Owl USB energy monitor

[Scobo]

Anyone using one of these to monitor usage or generation ?
Ive got one set up to read our PV generation and its working fine but I can't make any sense of the output it gives when exporting a CSV file to excel.
The data bares no resemblance to the actual readings on the display unit.
For example, the kw data column reads 3.9 which I assume is the kw output at that time but the display unit shows 0.200kw which is about right as its really cloudy just now.
Theres no way we would ever get 3.9kw anyway as its a 2.88kw system ???

 

[Scobo]

Ok, worked this out from the manual in case anyones interested.
You need to multiply the "amps raw data" values by 60 to get the actual amps values then multiply that by your voltage to get the KW values for each minute.
The "kw raw data" column is actually the KWH output per minute so you need to add up this whole column to get the total KWH output.

 

[stuart99]

Its much easier to just get the data from your PV inverter rather than an add on unit.

 

[Scobo]

Not really mate, ours is in the loft !
The owl also records much more information than the inverter.

 

[Glen Powell]

Owls should be connected on the output of the AC side of the inverter, this would then have double insulated wires from inverter to isolator, some inverters do not enable this so a JB would have to be in place between the inverter and isolator so you can clamp on to the live.

The basics of it is that the owl or other energy monitors are not totally accurate, when the inverter is feeding the house all is good however at night it will look like you are using 30w of electricity, be aware you are not this is residual energy, capacitance whatever you want to call it (non active energy).

However I have seen some attached to the import meter, this will never ever work.

As for the data manipulation I do not know without seeing the data format. We used to give away the basic owl with every system but not the data enabled version.

 

[Scobo]

Ours reads 84 watts when the inverter stops producing.
It seems pretty close to the inverter readings, about 50-100 watts lower which may be due to the amount lost in the cable from the inverter to the generation meter.

 

[Glen Powell]

is your inverter powered by AC or DC, which inverter is it, some remain on all the time thus using energy instead of producing, the average of residual energy from my experience is 20 - 50w however the residule should not show when it is actually generating.

The difference being the owl is not calibrated fully and is only an educated estimation of usage.

 

[Scobo]

It's a Fronius IG30.
I think it must be DC powered as it shuts right down at night.