Anyone used SMA Sunny SensorBox?

[mabartlett]

OK. thanks. hmmm, i would want real time info while on battery... i suppose they must have had issues with battery life... still think it should be a user defined option...

Am thinking on the webbox and the sunny portal as an option... could then use the iphone app to check on my system... would that make the sunny beam obsolete?

The Sunny Portal and the iPhone app is fine but they give a summary position which is updated every so often perhaps 10-60 mins. You can also connect directly to the Sunny Webbox with its web browser interface which gives real time info (every few seconds). I do this from PC, iPad and iPhone browsers.
for me the Sunny Beam is used to provide real time power versus the current consumption (British Gas usage meter) side by side to decide when to stick tumble dryer or dishwasher on! Sad but true! To get real time I just purchased a mains USB charger from Amazon for a couple of quid and power the Sunny Beam, it then does update in real time.

 

[stephene]

The Sunny Portal and the iPhone app is fine but they give a summary position which is updated every so often perhaps 10-60 mins. You can also connect directly to the Sunny Webbox with its web browser interface which gives real time info (every few seconds). I do this from PC, iPad and iPhone browsers.
for me the Sunny Beam is used to provide real time power versus the current consumption (British Gas usage meter) side by side to decide when to stick tumble dryer or dishwasher on! Sad but true! To get real time I just purchased a mains USB charger from Amazon for a couple of quid and power the Sunny Beam, it then does update in real time.

Hmmm, right deff going with the 250w yingli's (x16) and webbox. invertor??? - i think i will go for sma 3600tl as i have an east/west roof. thinking of a 10/6 split in favour of the west side (which is facing slightly more south). However PVSOL seems to think that the power one aurora 3.6 would give me more energy so that is making me doubt my inverter choice... any thoughts??

 

[mabartlett]

Hmmm, right deff going with the 250w yingli's (x16) and webbox. invertor??? - i think i will go for sma 3600tl as i have an east/west roof. thinking of a 10/6 split in favour of the west side (which is facing slightly more south). However PVSOL seems to think that the power one aurora 3.6 would give me more energy so that is making me doubt my inverter choice... any thoughts??

I can only repeat my earlier comment that the sma product seems very well built and has had no problems. The website and documentation is also very good. I would be surprised if the inverter makes much difference to annual output. The biggest factors are the roof layout and the unpredictable weather! The best news is that most systems, mine included, seem to outperform the estimates assuming they are working properly and there is no shading. I am getting about 18% more than estimated. I would go for whatever you think is the better quality inverter rather than PVSOL which is after all only an estimating tool.

 

[stephene]

I can only repeat my earlier comment that the sma product seems very well built and has had no problems. The website and documentation is also very good. I would be surprised if the inverter makes much difference to annual output. The biggest factors are the roof layout and the unpredictable weather! The best news is that most systems, mine included, seem to outperform the estimates assuming they are working properly and there is no shading. I am getting about 18% more than estimated. I would go for whatever you think is the better quality inverter rather than PVSOL which is after all only an estimating tool.

Hi, Gone for the sma 3600tl, 16 Yingli panels and the WebBox. Being installed next week. Just shy of 8k, still only money...

 

[mabartlett]

Hi, Gone for the sma 3600tl, 16 Yingli panels and the WebBox. Being installed next week. Just shy of 8k, still only money...

Excellent, enjoy! I am sure you won't be disappointed. Join the club of those watching usage versus generation, even my other half knows when to stick dishwasher on now!!

 

[sundown]

i have 10 panels east and 5west useing sunnyboy 3600 tl. produced 16 kw today best yet. sun all day. when you get installed can you tell me how your installer checked that optitrac was turned on. or if he thought it wasn't necessary. what was your passcode set at from factory?

 

[mabartlett]

i have 10 panels east and 5west useing sunnyboy 3600 tl. produced 16 kw today best yet. sun all day. when you get installed can you tell me how your installer checked that optitrac was turned on. or if he thought it wasn't necessary. what was your passcode set at from factory?

When I researched Optitrac it is only useful when you actually get shading, there is a small about 0.5-1% loss when used without shading. I turn it on early Dec when I get some shading from next door chimney and turn it off again mid Jan when the shading disappears. You can turn it on and off easily from the installer menu from the web interface.