heat holds. A gap counts at the last
 // current seen: the reading after it neither fills the gap with its own
 // current nor erases an overload from before it.
diff --git a/go/internal/control/sitesim_test.go b/go/internal/control/sitesim_test.go
index 1f5bb003..023734dc 100644
--- a/go/internal/control/sitesim_test.go
+++ b/go/internal/control/sitesim_test.go
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@ func (s *simSite) step() {
 	}
 	if s.downUntil.IsZero() {
 		if m := tick.Meter; m != nil {
-			s.emit("meter", telemetry.DerMeter, m.W, nil, map[string]any{"l1_a": m.PhaseA[0], "l2_a": m.PhaseA[1], "l3_a": m.PhaseA[2]})
+			s.emit("meter", telemetry.DerMeter, m.W, nil, map[string]any{"l1_a": m.PhaseA[0], "l2_a": m.PhaseA[1], "l3_a": m.PhaseA[2],
+				"l1_w": m.PhaseW[0], "l2_w": m.PhaseW[1], "l3_w": m.PhaseW[2]})
 		}
 		if b := tick.Battery; b != nil {
 			s.emit("battery", telemetry.DerBattery, b.W, &b.SoC, nil)
@@ -483,9 +484,9 @@ func simScenarios() []simScenario {
 		}
 	}
 	return []simScenario{
-		{name: "export start", known: "export counted as import, fuse_heat.go:120", run: 5 * time.Minute,
+		{name: "export start", run: 5 * time.Minute,
 			plant: func(p *sitesim.Plant) { p.HouseW, p.PVW = houseA(2, 2, 2), -22*690 }},
-		{name: "export start, unsigned phase currents", known: "export counted as import, fuse_heat.go:120", run: 5 * time.Minute,
+		{name: "export start, unsigned phase currents", run: 5 * time.Minute,
 			plant: func(p *sitesim.Plant) { p.HouseW, p.PVW, p.Meter.Unsigned = houseA(2, 2, 2), -22*690, true }},
 		{name: "charger's own load balancer", known: "a cut comes off an offer the car does not draw, ev_fuse_budget.go:172", run: 20 * time.Minute,
 			plant: func(p *sitesim.Plant) {
diff --git a/go/internal/sitesim/sitesim.go b/go/internal/sitesim/sitesim.go
index 647db565..eb1e047c 100644
--- a/go/internal/sitesim/sitesim.go
+++ b/go/internal/sitesim/sitesim.go
@@ -68,10 +68,12 @@ type Tick struct {
 	Restart time.Duration // > 0: Core goes down now for this long
 }
 
-// MeterReading is one site meter reading.
+// MeterReading is one site meter reading. Phase power keeps its sign
+// when the currents lose theirs, as on P1.
 type MeterReading struct {
 	W      float64
 	PhaseA [3]float64
+	PhaseW [3]float64
 }
 
 // BatteryReading is what the battery reports.
@@ -123,7 +125,8 @@ func (p *Plant) Step() Tick {
 	if p.Meter.due(p.Now) {
 		r := &MeterReading{PhaseA: p.A}
 		for i, a := range p.A {
-			r.W += a * p.Voltage
+			r.PhaseW[i] = a * p.Voltage
+			r.W += r.PhaseW[i]
 			if p.Meter.Unsigned {
 				r.PhaseA[i] = math.Abs(a)
 			}